Light in the darkness…

“That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.” –Isaiah 45:7

“Believe in the darkness what you have seen in the light.“
– Lilias Trotter

Have you ever grappled with the fact that we are called children of the Light (1 Thess 5:5, Eph 5:8) but also still feel the weight of darkness so heavy at times?

While we have been called out of darkness, named children of Light, and know the Light of the world; we live in a world that is still unbearably dark. The darkness is present and tangible. It is real. We face it every day and experience it’s devastating effect.

Jesus came to free us from sin and from the penalty of sin: eternal separation from Him — but while on this side of heaven we still wrestle with and experience the consequences of sin. When we look at the world with our physical eyes it can be hard to see God’s hand at work. At times it’s easy to feel like the power of darkness is stronger than the Light.

But God’s word brings me such encouragement, such comfort, and so much hope. These verses have been healing:

“Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.”
Isaiah 50:10 

“You, Lord, are my Lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light”
2 Samuel 22:29

“He called you out of the darkness
into His wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9

I am reminded that God is not to blame for the darkness: the death, grief, loss, pain, deception, injustice, hatred, poverty, abuse, and sickness in our world are all the result of sin. The Devil is the father of lies, deception, and darkness. It originated with him and he is seeking those he can devour, destroy and condemn. The devil wants to keep us stumbling in darkness, confused, and lost in our sin.

That was me: I was helpless, stumbling in the dark with no way out and couldn’t discern which way to go. That’s where Jesus stepped in: the Light of the world to expose the darkness and provide the way of Salvation. The greatest need in our world and in our hearts is LIGHT.

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
-1 John 1:5

When the hopelessness tries to overtake me, my heart cries out: “Jesus let me see Your light. Open my eyes to see You; YOU are the only solution for the darkness.”

It’s easy to allow the darkness to cause us to doubt His presence.
But instead, allow the darkness to draw you even closer to His light.
The dark makes His light shine even brighter.

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6

"To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace." - Luke 1:79

The deepest, darkest places in your heart where the hard questions, doubt and pain lie are not surprising to Him. The places you thought you’ve been able to hide and where you’ve wondered if His love and forgiveness would reach are not unexpected to Him. All He asks that we come openly and honestly before Him, step into the light and expose the darkness. You do not need to have all your words preplanned or eloquently thought out: He already knows every crevice of your heart and loves you still. His desire is to transform  hearts from a place of darkness to a place of Light.

When you cannot find clarity in your circumstance, He is your light. When grief causes your vision of Him to become blurred—He is light.
There may be darkness seeking to choke out His light in your heart and life: whether it is anxiety, depression, grief, or loss…it can leave you feeling unworthy, ashamed, and undeserving of His presence, but cling to His word:
In His Word He has clearly revealed to us Who He is. We can trust His character and rest our full confidence and assurance in the fact that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. While we face times of darkness and change He is the One constant. The only One who can bring clarity. The One who is “the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

It’s when you can’t see that you learn to trust Him in the dark.
When you don’t see His hand you can trust that He’s still working.

He redeems the darkness.
When we think we’ll be crushed under the weight; He is using it to strengthen us.
He is growing our faith.

God does not deny the presence of darkness but He promises to be the Light.
He doesn’t promise to remove the darkness; but promises to be our Light thru it.

It is as if He is saying: “I know. There is darkness; and it can be crippling and paralyzing at times. It can feel helpless & hopeless. But I am the Light of the world. I am the Light of your heart. In Me there is NO darkness. There is no confusion or shadow of turning in Me.” The darkness that I was once fearful would hide His face from me now draws me closer towards Him. He is the only One who can navigate this dark world and I can trust that He will carry me thru.

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” – Isaiah 45:2-3

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” – Isaiah 42:16

“God is too good to be unkind
& He is too wise to be mistaken.
And when we cannot trace His hand,
we must trust His heart.”
– C.H. Spurgeon

If you’re stumbling in the dark,
run your hands against the walls
Find every window, every door,
throw them open, throw them open
In will flood a blinding light,
and it will chase away the night
Even if you shield your eyes,
let it pour in, let it pour in (Jess Ray “Gallows”)

“What’s true in the light
Is still true in the dark
You’re good and You’re kind
And You care for this heart
Lord I believe, You weep with me.”
– Rend collective

“Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him…once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.” – Oswald Chambers

God with us.

And you will seek Me and find Me,

when you search for Me

with all your heart. ♥

– Jeremiah 29:13

But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

Have you found this to be true? That the more you seek Jesus the more you find of Him? I know that I could live a hundred lifetimes and never know all there is to comprehend of who He is: the full extent of His love, kindness, mercy, grace, forgiveness…

… but I’m guilty of settling for less. I’m guilty of seeking Him half-heartedly, with a distracted heart.

The problem is not that He’s hiding but that I allow things to keep me from seeking Him. I push Him away when He longs to be near.

When you look all through scripture it is a narrative of Him drawing near: pursuing those who reject Him and showing Himself faithful to those who call on Him. He is near to the lowly, outcast, poor & desperate just like He was near to Mary, Joseph, & the shepherds…He became Immanuel “God with us” because it was the desire of His heart to make a way for salvation, peace, redemption, and relationship with us. “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” – Zephaniah 3:17

It blows my mind that Jesus came to be near. That He desired me. That He rejoices over me. Wow.  He didn’t keep us at arms length: He came to show us who He is; to demonstrate His love and communicate His desire for a relationship with us. He came to prove that nothing (not sin, not hurt, not pain, not ridicule…) could keep Him from pursuing us. He moved every obstacle that stood in the way & has the victory over every barrier that could’ve prevented me from Him so I would never have to question His heart. ♥  Every sin, lie, fear, insecurity, failure…He says “Those cannot keep you from me. I made the way. I am the Way. Come. I am near.” 

