When hope hides …

It was Thursday this past week.

Our Jackson, diagnosed with Crohn’s earlier this year, is now having knee trouble. Our Action Jackson is struggling in his fourteen year old heart with many things, trying to accept he is not as fast as he was last year.

Let’s face it. Fourteen year old boys live for friends, sports, and we hope for God and family.

All I know as I listened to the words fall out of Jackson’s mouth … then what’s the point of living … my mama heart was suddenly like jello, translucent, jiggling with anxiety.

Evil lurks in the shadows. At times, the dark becomes bold enough to encroach light:

Our flesh is weak.

With nervous words, I tried to bring the focus of our conversation back to present, back to God.

Jackson left, went to his room.

hope slipped out of focus

for a moment we were both drowning

gasping for His life-breath

I began to pray:

Lord, I rebuke Satan in the holy name of Jesus. Lord, surround Jackson with angels whom You have called to minister to him, bring him to the grace and hope of salvation. Lord, Jackson is Your son before he is mine. Lord, please help him.

My palms were sweaty as I curled myself on the couch waiting for God’s prompting to go to Jackson.

Jackson’s words echoed to the past. Though the holes in my soul have been repaired by Jesus, I still remember the depth of darkness that once surrounded me, when childhood wounds hung open.

May I always remember how He rescued me, how even before I knew Him, His light was stronger than the dark. For it is in this place of awe where hope rises.

Not too long after I prayed, Jackson came out of his room. His smile, worth 1,000 prayers. He told me a friend was going with him to basketball practice.

Apparently, he didn’t need his mom as much as he needed his friend. Praise God for His mercy and love!

Only God could make things fall into place so smoothly.

When God reveals His power to swiftly answer prayer, we should be thank-full. I was. I was also very unsettled to be shown how the devil is prowling around to devour my son.

Those of you who struggle with depression and who have ever been suicidal, you know how hope hides. It is not Jesus the living Hope that hides.

It is evil attempting to crush our anchor, slapping the hand we reach to Jesus in times of need. It is sinful secret whisperings about how you are never going to be well and you will never be enough.

Does Jackson know there is victory in Christ?

Yes.

Does Jackson love Jesus?

Yes.

Do we as parents need to keep our ears open and knees at the altar for this boy?

Yes.

The spiritual battle unfortunately finds us. We don’t need to look for it.

If you are a follower of Jesus, satan is after your soul.

Let us humble ourselves to be empowered by the Living, Breathing Spirit of God.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Let us pray like there is no tomorrow for our households, for whomever God lays upon your heart. #prayliketheresnotomorrow

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Seek His light which is forever found, no matter how dark it gets. And … no matter how long the devil succeeds in hiding hope, Hope is forever victorious.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

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Thank you for joining me here. This is a place where you will find hope and authentic sharing of struggles. Jesus told us in this world we would have trouble. That we do.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or email me at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com to share how God is working in your life, or how He spoke to you here.

P.S. All photos in this post are mine.

In His love and for His glory,

Julie

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