3 Sources of Strength and Courage in Dark Times

Christine Caine and her husband, Nick, founded a global anti-human trafficking organization. That means she and her team often voluntarily enter into really dark, hopeless places to bring the light of Christ. And when you bring the light of Christ into dark places, the dark places often don’t like it, so it becomes dangerous. But it’s what she does. 

A few years ago, when I heard her explain how she does it, she talked about her little 4-year-old daughter who was normally afraid of the dark. But a transformation happened when she had a flashlight in the dark. Even the smallest beam emboldened her.

So one day she and her daughter were in Walmart buying a flashlight. They finally picked one out, and on their way out the doors her daughter says, “Mommy, can we please go find some darkness?”  

Then Caine expounded in that idea. She explained that It doesn’t take much light to dispel the darkness. But we have more than a flashlight beam, we have the light of Christ! And Christ is compelling us to go into the darkness with his light. It would be a lot easier to stay in the light of Christ and simply shout down the darkness out there. We all do that from time to time, and we’re all tempted to do it. But we can’t give in.

We’re not just tempted to stay out of the dark places and simply shout them down, sometimes all we can muster is despair, and so we lose hope. And other times we’re tempted to just give in and get along.

But none of those responses are the way of Jesus. 

The Apostle Peter saw first-hand the way of Jesus because he followed him for close to three years. He saw how Jesus reacted to opposition and how he brought the light of God into dark places. 

In 1 Peter, a letter Peter wrote, he seeks to encourage a group of Christians who are undergoing a dark time of persecution. For this group that’s tempted to despair or just give up on their faith because it’s become too hard, he reminds them of three sources of strength and courage in dangerous and dark times. 

That’s what we’ll be looking at this weekend from 1 Peter 2.

Do you know someone who is tired of or afraid of or losing hope in the darkness? Invite them to join us for worship this weekend.

Photo by Isaac Davis on Unsplash

This is Us

We are the church, whether we are gathered or scattered--each one of us, a part of the body of Christ, wherever we go, whatever we do.

So, where can you find us, and what are we doing?

John Lowrey and his student Kid’s Hope USA student, Kaden. John and Kaden just began meeting this school year.

Lara Shea and Camille. This is their 2nd year together.

Melissa Lee and her student Lila. This is their 3rd year together!

One-on-one, positive attention from caring adults makes all the difference in the life of a child. That's what the Kids Hope USA program at Five Oaks is all about. John, Melissa, and Lara (as well as 24 other adults--27 total) take one hour out of their weeks to go to Woodbury Elementary School and spend time with their students. Each mentor is matched with just one student to create a very special and supportive mentoring relationship. Ask the mentors, most will tell you they receive an equal blessing from these kids.