We just passed through a few weeks of big power outages.
It seems better now. But there were several nights when I came home to my
school compound and there was no light, just deep darkness. And a few nights
rain even fell- shocking for this time of year. And it completely blocked out
the normally bright stars and moon.
During those dark, dark nights – God began speaking to me
yet again about something that I think He wants me to write about this
pre-Easter week.
Have you ever felt haunted? Maybe by something or
someone? Maybe by a memory or an insecurity? I know “hauntings” seem more of a
Halloween theme, but , I feel compelled to write about it.
Maybe you feel haunted or chased by something in your
past that you haven’t faced? Or confessed?
Or maybe it’s something in the present- maybe a health
issue you haven’t checked, a bill you haven’t paid, or a person you haven’t
forgiven?
But something’s there, throwing off your confidence and
making you feel down. Something is making you unstable. And you feel in the dark.
I Peter 5:8-9
Your enemy the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist
him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout
the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
What can we do if we feel this haunting darkness at our
door? Or how can we help others who might be feeling this way? For Jesus died
and rose to give us light and life and freedom and joy and confidence and His
peace.
Matthew 4:16
Those living in
darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of
death a light has dawned.
2 Corinthians
3:17
…where the Spirit
of the Lord is there is freedom
So what can we do if we feel haunted?
1. FACE IT
Why is it there? Don’t ignore it. What is it?
Sometimes it might simply be
persecution. Satan doesn’t like what you’re doing so he’s trying to mess with
you.
Sometimes God himself might be
allowing a season of darkness to pass through our lives. For whatever reason,
maybe humility needs learned or character needs grown. There may be darkness or
silence, allowed by God. In those dark moments, our heart’s security can be
revealed. I know when I lived in Haiti
right after college- I felt many days of solitude and silence from God. But it
was passing through these times- when I realized how far from God I had drifted
and how my security was more based on myself than on him. So I’m thankful for
that dark season- for it brought humility and repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret…
Hebrews 12: 7, 10-11
Endure hardship as discipline. …God disciplines us for our good, so
that we might share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time,
but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it.
So if someone is going through a
dark time, we need to be careful to pray about our role in helping. Maybe the
darkness is God-allowed, because sometimes hitting bottom and feeling darkness is
needed to look up and see light and embrace it.
Romans 8:28
…In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him…
Sometimes though we can be the cause
of our own haunting. There is something
we have done or haven’t done. There’s brokenness or sin or unforgiveness we’ve
not dealt with. There’s neglect. Something. We must face it. We must deal with
it to move forward.
2. LIFT IT TO GOD
Whatever is the root cause, known
or unknown, we need to lift that fear, that insecurity, that past relationship-
whatever it is, up to God, He is big enough to handle it. To supernaturally
direct us in the way we are to go. God
can heal us in the areas that need healed. He can help us face it.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest…
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
John 14:6
I am the way, the truth and the life…
Psalm 103
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who
forgives your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the
pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with
good things so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s… The Lord is gracious
and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love…
Matthew 28:20
I am with you always…
We don’t have to hide from God.
He knows all. And loves us and wants us to come to Him.
Sometimes darkness haunts those
we love. We can lift our family and friends up to God in trust. I think of the
paralyzed man in the Bible. He was helpless. He needed healing in body and spirit.
His friends took action. They carried him and brought him to who they knew
could help him- JESUS. When it was too crowded- they cut a hole in the roof and
lowered him in front of Jesus. Jesus had compassion…and healed him completely…
Check out Luke 5:17-26.
We can lift up our friends and
family, our co-workers, even our “enemies” to Jesus. He can heal, restore and
give new life.
3. PRAY
Then seek God’s leadership in
how to move forward. God can help us. He can help us repent. He can give us
supernatural courage to face what’s haunting us so it doesn’t anymore.
James 5:13-15
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. … is any one of you sick?
He should pray and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well…
therefore confess your sins to teach other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray continually…
Philippians 4:7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus.
May we remember the cross and the tomb this week- the
darkness Jesus experienced to win our freedom!
Romans
8:1-2;15-16
There is now no
condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of
the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death… For you did not
receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a
Spirit of sonship…we are now children of God
We can lift our head up and walk in the redemption and
confidence and acceptance of our Savior!
A new season can begin NOW. We don’t have to live in fear
of what haunts us, in guilt and shame and despair. God is bigger and His love
has freed us!
Isaiah 54-55
Do not be afraid, my unfailing love for you will not be shaken. No
weapon formed against you will prevail. You will go out in joy and be lead
forth in peace.
Isaiah 26:3
He will keep in perfect peace Him whose mind is steadfast on Him
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord Himself will go before you and will be with you, He will never
leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid.
1 John 4:4
Greater is He that is in you
Psalm 30:5
Weeping last only for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out
weeping with seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with
him.
Hebrews 10:39
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but who believe
and are saved.
The darkness can break, the haunting can cease! Jesus won
our victory!
Luke 24:5-6
Why do you look for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here. He
has RISEN!
Happy Easter 2015!
May we walk in the freedom and confidence and light and
love of our Savior!
ONWARD with You!
Praises/Prayer Requests
-Please continue praying for my classes here, both at the
seminary and the college. All are going
well!
-Please keep my family in prayer: my sister in South
Sudan as rainy season starts, and my parents in Ohio. My parents had a great 44th
wedding anniversary- thanks to those who sent wishes for them!
-Please pray for a visit I’m planning this month to see
my sister- meeting in Uganda- that it will be a good time of debriefing and
rest with her.
-As we celebrate Easter on April 5th, and here
in Ethiopia on April 12th- may our hearts rejoice and freedom be embraced! Our King is Alive!
