“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5

We are at war

Our lives threatened and in immediate danger

The threat however, like a ghost moves in the shadows; deceptive and unseen.

Entering subtly into our distracted lives, we often don’t realize the danger until it’s too late.

While I had long heard of this threat, I first encountered the distinct roar of our enemy in the emergency room of a children’s hospital. The moment forever frozen in my memory, I can clearly recall the paralysis and fear I experienced as I sat across from the doctor who provided our son’s diagnosis.

An autoimmune disease which we learned would demand our undivided attention day and night; requiring continuous intervention to keep him alive.

In that moment and over the coming days, I would enter darkness; experiencing great doubts in my faith. My biggest questions revolving around God’s purpose in allowing this to enter our then six year old son’s life. 

Once doubt established a hold in my mind, the assaults that followed were relentless and immobilizing; inducing great anxiety and fear deep in my heart.

I likened the situation to how it might feel hearing stories about a deadly lion far off in the distance, before realizing it was near your camp… and then suddenly seeing the shadow against your tent. 

I quickly learned the stark difference between merely hearing of an enemy and encountering one face to face. The entire experience bringing forth the realization of just how spiritually unprepared I was for this. 

Like being bound and robbed by a thief in the night, I would slowly discover valuables missing from my house; peace, freedom, joy and hope to name a few. 

Over the coming years, I would feel hunted in my own home; the breath of this monster on my back triggering intense panic attacks. These attacks always started with a burning sensation throughout my body, before laying me on the floor, dripping in sweat and trembling. 

Sure, I had been taught to stand firm and resist the enemy, but how could I do that when my knees were shaking and were incapable of holding me up? Instead…I cowered, like a little boy, under the blankets; afraid of the dark. 

This assassin most definitely had a strategic plan to take me out and he initially did well. As if it all all been mapped out ahead of time in a war room, I began to identify the targeted methods used against me and the obvious areas of my life that I had neglected to secure; each acting as a deadly entry point to myself and those closest to me. 

I discovered that our enemy uses lies to intimidate, terrorize and enslave us. The more we allow his lies to take root in us, the further we slip into darkness. 

Uniquely for me, it was almost always a health related concern; likely a trigger from that initial diagnosis. A small worry would gain footing within my mind, before quickly growing into an uncontrollable and destructive force. Yet, not one part of it was ever grounded in truth. 

Truth then, like light, was the only way to overcome darkness.

In my life, this meant taking every thought, whether good, bad or other to God and asking Him to cast His light of truth over it. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we must ‘…take captive every thought…’ and bring them before Him.

Upon doing this, I could either release that thought to carry on in my camp or take a bullet of truth straight to its head. Each truth would need to be carefully selected and held close to my side; ready to eliminate the lies I regularly face.

I learned I must personally prepare myself each and every day… 

In prayer – opening my heart for the Spirit to fill and surround me; day and night battling the unseen forces coming for me.

By Scripture – defining the Truth to act as the filter through which all things must pass. 

My personal creed then would be:

In light, I can see clearly
In truth, I will understand fully
In Spirit, I am protected dearly

Father, though we walk in darkness, please light our path and overcome our enemy

By your Spirit and in Jesus name – Amen