“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said,  ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”  Genesis 1:1-3

The earth was without form, void and dark. Before one act of creation, the Spirit of God was hovering; God was about to turn formlessness into the heavens and earth; he was about to change darkness into light; to change the void into the heavens and earth, land and sea, light, plants, animals and humans.  

Hurricane Helene left behind loss and devastation in its wake. It left behind what can seem so dark and void. But the Spirit of God is still hovering. He still can bring order from the chaos; he can still “Let there be Light.” As so many begin to look for steps out of the devastation, we pray. We pray for light for each of them. We pray for hope. We pray for resources. We pray for help, shelter, provisions, health, and people to come alongside each of them.  

Exodus 17 tells of a battle Israel faced against the Amalekites. Moses stood on the mountaintop overlooking the battle; as long as he kept his arms lifted, the Israelites were winning. When he was fatigued, the enemy began to win. Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and lifted his arms for him when he was too weak to hold up on his own.  And Israel won the battle. 

2 Chronicles 20 records an imminent attack of the enemy on Judah. BUT, “as they began to sing and praise…the Lord…” defeated their enemy.  

The song, Raise a Hallelujah was written by someone whose friend was going through a great challenge. Praising God in the gap when our neighbors and friends have nothing left in their tanks, helps keep them going and helps fight off the enemies they face.  

I raise a hallelujah

In the presence of my enemies

I raise a hallelujah 

Louder than the unbelief

I raise a hallelujah

My weapon is a melody

I raise a hallelujah

Heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the Ashes hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive. 

 

As our friends and neighbors try to hold up under the pressures they face after this storm, we can be their “Aaron and Hur.” We can look for tangible opportunities to hold them up. We can raise a hallelujah in the presence of their enemy. We can help shine light in their moment of darkness. 

Worship: Raise a Hallelujah by Bethel Music

 

Another Kind of Storm: Despair

“Hey Alexa, turn on the living room lights to full.” Clap on (clap clap). Clap off (clap clap). Have you ever had those lights that come on and go off with the clap of your hands? Pretty cool! Between this clapping technology and verbal command technology, you can literally turn the lights on in a room without even getting up off your duff!  It’s a real feeling of power and control (and maybe a little laziness)! 

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said,  ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-3) He had the technology of light figured out way before Alexa! 

There was darkness, and there was God. God did not leave his creation in the dark; he said, “Let there be Light.” He doesn’t leave us to be alone, in the dark, without hope. Darkness is often used to describe great despair. One psalmist describes being in a place of despair and trouble to the point he declares that “darkness has become my only companion” (Psalm 88:18) While there is much despair over the recent hurricane, there is another sort of storm that causes darkness in our lives. 

I’m pretty sure we have all had days, weeks, months, even years that seemed like darkness moved in and would not leave. I love my children and they bring me more joy than I ever knew possible.  But soon after having my children, I encountered a darkness that I struggled with for a long time. Postpartum depression and changes in my body’s chemicals created in me a despair that I could not figure out how to overcome. I am by no means an expert on dealing with depression and the darkness it brings. I had days in which I  felt like the light was out and I could not flip on the switch. The “clap on” did not work! Alexa was nowhere to be found. And maybe worst of all, I kept it to myself. At least I thought I did; often when we suffer in silence, our darkness is more noticeable to those closest to us than we think.  

My dear husband noticed, and he helped turn on the light for me. I believe that God let him see things in me that even I could not see. I remember sitting together at the kitchen table one night and, for the first time he called my darkness what it was. He said, “Honey, do you think you might be depressed?” And honestly, those words, giving a name to my struggle, made the darkness less, and a flicker of light began to shine. I had hope. He encouraged me to call my doctor and get help. There are different ways to overcome depression, but I know that silence is NOT the way to get it to leave.  My husband spoke up; he prayed for me. And I followed through, called my doctor and got the help I needed. And for many years now, that dark depression has been gone; I am living in the light! 

God turned on the light in the very beginning. When sin entered the world, darkness seized an opportunity. Unfortunately, that darkness can creep in when we least expect it.  Let me say right here that darkness in regard to depression does not mean a specific sin caused that depression. Sin can result in depression, but not all depression is a result of a person’s sin. However, if no one had ever sinned there would be no such thing as depression. But sin did enter, and along with it many consequences for mankind. Hiding in my darkness, alone, did not make my depression leave. I needed help; I needed someone to turn the light on for me. And when the light came on, it got brighter. Isn’t it miraculous that when the tiniest light enters a dark space, it overcomes the darkness? 

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

If you find that you may be suffering from depression, please find someone trustworthy to talk to about it. If you have a friend whose life seems void, unhappy, overly difficult, maybe that friend needs you to shed some light on them; to be near them, to care about them, talk to them, to hold their arms up like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. When we have the light of the Creator inside of us, we have the ability to share that light with others. My friend, LET THERE BE LIGHT!

Is there something in your life that may be allowing darkness to enter in? Ask God to show you if there is something in your life that is allowing darkness to overcome your light. Ask Him to show you a step you could take to move from darkness into the light. When my husband called out the name of my darkness, it helped me begin to move out of it. 

Philippians 2: 9-10 says (about Jesus), “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the NAME above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth…”

Name your darkness. And call on Jesus, the name above all names, to let there be light in your life.

 

Worship: What a Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship