Living In The Shadows
Monday August 1, 2016
We often describe life in active addiction as darkness and life in recovery as light. While we were still captive in the chaos of our addiction, God pursued us and invited us to move towards the light of His presence. We may have heard God’s call and initiated the move away from the darkness towards the light, but then, we got caught somewhere in-between, "in the shadows".
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 NIV)
What is life like in the shadows? We have left what was a familiar way of life, and have entered into an unfamiliar reality. Where we knew how to survive in addiction, we now struggle with uncertainties as we learn to live in sobriety. The transition process is shadowed by what we don’t know. Fortunately, when we face life in the shadows of transformation, 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. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Poor people have come to you for safety. You have kept needy people safe when they were in trouble. You have been a place to hide when storms came. You have been a shade from the heat of the sun. (Psalm 23:4, 91:1 NLT, Isaiah 25:4 NIRV)
We are safe while we are coming out of the shadows when we rely on God’s presence with us. His healing power will calm and restore our souls while we face life in transition. Walking with God in the shadows is even better than walking a known way on our own. Like the shade of a tree is comforting and refreshing on a hot sunny day, so the Lord will cover us and keep us in perfect peace as we continue to walk out of the shadows into the light of life.
©2016 Partners in Hope
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