“Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.”  Psalm 139:7-12 NIV

 

I listened to a podcast recently that looked at some of the original language of this passage.  Particularly the word “darkness” and I immediately knew I wanted to dig into it.  You see, my word for the year is “joy”.  And the truth that God’s presence is always with me brings me an immense amount of joy.  But the word “darkness” stuck out to me.  I’ve seen a lot of it the last few years.  I’ve felt it.  And, by grace, I’ve felt joy in the midst of it.

 

The original Hebrew for the word “darkness” in these scriptures is also found in the beginning.  “ Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”  Genesis 1:2-3 NIV  Darkness has been around since before the world as we know it.  But all our Heavenly Father had to do was speak, and the darkness dispelled.

 

So Where Can I Go From Your Spirit?

 

God controls THE darkness, and He has control of MY darkness. ” You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.”  2 Samuel 2:29 NIV.  Same Hebrew word.  No matter the darkness we face, our Lord can redeem it!  And no matter where we go or what we do, He stays with us.  He doesn’t let go of a child and there is nothing we feel, see or experience that escapes Him.  

 

These scriptures and the prayers they elicit bring me joy and comfort that I can’t describe.  So it doesn’t matter if I’m in the highlands or the heartaches (as one of my favorite songs says), He is there.   If you are currently experiencing darkness, I pray you will be comforted by the presence of the Lord.  And remember that “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NASB God dispels the physical darkness every…single…day.  And He will do the same in your life.  That’s a promise.  

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

My thanks to Lois Flowers for articulating some of what I’m feeling in the same place she’s in.  Read 4 Scriptures Providing Comfort in a Season of Transition.

The Link Up

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

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3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
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