Genesis 1:2

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 

For as long as I can remember, I have been afraid of the dark. As a little girl, when sleepwalking, I would quickly move towards the nightlights that illuminated certain rooms in our home. As a newly married adult, I installed nightlights in every room of our apartment when my husband worked the night shift so that I could quickly inspect every square foot when I woke in the middle of the night.

Throughout my life I’ve tried plugging in nightlights to the dark areas of my soul. But regardless of how hard I tried to illuminate myself, I was always left feeling empty. In my stubbornness & pride, I attempted to do what only the Holy Spirit can do; bring light, revelation, comfort & healing to the dark, broken areas. In my efforts to control my fear, I neglected to see that God has and will always be in control of the darkness and His Spirit has and will always hover over the surface of the deep.

I’ve recently learned that when I quit trying to expel the darkness in my own strength, choosing instead to listen to the One who created the heavens and the earth, I do not need to be afraid! For God has called me, by name and said “Jodie, you are mine…when you go through deep waters, I WILL be with you!”

Isaiah 43:1-2

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
 I have called you by name; you are mine.

2When you go through deep waters,
 I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
 you will not drown…..

Fear is a powerful tool in the hands of the enemy. It feeds itself by lurking in the shadows of our mind, will and emotions. But, when we trust God and allow His nightlight to penetrate the darkness, we see that our fears were often over exaggerated and distorted in relationship to His Truth. Sometimes, yes, the Truth may hurt, for God has not promised us a life free from suffering. Yet, as we go through the deep waters, our relationship with The Father will become deeper, for we are being transformed into the image of His Son.

“To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God’s will even if it means suffering is a very different thing. No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God’s will, as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not.”

-Oswald Chambers

Are you afraid of the dark? I want you to know, my friend, that God is more powerful than the one who lives in darkness, more able to plunge into the deep water to save you, and more loving than anyone on this earth can reflect. Believe me when I say, you can trust Him…..so go, sit before Him and ask Him to shine His light on the areas of your life that need to be illuminated.