Never Doubt in the Dark

         Last Thursday my cousin Lili and I left to travel to Napanee, Indiana to visit our cousin, Allyson. Leaving at 3:30 in the afternoon made the six-hour drive not only exhausting but guaranteeing the last portion of our driving would be done in the dark.

         With an hour to go until we reached Allyson’s house, our route took us down several back country roads. In the dark these roads were eerie and our surroundings were a bit frightening. Not knowing exactly where we were or where we were going in the black of the night made us apprehensive. We couldn’t wait to get back on main roads where our journey would be illuminated with lights and signs coming from businesses off the different exits. Needless to say, we were overjoyed when we finally reached our destination.

         When Lili and I left to come home Sunday afternoon, the difference was astounding. The little country roads where we felt unsafe and isolated just three days before changed to feelings of security and warmth. The loveliness and quaintness we couldn’t see in the dark were magnified in the light.

         I began thinking about this experience and how this is exactly what I feel when I’m traveling through the darkness of a battle. I feel unsafe. I’m unsure of where I am or where I’m going. My surroundings are eerie. At times I struggle to hold on to the lighted signs and promises that come from God’s Word. I want to get back on the main roads of my journey. I long to feel the joy of reaching my destination.

         And when I reach my final destination?

         The light magnifies what I couldn’t see or what I forgot in the dark.

         I feel safe. I know I’m loved. The beauty and awe I see in the light are memorizing. But the truth of the matter is just because I feel frightened in the darkness of battle, doesn’t mean I should forget what I’ve been told in the light— God’s promises are true. They are a firm foundation. I’ve heard my pastor quote it and I heard it on Sunday at my cousin’s church, “Never Doubt in the Dark, What God Told You in the Light.” When darkness comes it’s okay to be frightened. Don’t be ashamed of feeling unsafe or isolated. It’s not a sin to wonder where God is or where He’s taking you. We’re human and human emotions are going to overcome us when we’re in the darkness. But what you mustn’t do is doubt what God has told you in the light. It’s easy to trust God’s promises in the light when everything good and right is illuminated, but the real act of trusting comes when terrifying darkness comes. 

         When the suffocating blackness engulfs you, stand on God’s promises. Remember what He told you. Write the words down to show the darkness you believe victory is just around the corner. Live your life in a way that testifies to the world you know what God has said will come to pass. Above all, keep walking through the darkness because when you finally reach the top of the mountain you’ll be able to touch the light.

Even a Child is Known

Right now I’m reading the book of Proverbs. I absolutely love this book. It’s chalk full of golden nuggets that aren’t only practical but encourage you to believe in the impossible. So many things have resonated with me as I have read these chapters. One day I read something I don’t ever remember reading, claiming a new promise of God and another day I read something I have read before and I’m challenged to do a better job of applying it to my life.

Recently, I read a verse in Proverbs chapter 20 that I don’t ever remember reading before, but it struck me in a profound way. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs 20:11. 

Wow! How deep and extraordinary are these words? If the Bible says a child knows what is pure and right, how much more should we as adults know what is pure and right? But the sad truth of the matter is more times than not adults could glean from children’s innocence, honesty, and virtue. All you need to do is turn on the TV to the news and you’ll see so many adults don’t know the meaning of pure and right anymore. What happened to men and women striving for goodness? When did adults lose their raw sincerity? Who told men and women that it was okay to let their principles and forthrightness fall to the wayside?

The Bible says to train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he won’t depart from it. But if adults continue to lose their integrity how will a child know what is pure? How will they know what is right?

We NEED to do better.

We MUST do better.

Thankfully, I saw this verse in action this past Sunday afternoon through a little girl named Madelyn Caseman. The Sunday morning service kicked off my church, Rubyville Community Church’s homecoming revival and after homecoming dinner, we had our annual songfest. For the past several years, a local Southern gospel group, The Lore Family has sung and they did the honors this year as well. Right before the Lore’s began to sing I noticed that Madelyn was sitting by Sandy Lore up on the stage. My first thought was that when they began singing, Madelyn would probably go back to sit with her parents, but to my surprise, when the family got up to sing, Madelyn came with them. They announced she would be singing her favorite song with them, “I Lived to Tell About It.” 

I think everyone in the congregation held their breath, hoping she would not become scared, no one more than her mother Ashley Caseman. “I was nervous because being three years old, I wasn’t sure what she was going to do when she got up there, but she showed no fear standing in front of everyone. As soon as that little hand went up, my heart completely melted and the tears started flowing.”

And when Madelyn raised that little hand up in the air, singing her heart out, that hand never came down until the end of the song. After the songfest, Ashley and her husband Cameron asked Madelyn what it was called when she raised her hand and why she did it. This was the precious girl’s response: “I was praising the Lord because He is good to us.”

Madelyn knew what was right. Madelyn knew what was pure. Every person who witnessed her singing that afternoon left not doubting these facts. But the reason Madelyn knew what was pure and what was right is a result of the training she’s received from her parents, her family, and her church family— children act by example and Madelyn has seen goodness, sincerity, principles, and forthrightness. 

We NEED to do better.

