Living In The Shadows

We often describe life without God as darkness and life with God as light.  One of the ways we live in the shadows is to hang onto guilt and shame rather than releasing them to God when we ask for and receive His forgiveness.

In so many ways a life of guilt and shame has us living under the cover of darkness. We try to keep what we think is authentic but flawed in ourselves hidden from others. 

So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.  We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 

Isaiah 59:9

Unfortunately that is just the kind of environment that the evil one wants to latch onto and spew accusation and condemnation and self-doubt into as he tries make us feel even darker inside.

It is those lies and our attaching to them that keep us from experiencing the restoration God offers us in His justice and mercy expressed through Jesus on our behalf as He died on the cross.

We may have heard God’s call and initiated a move away from the darkness towards the light, but then, we got caught somewhere in-between, "in the shadows."

Fortunately, even when we face life in the shadows, we are assured of God’s comforting presence as well as His help, strength and protection. 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. 

Psalm 23:4

God is not ashamed to be seen with us, to be known as or friend.  God wants to transform our thinking, even of ourselves and our broken past, and to care for us going forward. 

It’s interesting that one of the ways God transforms things in our lives that he even uses the idea of life in the shadows to now build something beautiful and good in us:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

Psalm 91:1

Loving God, Thank You for calling us from darkness to life in the light.  We do get lost in the shadows of guilt and shame and inferiority, but today we’re so grateful that we can even find you with us in the shadows.

You forgive us and declare us free from all guilt and shame when we turn from sin and surrender ourselves to You.  You want us to walk out into the light of Your powerful love and acceptance .

Thank You for Your healing power that calms and restores our souls as we transition out of the hardship of our past into the future with hope You are giving us.  Help us as we walk today  in the light of Your love.  Amen

Let’s leave the shadows of guilt and shame and move into the refreshing shade of God’s care.  Have a great day.