Tuesday, March 18, 2008

God's light

Here in West Michigan we've had a cloudier Winter than we normally have, I think I heard. We had only 17% of possible sunshine. I'm used to it, and I have to say I admire the strength of the sun, even through the clouds.

There are times in our life of darkness. The enemy can be on the attack. But then, as we wait on the Lord, light begins to move in to dispel that darkness. And that light exposes as well as warms and even facilitates life.

I am so thankful when the light comes back. Usually for me any darkness is so short as to hardly be noticeable, or not much to be concerned about. But recently I think I was under attack from the spiritual enemy, but in such a way that God could use it for good. At the same time I didn't handle it altogether well, and I take that as a growing point for me to do better, next time.

When we don't face God and his will so as to live in that will, we end up in our own darkness. But when we turn, we can receive the healing rays of the Sun of righteousness. I am thankful that in spite of my feelings, and like a bad cold when the virus is gone but the symptoms linger, so I sit here with some joy in my heart, but still a heaviness carried over from the previous days of struggle.

I want to be surrendered to God and his will for me in Christ. I can only do this, in Jesus. I want to face the light, the God who is light and in whom is no darkness at all. And keep walking in the way of the Lord, who has promised us that he will be with us, even in the deepest darkness.

What might you add here to help us?

5 comments:

Rachel Mc said...

Ted, I am sorry you have felt dark days and are still feeling the effects. Here is a quote I found awhile ago that really helped me (still does) keep my dark days in perspective and to receive whatever love, grace, guidance,etc God will give me thru the dark days.
"Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it and it is grace itself which makes this void."
Simone Weil

Ted M. Gossard said...

Rachel,
Thanks for your kind thought and for the quote.

Yes, just as the Lord told Paul, "My grace is sufficinent for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." And Paul was tormented by a thorn in the flesh which was called a messenger of Satan. Which God was using to God's glory and for Paul's good.

So we must trust, no matter what, and obey, knowing God's grace is sufficient, and that by the grace of God we are what we are, in Jesus.

Thanks again.

Every Square Inch said...

Ted

Thanks for your honest post. I think over the years, I've come to expect that Christians will experience dark days...sometimes when I read biographies, I realize that even some of the historical heroes of the faith experienced many, very dark days.

Somehow if we're honestly coming before God, He will use it to refine us and glorify Himself

Ted M. Gossard said...

ESI,
Thanks for your kind and encourging as well as good words on this. I firmly agree. Not fun to be there, but we need to remember that. And how that God is at work, as we keep looking in faith to him, no matter what darkness we may be encountering.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Rachel,
And the thought of God's grace making that void in us, from the quote, is truly a great one. Thanks much!