We MUST do better or children like Madelyn will cease to know what it means to be pure and right. I for one will use this verse as a reminder to be the best example of what pure and right is so the children I know will grow up into adults who know God created them to be MORE.

Believe What You Pray For

This week has been busy, especially with two trips to Columbus for doctors’ appointments. But I still wanted to share something with my readers this week. This blog post is short and sweet, but I feel like it’s for someone, just like it’s been for me this week. I always wonder what God will give me to write about.  Honestly, He has used this blog as a way for me to process and release things I’ve experienced on this journey of climbing my mountains.

It’s been so freeing.

On Monday, my friend, Fayth Lore, posted a quote that said, “What if…everything you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for.” This quote totally resonated with my heart, stirring my soul with expectancy and anticipation. I’ve been told God has a plan for me and I know I need to trust in God’s timing, but this inspirational saying is exactly what I needed to hear at this time of my life.

You see, I have been and I am currently praying for some pretty big things right now. I’ve wondered how God would bring these desires of my heart to pass, but the saying Fayth posted was so timely for me.  It was as if God whispered into my heart that even though I don’t understand all that I’ve been through or why I’m where I’m at in certain areas of my life, these seasons of life are actually preparing me for what I’ve asked God to bring to pass.

I’ve already begun to see this statement is true and it’s only been three days since Fayth shared this post. But you know how God is. He rarely just gives you a word or a promise without backing it up with a confirmation and He did that for me today. My friend, Danielle Hannah texted me a quote that said, “Believe in What You Pray For.” I just knew God was giving me permission to believe in these "big exceeding abundantly above," prayers I’m praying about.  

So, I just want to encourage anyone reading these words to look at the season of life you’re in differently because what if you’re going through them because they are preparing you for what you’re praying for? Believe in the prayers you’re praying. Expect them to come to pass. Who knows maybe this time next week you’ll have what you have been praying for.

Let it Die

         I don’t remember every sermon that I’ve ever heard preached, but there are just some that resonated with my heart and have remained etched in the very corners of my soul.

Several years ago my Assistant Pastor, Brian Baer preached a message called, “You Bring Your Standard Up Here!” He emphasized that as Christians we can’t afford to lower our standards, no matter how small or trifle the compromise may be. He also preached a message called, “Beyond, Beyond,” reminding my congregation of the Bible verse, Ephesians 3:20 and how God still makes the impossible, possible.

         My pastor Cal Ray Evans has preached some amazing messages that have been such an encouragement to me on my journey as well. A couple of years ago he gave our church a sermon entitled, “Let the Redeemed of the LORD say So!” He challenged all of us to stand boldly and proclaim, “SO,” anytime Satan would remind us of our past or fight us because we are the LORD’s redeemed and nothing the enemy of our soul can say or do can change that.

         Last Sunday, Pastor Cal preached another sermon that will stay with me forever. His message was called, “Let it Die,” and he encouraged our flock whatever burdens we are carrying to let them die, so Christ can resurrect us and give us beauty from ashes. He taught us that Christ didn’t carry His cross forever and we don’t have too either.

         This really touched my heart and made me think about the biggest burden I’ve ever had to carry. What might surprise you is it’s not what I’ve gone through medically, but it’s what I’ve gone through spiritually. Four years and a half years ago the devil launched an all scale attack on me. I’ve had never experienced spiritual warfare before and here I was right in the heat of the battle. For almost a year I felt the enemy breathing down my neck. The fear and panic I felt just about suffocated me. I pretty much lived at the altar, slept with my Bible, I would walk the house declaring the devil couldn’t have me, I was a child of the King, and I filled my bedroom with scripture and miracles God had performed on my behalf.  

         It’s a season of life I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. My disease had been a walk in the park compared to this battle. But eventually, I learned to fight without wilting and wringing my hands, thinking, “What’s Satan going to do next?” This is what I’ve done the past four and half years— fight and live my life with joy because that’s the very thing Satan will never take away from me. But after Pastor Cal’s message, the thought came to my mind, have I truly let the burden of this cross die? I’m not sure I have and I think God confirmed this thought by the verse in my daily Bible app that very Sunday- Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1.

         I’ve pondered Pastor Cal’s message and this Bible verse this week and I’ve wondered what makes us hold onto our burdens, not letting them die? I believe it’s for two reasons. One, we almost believe that it’s too good to be true for something that entangled us so much to completely disappear. Two, we don’t think we deserve to be made free from this cross we bear. There are so many factors that lead to these reasons— feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or even fear if we let this cross die will one even heavier take its place?

         Whatever the case may be those reasons and factors are real and valid. However, if we don’t have to live bearing these crosses, we shouldn’t because that’s exactly what Christ intended when He died on the cross. I’m not saying it’s easy to let it die because it’s not—I’ve bared this cross off and on for four and half years, but Galatians 5:1 says I don’t have too and I’m determined it will die. So I’m going keep climbing this mountain until I’ve reached the top because I’m MORE than any mountain that stands before me and I know God has so many good and perfect gifts for me.

If you’re baring a cross today, my advice to you is to let it die just as my pastor preached and because the Bible tells us we can and we should. It might not happen overnight, but determine in your heart that God has bigger and better things for you, He has beauty to replace your ashes, and He wants to replace your cross with victories.