When The Lights Go Out

This month, I felt impressed to share this article from our devotional archives. Ironically, it was published on this very same day on August 1st, 2013. A few portions have been revised to reflect the pandemic that our world is currently facing. I believe you’ll agree that this subject is very relevant to us today.

If you woke up in Lynchburg, VA on May 24th, 2013, you would have made an unpleasant discovery. The power was off! Residents learned that a bird had hit the power substation. But that’s just the beginning…

• May 27 – Another bird hit the same substation, triggering an outage for more than 1,200 customers
• June 6 – A squirrel took out a nearby substation and cut power to 2,360 customers.
• June 13 – Yet another squirrel hit the same nearby substation! This outage disrupted service for about 1,100 customers.
• June 13 – Late that same afternoon, a windstorm blew through the area and more than 8,000 customers lost power again!

Have the lights ever gone out on you? No, I’m not referring to the light bulb above your head. Let’s talk about when the lights go out – inside of you.

Disobedience

In Joshua chapter 7, we find Israel brimming with confidence after their victory at Jericho. The next city of AI would surely pose no threat. What they didn’t realize was the lights were about to go out. No, it wasn’t a bird that would knock out the power. It was disobedience! Back up in chapter 6 and verse 18, we find that God had given strict instructions that nothing of Jericho should be taken for personal use.

However, when a soldier named Achan saw the riches of the city, he just had to have that fancy Babylonish garment…and a wedge of gold…and two hundred shekels of silver. Keep in mind that these items were not sinful. Under normal circumstances, it was perfectly acceptable to God for the children of Israel to take the treasures of battle. Achan’s sin was his disobedience! So when Israel went out to battle against this small city of AI, they suffered a humiliating defeat.

Friend, if God has told you not to partake of something, you must live in obedience to that command, even if the forbidden thing is considered to be acceptable by those around you. I’m afraid we gloss over the fact that disobedience is a sin. But thankfully, obedience will always restore God’s transforming power within us!

Stress

You may be a dedicated Christian and feel that you’re experiencing an emotional “lights out.” Sometimes just waking up in the morning can feel like a midnight inside of you. Problems such as your health, financial troubles, or family concerns can create an overwhelming atmosphere of stress. The current pandemic is certainly a stress factor in the minds of so many Christians. The virus is breaking out in churches and families who have tried their hardest to practice preventive measures. The resulting confusion is very real and very stressful on everyone, especially pastors. But no matter the source of our stress, I love the remedy that is given in Isaiah:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Isaiah 26:3-4

We must begin to view stress as an enemy to our emotional well being!  Child of God, don’t be fooled into thinking that being stressed is being responsible. Stress hinders us from seeing God’s hand at work because it has us locked down in darkness. You may ask, “How can I rid myself of this stress-filled darkness?”

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7

When we truly cast/throw our cares upon the Lord, we have to let go of the problem. Weary Christian, by letting go of a problem, you’re not being irresponsible. You are exercising the power of childlike faith and it will bring the lights back on every time!

Conclusion

If there is an area of obedience that God is requiring of you, don’t be afraid to take a stand for what you know is right. If you find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of stress, thank you for recognizing and overcoming this enemy of your faith. Remember, the darkness does not indicate that God has forgotten you. The gross darkness plaguing our world should not define the church or you as an individual Christian. The present circumstances can be overwhelming but it is God’s will for you to gain new strength from the lessons learned….when the lights go out.