One evening, almost a year ago, Grace and I found ourselves very close to the scene of a shootout … a little too close. On the street behind our house, which our bedroom faces, law enforcers cornered a suspect after a car chase. As it turned out, he had stopped before the fence that was right in front of our bedroom. Tragically, the suspect refused to surrender and instead opted to fight, and he fell before a hail of bullets.
Because of the suspect’s position in front of our house, two slugs found their way to our bedroom wall. We never found out where one slug actually landed, but the other pierced through the wall and ended up inside our closet. This happened while we were in the room. And it goes without saying that we were shook up by the incident. One’s bedroom would often be described as a person’s sanctuary—a place where one can relax and feel safe. It wasn’t the case that night. We had some trouble getting some sleep, especially since the investigators were still outside, busy processing the place for most of the night.
The incident reminded us how we are not in absolute control of what happens to us, or the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. No matter how much we prepare for every possible challenge that life may throw at us, there still are things that are beyond our control. Darkness can creep into our secure lives. It is unwise to ignore this reality.
But there is another reality that helps us to face such unplanned and unexpected, even life-or-death, situations: that reality is God. God never promised that he would always keephis children from such circumstances, but he promises to always be with us as we go through them. “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13.5 NIV). And when we put our confidence in this faithful God, we can join in the psalmist’s declaration: “Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me” (Psalm 23.4 NET); and “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid … The LORD is with me; he is my helper” (Psalm 118.6–7 NIV).
In life, we certainly will encounter dark moments. But the Lord who promises to walk with us through (not around) those moments is absolutely reliable. As Hebrews describes the work of Christ, he “set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2.15 NET). And so we can learn to trust him, and, by God’s grace, not be enslaved by our fear of the darkness. Then we can enjoy the fullness of life in the light of Christ.
–Keith Y. Jainga