what to do in the dark

It was 9:30 at night, and from the comfort of my bed we heard him coming.  thump thump thump, footsteps down the bunk-bed ladder.

He couldn’t stay in his room.  because he was afraid.  afraid he wasn’t safe.  afraid he was alone.  just plain afraid.

We told him one more time, he had to stay in his bed, and I’d be back in to check on him.  He was not alone.  He was very safe.  He didn’t have to be afraid.  The same pattern happened two more times that evening before I finally found him asleep in his bed, dead tired and exhausted from all of the fear.

A few days after that event, after we relived the same cycle several nights running, Isaac and I had a chat.  We had to have our conversation in the daylight, because, once it is dark, it is really hard to get fear’s grip to let go.

And so we began digging around down, deep in his heart.  At the bottom of every fear, there’s a heart issue…  and I had an idea I knew.  Just maybe I knew what was lurking …

I could review the whole conversation here with you, but I won’t.  I will tell you the result.  The most glorious result a Mother could find.  At the end of our talk, Isaac had asked Jesus to forgive his sins, and to help Him believe, and that he wanted to follow Jesus until it was time to go to Heaven.

tears. of. joy.  Many many tears of joy streaming down this Mama’s cheeks were the result, I promise you that.  Isaac cried thick tears of happiness and pressed his little face into my neck.  And he said, over and over, “Mama, I’m just so happy.  I’m just so happy.”

Friends, we found the answer.  The only thing to do in the dark is to remember THE VICTORY.  The victory of Jesus’ death on the cross, and His resurrection outshines all other marks on the timeline of history.  And HE is the only one who is able to brighten every dark corner of our hearts, reveal our deepest sorrows and sins,  forgive us, heal us, comfort us, and reconcile us to God.    And this same victory, gives the confidence our hearts need to overcome the darkest moments  on earth we ever know.

Words from Isaiah 25:

He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
And it will be said in that day:
“Behold, this is our God;
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the Lord;
We have waited for Him;
We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

and