 “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:9-10

All so we would never have to doubt His love. He sought us out. He pursued. He left heaven. He humbled Himself. To make a way for redemption. For salvation. For forgiveness.

And all He asks is that we seek Him in return…

Growing up in church I’ve heard all my life about WHO Jesus is but it becomes easy to forget and take for granted that He desires to be all those things FOR ME personally. He wants me to know and experience Him as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…that’s why He came: Immanuel. God with us. Don’t stop seeking Him because He’s never stopped pursuing you. “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9) 

His name shall be called:
Wonderful,
Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6
♥ Merry Christmas! ♥

Haïti ♥

It’s been on my heart to try and write about my 3 weeks in Haiti but have been at a loss for words to fit it all into a blog post. Here are some of the highlights of my time & the beautiful people I got to serve and build relationships with during my stay. 

This is Yolle! In June of 2017 Yolle moved to Haiti to serve as a missionary after hearing the Lord’s call on her life. Every week Yolle serves the women and children in the communities of Jacmel and Beaudouin thru prayer, counseling, Bible study, and one-on-one discipleship. It was such a joy to stay with her for the 3 weeks I was there and witness the beautiful work the Lord is doing in and thru her.

This is Sephora, one of the girls Yolle is discipling and pouring Jesus’ love into. She is a beautiful young girl inside and out & I had the chance to begin teaching her guitar while I was there. Yolle said that Sephora’s goal at the beginning of the year was to learn guitar and was so excited for the chance to learn! She is such a fast learner and we really bonded. I saw how quickly these young girls have been forced to grow up because of their circumstances. But in contrast, I also saw how they are hungry for God’s Word and how grateful they are to have Yolle as a godly example and someone to turn to for encouragement and guidance. 

In the months leading up to my trip, my community and church blessed the people in Haiti by providing 25 backpacks filled with necessary school supplies, jewelry-making & sewing supplies, and enough supplies to make 30 care bags for the women we would be serving. To see the expressions of gratitude on the faces of the children, their parents, and the women was priceless. 

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This is Echo+! Echo+ is a small-business that is a ministry of the church in Beaudouin; it is the first store in the community to serve cold refreshments  and opened the first week I was there. They currently have 4 employees who each underwent a training course that taught them the importance of providing excellent service and how their job can be an opportunity to share the love of Christ with everyone they see.  It is amazing to see the dignity they now have being able to earn an income and provide for themselves and their families. 

This is Gladys (middle), Kevinson (L), and Hilda (R)! Gladys’ husband, Lukeson, and her are active in their church, love the Lord and are honoring Him in the way they are raising their family. The love of Jesus is evident the moment you step foot in their home. It is truly beautiful to see. Lukeson is also pictured below helping lead worship at the orphanage! Their witness stands out and shines bright because it is not the norm.

These are photos from the orphanage in Beaudouin that Yolle visits every Friday and Saturday. There are 30+ children who live here; each ranging in age from 2 to 17. During our time we would sing worship songs and have a time of Bible lesson and activities. We celebrated 5 of them who had recently had a birthday and took a group of them to the beach. I was able to talk to the Pastor who established the orphanage and his wife who is the Director; they said that their greatest prayer request is for food for the children each day. It is heart wrenching and the need feels so overwhelming and desperate. The Lord continuously reminded me of verses like Psalm 10:14 that says: “But You, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; You consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” I know God sees and His heart is for them; my prayer is that each of them grow to know Him personally and depend on Him for their daily needs. I know that our God is a God who answers prayer and His ear is attentive to their cries.

One of the last events I got to be a part of was a woman’s night hosted at Yolle’s home. There was a meal prepared for the ladies when they arrived and we had a time of worship, prayer, and encouragement. Earlier that day Yolle and I had written out Bible verses on index cards to pass out to each of the ladies that would be coming. After our time of prayer we asked them to read their verse out loud & share if it spoke to them specifically. It was beautiful to hear a number of women share how the Lord had spoken to them thru His word and comforted them in what they were facing. Afterward we washed their feet, painted their nails, and gifted them with a bag filled with hygiene and beauty products. It was so wonderful to see how blessed and grateful they were at the end of the night. Despite the difficulties they are facing internally and externally, there was such tangible joy and it was so priceless to see them enjoy a night of rest and encouragement.

Please keep the believers in Haiti in your prayers: the church and their leadership that they would be strengthened in their faith and encouraged as they continue to spread the good news of Jesus’ love and salvation.

 

He’s Holding You

"I am always with You,

You hold me by my right hand,

You guide me with Your counsel" 

I read that verse in Psalm 73:23-24 and the imagery struck me.  Have you ever seen a dad holding the hand of his young daughter as they walk or cross the street?  Do you know that feeling of security and assurance?  Many times the child doesn’t have to worry about where they are going, they must only stay by their parent’s side and keep their hand in the strong, secure grip of their parent’s…

…and I thought of my heavenly Father and the abandoning sense of trust and confidence I can have; knowing that He is guiding and leading.

When I read this verse I felt God speak to my heart: “I’m holding you. Even when you’re unsure, I’m guiding you. Keep your hand in mine.”

How foolish of me to fear or worry when God Almighty: the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Maker of heaven and earth, and Savior of my soul is holding my hand.

All of a sudden whatever is causing anxiety disappears in light of the knowledge that He is holding me.

God desires to hold your hand and guide you. As a matter of fact, He promises to!  But we must let Him. We must keep our hand in His and walk by faith; even when we are unsure and cannot see the final destination.

How beautiful is that!!? Meditate on that & I pray it brings comfort and joy to your heart  ♥