Do you struggle with the deep darkness of depression and find yourself without hope? Talk to us.

“Having believed, you were marked in him (Christ) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13,14).

I heard of a clever little bird in the tropics that will cover his young in the nest with leaves. When a poisonous snake slithers up the branch to devour the helpless birds, it strikes its tongue against the leaves and instantly recoils. The leaves are poisonous to the snake.

This little story reminds me that as Christians, we also have an adversary, the devil, who wants to destroy us. But we have a three – fold security: the seal of the Holy Spirit which means ownership by God; the blood of Jesus Christ which atones for every sin; and the name of Christ which sends Satan running. When we are in danger, all of heaven comes to our defense.

Some years ago, in an African country, weak in body and discouraged in soul, I sensed an encroaching darkness descend upon me. On this particular day, I had gone to bed but couldn’t sleep. An ominous dread filled my heart. When I opened my eyes, I saw a dark figure had entered the room. I called for my husband to come and together we said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to leave. We are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ and you cannot touch us. We belong to God.”

Instantly the darkness vanished.

In Christ, we have a covering that the powers of darkness cannot penetrate. Therefore, we have nothing to fear – ever.

Father, I thank you for the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus. I pray for your covering upon myself and my children today.

Question: Have you ever experienced a period or moment of spiritual darkness? How did God bring you through it?

Do you struggle with the deep darkness of depression and find yourself without hope?  Talk to us.

“Having believed, you were marked in him (Christ) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13,14).

I heard of a clever little bird in the tropics that will cover his young in the nest with leaves. When a poisonous snake slithers up the branch to devour the helpless birds, it strikes its tongue against the leaves and instantly recoils. The leaves are poisonous to the snake.

This little story reminds me that as Christians, we also have an adversary, the devil, who wants to destroy us. But we have a three – fold security: the seal of the Holy Spirit which means ownership by God; the blood of Jesus Christ which atones for every sin; and the name of Christ which sends Satan running. When we are in danger, all of heaven comes to our defense.

Some years ago, in an African country, weak in body and discouraged in soul, I sensed an encroaching darkness descend upon me. On this particular day, I had gone to bed but couldn’t sleep. An ominous dread filled my heart. When I opened my eyes, I saw a dark figure had entered the room. I called for my husband to come and together we said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to leave. We are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ and you cannot touch us. We belong to God.”

Instantly the darkness vanished.

In Christ, we have a covering that the powers of darkness cannot penetrate. Therefore, we have nothing to fear – ever.

Father, I thank you for the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus. I pray for your covering upon myself and my children today.

Question: Have you ever experienced a period or moment of spiritual darkness? How did God bring you through it?

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Are you totally discouraged with your situation in life? We can listen to you and pray for you.

Mary Slessor, the courageous red-haired missionary who became known as the “White Queen of the Cannibals,” wrote home to friends in Scotland about the victorious life of a native woman in Africa: “She is so poor that she has not one farthing in this world but what she gets from us, not a creature to do a thing for her, her house all open to rain and ruin, and into which the cows rush at times. But blind Mary [the native woman] is our living, bright, clear light.”

The chief of the village told Mary Slessor that this woman was the only visible witness among the church members in the town, but he added, “She is a proper one!”

“Far advanced in spiritual knowledge and experience, she knows the deep things of God,” said Mary. “That old hut is like a heaven here to more than me.”

Just think about being blind and desperately poor, of having cows stomp through your house before you realize what is happening, of having rain and dirt sweep in at will! If anyone had reason to be bitter or complain or think ill thoughts, this woman did.

But according to Mary, “Her voice is set to music, a miracle to the people here who know only how to groan and grumble. She is ever praising the Lord and her testimony to the Savior is not a shabby one.”

It is apparent that this admirable African woman meditated on God and His Word day and night. It was her very life. How else could she have lived with such joy under such deplorable circumstances?

It’s remarkable that this dedicated servant of God, Mary Slessor, found joy and refreshment in that blind woman’s tumbled-down hut–”like a heaven here to more than me,” she wrote.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our homes could be like heaven on earth not only for us, but for our families as well as visitors? We can’t arbitrarily change the lives of those around us; but we can allow the Lord to transform our lives as He did blind Mary’s. Certainly if the Lord would do it for her, He could do it for us too. Then who knows? Perhaps our beautiful testimony would reach out and influence and lift the members of our family, church, and community, just as that of blind Mary’s did.

My mother told me of how her mother, who was beset by troubles, used to comfort herself by singing gospel hymns as she bent over her scrub-board for hours washing clothes for well-to-do people. She was trying to keep her mind off her troubles and on the precious promises of God. Not many of us go around singing the old hymns these days, do we? Perhaps if we did, they would help lift our minds to the same high plane on which Blind Mary lived!

The Apostle Paul knew what he was saying when he kept telling his fellow Christians, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice.”

Questions: What hinders you from rejoicing in the Lord?  How  do you respond when financial troubles arise? What could you start doing on a regular basis to help remind yourself to rejoice in the Lord continually?

About the Author Muriel Larson

The pictures document the unbelievable human plight of thousands of Africans fleeing Goma for refugee camps this week. It also documents the convening of the U.N. to discuss a solution when their biggest peacekeeping force in the entire world, 17,000 strong, isn’t enough in this central african nation.

What can I do? I can’t make anyone put down their grenade launcher, I can’t hash out a ceasefire and I definitely can’t talk to the leader of the Congolese army or rebel general Laurent Nkunda.  My emotions seem to have no answer because guns will fire still fire, and bellies will still ache for food, and there will still be death, regardless of the depths of my feelings.

Do you ever find yourself feeling completely helpless about world conflict? What do you do with what you read, the pictures you see and the emotions you feel?

Image credit: cyclopser