Into the Darkness

By Fran Lee Strickland 

“As the people stood in the distance, Moses entered into the deep darkness where God was.” Exodus 20:21 (TLB)

My last post was entitled ‘Light Trumps Darkness’ and discussed how “all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle” and how Jesus’ light dispels the darkness. In light of that, pardon the pun, it may seem contradictory this week for me to talk about going into the darkness instead of moving toward the light.

In the verse above Moses enters into a darkness that is deep. I interpret this to mean that it is not a short period of time nor is it just a minor tough spot in his journey of life. I believe it is another turning point in his destiny to fulfill God’s will not only for his own life, but the life of many others. You would think he had already traversed his initiation into his destiny by gathering the courage to go before Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, to ask for the release of his people, the Israelites. If that were not enough, after the Israelites were released by the ruler of Egypt, Moses then led them to a place where his faith was again tested. Did he really believe God would or could provide a way for them to safely navigate the Red Sea to safety? I imagine Moses was sweating bullets as he stood at the edge of that water with a panicked, unorganized, emotionally and physically worn down, hoard of people.

And if that wasn’t enough, once in the desert with these now rebellious, grumbly people, he is appointed to climb Mt Sinai to seek the will of God. Again.

If God is light, then why does Moses go into the darkness to find him?

Light Shines Brighter In The Dark

One evening after dark my son and I waited for electrical linemen to arrive and access why we were the only house in the area without electricity. I lit a candle in the kitchen and we waited outside on the patio because without air conditioning the temperature inside the house was warmer than it was outside.

The flickering light of the candle in the kitchen flowed through the windows and onto the patio where we were sitting. I commented how much light that little candle was generating.

 My son said, “Light always shines brighter in complete darkness.” He wasn’t quoting a Bible verse, just making an observation, but his words reminded me of John 1:5 which the Holman Christian Standard translation says, “The light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness has not overcome it.” The New Living Translation puts it this way. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

And there is my favorite translation written by Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, also known as St Francis of Assisi, who said it this way.

 

         “All the darkness in the world cannot

extinguish the light of a single candle.”

 

Francis of Assisi

 

 The livescience.com website says that “if you were standing atop a mountain surveying a larger-than-usual patch of the planet, you could perceive bright lights hundreds of miles distant. On a dark night, you could even see a candle flame flickering up to 30 miles away.”

 The maritimenz.govt.nz website makes this comment in its history of lighthouses. “Peculiarly, the light which could be seen for miles by seafarers, was only just bright enough to read a book by inside the light room.”
 

 So how does this relate to us as writers?

The way I see it, as Christian writers the words we pen are flickers of light that penetrate the world around us. I find both comfort and encouragement in the Apostle John’s words because he tells us that a world which appears hopelessly dark at times will never be completely so because of the light that Christ emits through us.

 Livescience.com tells us that the Andromeda galaxy is made up of 1 trillion stars that are visible to the naked eye even though they are located 2.6 million light-years from Earth. That’s a long way! Francis of Assisi’s light traveled to us through 800 years as he continues to inspire us in his own words “to cherish those for whom Christ died.”

 Dear Writer, I challenge you to dispel the darkness with the light of your words!

 

Persevere To Reach Your Goal

I’ve been writing my first novel for quite a while now. Actually, long enough that those people close to me and who care, are beginning to think I’m never going to complete it. I admit it has been a more challenging project than I ever imagined. Some people seem to effortlessly churn out story after story, but I know there is no “effortlessly” when it comes to writing.

Writing is hard work.

It takes a lot of perseverance to complete a project as lengthy as writing a novel. So what exactly does it mean to persevere?

The definition of persevere is to stay steady on course through difficulties and obstacles.

Shortly after beginning the novel, my marriage slammed into a block wall and disintegrated. After picking myself up from that unforeseen disruption, I shook off the dust and debris, cleared my head, and continued to write and to study the craft of writing despite moving to a new house, raising a teenage son, and learning to manage my finances on one income.

Because I work full time in accounting, the weekends are usually the only time that I can write. If I lose writing time then it is difficult to make it up during the week unless I give up my lunch break and write, which I’ve done, or give up a couple to three hours of sleep to write, which I’ve done. Perseverance. It’s a painful, exhausting word. But it produces rewards.

I set out to write a novel, but in the process I’ve been drawn to other types of writing that have produced fruit along the way, one of which is this blog. Writing for the blog keeps my writing muscle strengthened and provides a way to communicate with my readers! And though I take time to write for this blog as well as pen a devotion now and then, still, I plug along on the novel, slow and steady, plotting, writing, re-writing, editing, and writing some more. Perseverance pushes me through the derailments, distractions, detours, and discouragements.

