DARK PLACES…B.U.G.S.
This is a topic that really does warrant special attention. There seems to always be a span of time that even we as true believers will experience “Dark Places”. I’m not sure if this can be explained clearly enough that we truly get the message. Yet, this will be an attempt to maybe set the tone for further investigation.
Why do we experience times that seemly we adopt a deep sensation to not want to be a part of this life? A feeling of not really wanting to be around people. We experience a feeling of wanting just to close off from everything and everyone. We are terrified at the thought of having to deal with any situation or event in our lives that requires more effort.
Have you ever gotten to a point in your life that nothing seemed to matter?
Have you felt like just checking out for a while not really understanding why?
Have you felt like there was no hope for you even in the midst of doing that church routine that everyone expects from you?
Are you hurting and no one is paying attention?
Do you just have that “I just don’t feel like doing anything” feeling?
Is it becoming harder for you to see the “bright side’ of situations?
These are some of the questions that may flash through our minds along the way of just Living Life. So what do you do with these feelings? Will they ever go away? Why are they even in your mind? There comes a point of where you can actually feel the intense chill of being surrounded by this cold and dreadful emotion. How do you get past this?
Better yet, here you are sitting in the midst of people wondering if anyone will take a little time to reach out or even be aware that you are there. You are sitting in the midst of morning worship and feeling like there is a box around you that keeps you from getting the help you need. You ask yourself “Can anybody hear me”? There is a sensation of crying out but getting no response to your desperate cry.
These are some of the emotions and feelings that one deals with when experiencing “Dark Places”. One would tend to wonder how they really got to this state of mind and exactly how are they going to get out of it? Questions come up like “How am I going to get out of this?” “Does anyone even care?” “Why can’t I feel joy?” “Why do I always feel like I am failing?” Why am I feeling so disconnected?
These are very deep and valid questions to ask when we experience “Dark Places”. But the most valid question to ask is “How do I survive this?”
It was never meant for us to live life and never have to suffer things we don’t understand. The kicker of it all is “How do I survive this?”
Another one of those B.U.G.S. (Being Under The Grip Of Satan) that keeps popping up in our journey in life. Satan’s perfect opportunity to gain more ground and blind you even more from the truth. If we are in a state of blindness, we will have difficulty understanding what we are experiencing and thereby allow the solution to pass us by or not even see that its right in front of us.
Dark places will always create spiritual darkness. That being said means that you also experience a certain separation from God.
Isaiah 9:2 states …” The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has a light shone. (ESV)
Matthew 4:16 states…” the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them, a light has dawned.” (ESV)
God is the light that we need in our lives in order to maintain this journey in life. We live in a sinful environment and we become more vulnerable when there is no buffer or deliverance from it.
2 Peter 1:4 states…”4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
This is an ever-present trick of Satan to capture our minds while in a state of darkness and utterly destroy us. Dark places in our lives were never meant to remain. God provided a way to escape daily when He became our “Light”. Whoever follows God will never walk in darkness and will experience the light of life!
Remember that darkness will only create more darkness. The more our state of relying on darkness to cover our emotions and state of mind, the more we will rely on remaining in that state. It becomes comfortable to us and can become an environment that we accept as normal.
We must recognize this state as a separation from God. The solution is in God. God calms our emotional state if we allow Him to work within us as He promised. We must find that thing which causes “Dark Places” to consistently appear within our lives. Have the guts to address it and remove it. If we become comfortable in a state of darkness then a light will only be an uncomfortable experience. We must reveal the things of darkness.
This sounds crazy to those that have never experienced the effects of being in a dark place. Even though it sounds like that, its far from being crazy. It is a real emotion and state of mind that thrives in today’s world. Remember that we live in a Dark World and the Ruler of Darkness is Satan.
We must realize the fight ahead when experiencing this state of mind. This is a cry out for help that sometimes may not be heard. Finding ourselves there is not only devastating but scary.
One would tend to really understand why it is necessary that we fellowship and uplift one another. This type of atmosphere should produce and reveal the suffering that exists around us. We should be more attentive to others and their pain. That an act of love may save a life that is on the verge of death.
Reaching out to touch those that are suffering from “Dark Places” in their lives is no joke. It is especially not funny when you are experiencing it yourself. We talk about dark places but never really allow healing to take place once we are in that state.
Whatever the cause there is a realization that the only clear solution is to seek light in the midst of darkness. That light. Must be initiated with the help of God. This is why we believe!!! Our faith and hope along with the grace God has extended to us will guide us through any “Dark Place” in our lives.
If you are experiencing a “Dark Place” in your life, Run For Your Life”!! Your eyes will be opened and you will experience life in the midst of Light (God).
If you need help …seek after it. Recover and rebuild whatever has been attacked in your life. Allow God to be that light you surely need!!
If this has enlightened or called attention to an area that needs you to identify and recover…please do so now!! God’s promises will always stand …
Thank you for listening…
Prayerfully Submitted (An Unfinished Story)
Evang. Debbie Watkins
Disclaimer* These posts are no in any way posted based on expert input. My expertise comes from LIVING LIFE in the CHURCH. Please read with an open mind, attitude, and heart. Thank you.
