The Darkness

"He shrouded Himself in darkness, veiling His approach with dense rain clouds." Psalm 18:11...."The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was." Exodus 20:21...."My God, You light up my darkness." Psalm 18:28

Darkness doesn't scare God. It only scares us. In fact, His word says that darkness isn't darkness to Him. It doesn't diminish His vision, His power, or His presence. However, He can and does use it for His purposes. I believe that He's doing so right now.

There's a great deal of preaching, writing, and talking going on about the darkness of our days, and rightly so. They are dark. How we deal with that will determine the depth of our life in Him, and how much that darkness will affect and even imprison us. If we have eyes to see, eyes of His Spirit and not the flesh, we will see into and beyond the darkness. We will see Him. For as Psalm 18 reads, He often approaches us covered in darkness. I believe He approaches us right now. Will we fear and flee from the darkness, or will we believe that in it, no matter how thick, He can be found. He can be seen. And we can know that He is not only the Lord of Light, but that He is also Lord over the darkness.....even at its thickest.

As I write this, a thunderstorm is approaching. The sky is growing darker, and the rain clouds are full. Only minutes ago the sun was shining. Such change happens quickly in weather. So too can it in life. Storm clouds, and the heavy darkness that accompanies them can intimidate us. That is why we have to remember that He reigns over them, and He reigns in them, and He can and will use that darkness to bring forth His light. He will light up our darkness if we will dare to stand still in Him and trust Him for it. Darkness is not darkness to Him.

One other point here; Exodus 21 tell us that Moses entered into the thick darkness where God was. The people stood back in fear, for that is what the flesh will always do. Moses had the discernment to know that His God could be found there. He can always be found there.....if we will dare to enter in. Thick darkness will approach in all manner of ways, including the lives of people, of communities that He puts before us or calls us to. Our flesh will always be put off by such, but He calls us to dare to enter in, to dare to believe that when we do, we'll find Him present there. And if we'll be available to Him, He'll shine His light to and through us.

2000 years ago on a dark, storm tossed lake, Jesus came to His disciples, who were sure that they would perish. The storm had no power over Him, and what they didn't know was that in Him, it had no power over them. Whatever our particular storm may be, and no matter how dark the skies, He is there, in the midst of it, and He will save us....if we dare to lay hold of Him, and trust that He will. The darkness, no matter how deep, has no power over Him....or us. Know that. Believe that, and dare to enter the darkness....where God is.

Blessings,
Pastor O