Life Hurts God Heals Pt 4

The very first act of creation was God creating light. The earth was without form and void, Gen 1:3-4 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 

That moment not only set the rest of creation into motion but produced a reality for how life would relate to those two conditions. It would define our day – dividing it into day and night, show us when we were to work and when we were to rest, help us mark off time, schedule events in nature.

But it would also become an analogy for a line drawn between good and evil. Darkness would represent evil and light good. Ignorance lived in darkness but illumination – understanding – came from the light. Oppression prowled about in the darkness but deliverance came from the light.

Spiritually, light and darkness became two realms that co-exist and have attractions for the two sides of our nature. The nature of our flesh desires the darkness. The nature of our spirit desires the light. We live in whichever realm we make ourselves at home.

But Paul said: Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Walk with understanding of who you are. 

When a command is made in Scripture, it’s addressing an area we typically won’t do if we aren’t told to. Paul is commanding us to walk as Children of the Light. Which means, though we are children of light, we can walk as children of the darkness. We can take up the attitudes and actions inconsistent with faith and trust, and though we believe, we can live as though we don’t. Even though we are children of the Light, we can act like children of the darkness. Paul knows that and tells us to choose the light.

Mother sheep and the pig wallow -- sheep don't wallow!

Peter said: 1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Before we gave our lives to the Lord, we were children of the darkness. We did not belong to God. But he called us out of the darkness. His Light drew us away from the life and lifestyle of the dark side.

Ps 18:28 For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness.             

Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

When we stumble back into the darkness, God’s doesn’t say don’t worry, just stay there.  Let Me make you more comfortable there. He calls us back to the Light.

2Cor 4:6-9 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… 

What’s it like in the darkness? Affliction with crushing, perplexing with despair, being forsaken when we are persecuted, being destroyed when we are struck down.

What’s it like in the light? When we are afflicted, we are not crushed; when we are perplexed we are not despairing; when we are persecuted, we are not forsaken; when we are struck down, we are not destroyed.

Why would I want to reenter the darkness! In the darkness we reconnect with oppression. We rediscover fear, anxiety, doubt, lostness. We lose sight of our hope.

Isa 50:10 Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. 

Daniel and his friends were suddenly thrown into the darkness. They faced certain death because King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wanted it interpreted but wouldn’t tell anyone what the dream was about.

Dan 2:27-28 Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 

That’s called a set-up, an unwinnable hand. It’s what the darkness does. It overwhelms us with fear to make us believe there is no answer.

However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made it known.

Daniel and his friends had asked God for wisdom and insight. Listen to how Daniel prayed after God presented them the answer.

Dan 2:20-23 Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter." 

He knows what happens when His children are thrown into the darkness. Like the little sheep, they don’t belong there. Daniel and his friends didn’t belong there, so He lit their way to get them out of the darkness.

Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…

It’s common among men that troubles overwhelm us. Even Children of the Light. Hopelessness and despair can drain away peace and joy. When we’re drawn back into the darkness, we will experience the life of that darkness all over again. We will respond to what we face like the godless who live there without hope.

Jer 8:18 My sorrow is beyond healing, My heart is faint within me!

Bee Gees asked:

How can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go ‘round?
How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart And let me live again.

Now if that were a prayer, soon the light would shine to lead him out of darkness. But if it is merely the complaint of a miserable person living in the darkness asking someone else from the same darkness for help, there is no hope, the darkness holds no answer.

But when our complaining changes into prayer, when we tire of the repercussions of trying to live in the darkness when we are children of the light, we will hear God saying, “I’m your answer, follow Me.”

So, what do we do when we realize our pain and suffering have drawn us back into the darkness? 

Pray for light – for insight. God, show me what I need to know.

·       My physical issues may not be the problem. It could be emotional.

·       My emotional issues may not be the problem. It may be spiritual.

·       It could be my spiritual and emotional issues are actually physical.

That’s why I seek God for what I need to know:

·       I am confident God is my answer.

·       I have assurance He intends to make all things work together for good.

·       I understand I am presenting my whole life to Him, not just the problem.

·       I know He will do what’s best.

·       I faithfully continue asking until I have peace.

We don’t always to know what to ask for. Our motives are not always pure. Our hearts may have us ask with selfish desires. Our minds may have us tell God what the best solution is. Our flesh may want something God doesn’t want for us. But our spirits will ask God to do what’s best.

A heart-broken little girl went to the altar at church and began to pour out her heart to God, but she didn’t know what to say. As she wept, she remembered what her father had told her, "God knows your needs even before you pray, and he can answer when you don’t even know what to ask." So she began to say her alphabet. A lady sitting on the front row heard her. She knelt down beside the little girl and asked her what she was doing. "I’m praying to God from my spirit." The lady said, "It sounds to me like you’re are saying the alphabet!" "I am. But I don’t know what to say so I figured I’d just give God all the letters and let Him make them into the right words so He’d know what I needed to say."

Rom 8:26-28 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Movie: harsh treatment at a private boarding school. Boys could not help a particular boy who was struggling to build a fence until he asked. He’d been working all night then came in drenched from rain and mud, stood alone and said, “Help.” The school master said, “Would you repeat that?” He said, “I need help, please.” The boys got up and helped him finish the job.

All God could be waiting for is you to ask for help. How to you ask for help?

Suggestions: Come to Wednesday night prayer and allow folks to pray over you.

            Ask the Ladies Monday Prayer Group to pray for you.

            Find a prayer partner to pray with you.

            Get alone, in a private place, and pour your burden out on the Lord.

            If you don’t know what to say, just say JESUS! He’ll know what you need.

Just don’t stay in the darkness. Remember: you don’t belong there just like sheep don’t wallow.

TAKEAWAYS:

1.      No one blames anyone for becoming overwhelmed during times of trouble.

2.     There are natural urges within us that draw us into the darkness of despair.

3.     However, as Children of the Light, we are not to stay there and grieve as those who have no hope.

4.     When we realize we aren’t where we should be, we must force ourselves to leave the darkness and return to the Light where we belong.

5.     Don’t stay in the darkness when God has called you to the light.