The Shadow of Death

In God there is no shadow.

James 1:17 tells us He is light.

So why do we so often blame God for the darkness and shadows in which we walk?

We’re mad at, blaming, the wrong guy.

Satan is the father of lies.

He is darkness.

But this life and this world come with trials.

There are moments when we just can’t see the light.

In January 2014 I was hit with a trial. and in an instant it seemed all the lights went out.

The issue was physical but it impacted my emotions.

I was on deadline and the story wasn’t working.

I felt as creative as a rock.

I wasn’t sleeping.

Had I not been on deadline, the “valley of the shadow of death” might not have seemed so intense. So deep.

There was nothing to do but walk through it.

I prayed. A lot.

I shared my story with others, begging them to pray.

My doctor’s advice? “Walk through it. It’ll be over soon.”

All signs pointed to just “enduring.”

But how could I endure when there’s no light?

I had to keep my eyes on Him.

I felt many times evil was around me.

But I had to chose to believe God was leading me.

He was with me.

And the darkness was only a shadow.

That’s the enemy’s job.

To make the shadows appear real.

As if the darkness cannot be overcome.

I decided long ago no one would ever stand before God and hear,

“Well, you prayed too much. You trusted Me too much.”

Here’s the thing.

We never know when darkness will fall.

Trials don’t come at a scheduled time.

Before mine hit last January, I was doing great. Feeling great.

I’d had a great day. A great evening at an Encounter God meeting.

A friend was in town.

Boom! At 2:30 am I woke up in a very different physical and emotional place.

Hormones again.

But I knew, I knew God was in control.

While I didn’t understand the “why” I knew I was fearfully and wonderfully made.

The most intense struggle lasted a few weeks.

The off and on battle about six months.

The occasional odd day? A few more months.

Within a year, the shadow was gone.

Walking through the valley showed me God was with me.

I was even healed of a particular annoying trembling.

I found Him faithful.

I discovered His strength.

It changed me.

Now I have a spiritual and emotional muscle taught me again how to lean on Jesus in the darkest hour.

What dark hours lay ahead?

I don’t know.

I don’t care to imagine them.

But if yoIu faint at the first sign of adversity, then I’ll never build strength.

You’ll never build strength. Or your own history in God.

Say, just what is your history in God?

Everyone has one.

Sometimes we just don’t recognize when He’s moved in and through our live.

Why not write down those times when God’s met you?

When you thought there was no way but a way was made.

Jot down even the smallest thing.

Maybe a friend called at the right time.

Someone handed you money before you’d even prayed.

Maybe you learned after the fact how you were spared from something in some way.

God is with us always.

Never doubt that. No matter what others say. No matter what stories, testimonies or the news says.

He is with us. Always.

So the darkness is only a shadow.

He will see us through.

 

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