Our group was made up mostly of teenagers and young adults, so when the lights went out, screams came out. Darkness. The darkest dark I have ever been in…
HONDURAS 2012: The day before, we had made our way, by bus, through the paved streets of the capital city to the hazardous dirt roads, washed out bridges, and construction work of the jungle. We (and our bladders) were all relieved when we finally pulled up to our hotel.
After figuring out which rooms we would be staying in and unloading, we played some soccer in the courtyard, talked with other hotel guests, and had our nightly debrief. Then it was to bed and up early in the morning to head out for our first day of ministry.
I spent the day leading the music in the children's ministry area and helping out where I was needed. If you know me, then you know that I was completely out of my comfort zone. First, I do not like to lead at all and, second, children are not my strong point. So, despite it being a completely awkward and stretching morning for me, I was sad when we loaded up the bus to head back to the hotel.
After dinner and debrief, that night, our team gathered in the courtyard to hang out and play some games. That's when it happened. Without warning, the lights cut out. The girls screamed. Immediately, my other senses heightened. I heard our team leader firmly instruct us to not move and to stay together.
I could have panicked, but instead, I was filled with peace and awe as I found myself looking up to the stars. And then, just like that, a flashlight flipped on. It cut through the dark like a knife, bringing us all back to reality. Little by little my eyes adjusted and we went on with our game until the lights came back on, and then headed up to our rooms for the night.
In those few moments of darkness we were vulnerable. We were in the murder capital of the world, and in complete darkness. Anything could have happened.
As I look back I can't help but notice what an amazing example of God's faithfulness this was. He doesn't promise that we won't have hard times, in fact, he guarantees that we WILL have hard times, but he also promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. When darkness comes, it comes suddenly. It leaves us blind, scared, and completely uncomfortable. Sometimes it's so dark that it's all that we can see. In those moments, let us lift our eyes to the heavens and know that there is purpose in our struggling.
When we choose to praise God when we can't see, his hope rips right through the darkness. And little by little, as our eyes adjust to what is going on around us, the light comes on, and all is illuminated.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. -Psalm 119:105
You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. -2 Samuel 22:29
Sometimes it takes going through extreme darkness to see clearly.