So how do you develop perseverance?

Supernatural Forgiveness

A few years ago Beth Moore introduced me to the Greek word Makrothumia. It is a beautiful sounding word that represents the quality of a person who is able to avenge himself yet refrains from doing so. How very foreign a concept in contrast to our human nature. We want an eye for an eye. We want those who hurt us to pay for what they’ve done.

But that is not Christ’s way.

Recently many of us witnessed this type of grace as the families of survivors in the Emanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina, extended the message of salvation to a man who heartlessly murdered their loved ones. Those who spoke to him could have told him to rot in hell, yet they exhibited forgiveness in the midst of their pain.

What makes the difference between someone who lashes out like a wounded animal at their offender and those who exhibit such grace? God’s word tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Forgiveness does not come easily, nor does it come without God’s intervention. The natural man wants retribution, and quickly, but it can become a vicious cycle. The need for revenge can erode the best parts of a person as well as his relationship with God. The Bible tells us that when we have anger against our fellowman, we should resolve that anger before we approach God to worship Him.

So how do we resolve the resentment and anger that takes control when we have been wronged?  One step is to heed God’s command in 2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV).

“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

As difficult as it seems, we must keep our words of anger to ourselves. This does not mean that we cannot have healthy disagreements. It means that we should not say hurtful words to someone who has wronged us. Writing in a journal provides an outlet for hurt feelings and the overflow of rage. Anger directed at another destroys not only the perpetrator, but the victim as well. Vent upward, not outward.

Another way to curb anger is found in Proverbs. “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” (Proverbs 21-22)

What? Give my enemy food? Are you kidding? After what he did to me? No way.

These were exactly my thoughts when God led me to these verses. How could He expect me to feed someone who had hurt me so terribly? It didn’t make sense. The thought only served to fan my anger.

Peace stood at a distance. Watching. Waiting.

What is interesting about the act of providing food and water is that hate and provision cannot co-exist. The one will push the other away. Also, food and water does not always literally mean something the other person can eat or drink. It can at times be a metaphor for whatever good you can do for that person such as offering shelter, clothing, warmth, a kind word. Anything that will bless your enemy.

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV ) says “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Whew! I have to pray for them too? Isn’t that asking a little too much?

Peace inched a little closer, but still stood outside my reach.

How do you even pray for someone whom you’d like to break into pieces and scatter over the highway for the birds to feed upon? As difficult as it seems, it is actually the simple act of saying the words even when the words contradict your feelings. If we have aught against someone when we come before God, He will not listen to us and God is where the peace resides, so if we expect to experience the peace that He has to offer, then prayer for our “enemy” is the most important step we can take in receiving that harmony within our soul.

It may take a while for sincerity to catch up with the words. Emotions can shatter in an instant but take quite some time to rebuild. Forgiveness and healing does not come easily, nor does it come quickly, but it will come when we follow God’s directions.

1.       Do not say hurtful things to your enemy.

2.       If it is within your power, make provision for his needs.

3.       Pray for restoration and blessing for that person.

The survivors in Charleston demonstrated a deep and abiding faith with God in their ability to say words of forgiveness to a troubled young man who committed such a senseless act that will leave scars on their hearts for the rest of their lives, but what a shining example they are. Their words of forgiveness were drawn from a deep well of spiritual knowledge that healing will come in the ability to bless and not curse the source that caused their pain.  May God provide supernatural comfort to them as they move forward.

Have you ever been so hurt by someone that it took power beyond your own to show grace to that person? If so, I pray that you have experienced healing and now can encourage others who are struggling to forgive someone.

Connections

Ok. I’m pumped. I’ve just returned from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in North Carolina, and I’m ready to write, write, write! I am so grateful to have been able to meet and network with so many talented writers. It is soul soothing to be around people that get me. People who understand that there are always imaginary characters in imaginary settings running around in my head. They listen intently as I speak of stories that haven’t happened and never will except on the printed page. They agree wholeheartedly when I describe the wellspring of emotions that I experience on a regular basis as a writer. It is an exciting, exasperating journey and there is none other like it.

I fellowshipped with old friends and made some new friends. Cara, it was so fun to meet you in such a God moment way! Diana, thank you for the impromptu prayer you whispered in my ear. What a blessing you are. Elva, always you are my mentor and friend and inspiration on so many levels. God uses you in remarkable ways! Mary, I want to see those pictures! Edie, you are an amazing woman. Great conference! Ramona, you may not realize it yet, but you’ve just amped up my deadline. This first novel will be finished this summer! You’ve encouraged me, and I thank you for that. Yvonne, thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me to be part of your “Moments” series. Lori, though I don’t see you often, you are often in my thoughts, and I cherish your friendship. Beth, I know that your accomplishments are bittersweet because they are born of pain, but you, as the speaker said, have the unique opportunity to save lives. You will go far, my friend. David, this whole experience was so much richer because you shared it with me.

The list could go on, and on, and on. Connections. It is my belief that people do not cross our paths by accident. I learned several years ago that God places people in our lives at just the right time to encourage us, hold us up during tough times, help us heal or to enrich us. I value each connection I share with those who intersect with my life.

And if it were not for Lisa, I would not be where I am on this writing journey. Lisa does not aspire to be a writer, but she has an incredible gift of words. Four or five years ago, she was the friend that checked on me every single day during and after my divorce offering soothing words of hope. She prayed with me, listened to me say the same things over and over, and over and over until I got it all out of my system. She cried with me, wiped my tears, fought for my sanity and defended me whether I was right or wrong.

In the middle of all that pain, I shared with her my lifelong desire to be a writer. Next thing I knew, she started writing a story. Not to be outdone, I picked up my dormant manuscript and starting writing again. Somewhere along the way, she abandoned her story and picked up mine. She would read, re-read, critique, suggest, and help plot. She accompanied me to the first writing conference that jumpstarted my passion for the writer’s life, then she stepped back gracefully and let me run with it while she turned in another direction to use her beautiful words to lift up, pray for, and encourage others. Thank you, Lisa, for always being there. My sister by heart. For putting up with my moods and for calling me out when need be. Thank you for your encouragement and selfless friendship.

Do you have positive connections in your life? Do you believe you would not be where you are if not for them? If so, please join me in giving them a shout out so the world can celebrate with you!  

The End of the Rope

All of us have reached a point in our lives when we feel like we are at the end of the rope. In fact, I would say this probably happens several times over the course of one’s life. The past couple of months have been one of those times for me. It has not been any one thing that has caused me all the distress, but several relentless events that converged together at the same time with enough persistence to catapult me into despair. Grains of sand, Jentezen Franklin called them in one of his sermons, little grains of sand that alone would be considered inconveniences or irritants but several grains banded together in your shoes can wear the skin off your feet over an extended period of time.

And so, after a couple of months of lonely holidays as a divorcee, excruciating deadlines at my day job with long hours, the beginnings of a head cold, writing frustrations, and monetary shortages, I had a meltdown. Any one or two of these things would have been manageable, but all of them together left me exhausted, feeling hopeless, and lacking direction.

I am an accountant by day and a writer by night. This past Saturday I had to work extra hours on my day job because of a looming accounting deadline. Already burned out from the long hours for the past sixty days, I literally had to force myself to get dressed and move forward. I wanted to curl up in a warm place and sleep through the rest of the winter, but I pushed those thoughts aside and dressed for work.

Around lunch time a writing friend and mentor called to check on me. I didn’t mean to unload my burdens on her, but she phoned right when I felt like letting go of the end of the rope. She said, “Well, let’s just pray about this right now.”

She asked God to give me wisdom in my work and for my hectic schedule, specifically praying that I gain wisdom to see the big picture rather than wallow in the details. Definitely something I needed since I was buried deep in the details. I felt like a dog chasing his tail, stuck in an endless cycle that was going no where, frustration building to a frenzy.

My friend’s prayer was effective. By the end of the day I had a clear vision of how to handle the situation in which I now found myself. As I stood in the doorway of my office and surveyed the mess of papers strung out all over my desk and the floor, I asked God for his long range wisdom for my situation. Once I stepped aside and allowed God to infuse me with His wisdom, He revealed to me that pride clouded my ability to think clearly. Pride had kept me from seeking professional help in an area that I was supposed to be quite capable. I didn’t want to admit that I couldn’t figure out the problem myself, but once I realized pride kept me in this cycle of frustration, I began to formulate a viable long range plan for dealing with the time consuming problems that kept me in over my head. If I had sought wisdom earlier, I could have been spared much of the extra work and frustration.

Why do we always wait until we are at the end of our rope to cry out? It doesn't make sense, but as humans with short sighted mentalities, we hang onto that slippery cord as long as we possibly can. We stare downward into the abyss over which we dangle precariously in despair of what lies beneath before something causes us to look upward and send that signal for help.

Have you ever had a situation in which a prayer for wisdom helped you understand what was compounding your frustration? If so, please share!