From the desk of Steve Shultz:
This article is a repost which we posted in the spring of last year. Victoria Boyson just recently sent it to us again, and I think it's a great reminder of the "victory" we have in the days of darkness. Yes, the world is shaking, and everything that can be shaken will be shaken...but we HAVE VICTORY through it all.
I like what Victoria shares here: Expect God to move! Expect Him to challenge the darkness! Expect Him to use you to change the world! We are not bound by fear, saints, but He's given us love, peace and a sound mind. Even in the midst of darkness, we have victory.
Be encouraged by the victory we already have!
Victoria Boyson:
Victory in the Hour of Darkness
But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.—Luke 22:53
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.—John 1:5
Lately, as I hear news stories roll in with each report more bizarre than the last, it's like watching an end-time movie. I feel overwhelmed, as it often seems much too easy for darkness to overpower the light. One moral principle after another is challenged and toppled; it seems crazy, like it couldn't be real. But it is real. I wonder to myself, "When will it end? Who or what will stop it? Will we realize the danger of the darkness entering our world?"
Things are occurring so swiftly that it seems like we are powerless to affect the situation. And, indeed, things are now being set into motion for our nation and the world that will move us swiftly toward the end-time tribulation. However, these things must happen to accomplish God's ultimate purpose for this world.
Christ has a plan for us in this world, but His plan may not always look like how we have envisioned or desired it. But it's a plan we can fully trust and embrace.
You see, our Father sees things differently than we do—He sees the bigger picture. He wants more for us than a good economy or safety. He doesn't just want us safe—He wants souls rescued for eternity from Hell. He wants His Bride to walk in POWER and AUTHORITY! He wants ultimate victory for us. I didn't say, "Comfort," I said, "Victory!" And this victory is unlike anything we've been used to. I'm not speaking of an earthly victory, but something infinitely greater.
Like Christ, our Kingdom is not of this world. We are not to be moved by what we see in the natural, but are to keep our eyes on our heavenly victory! We must focus our hearts on the goals of the Spirit and not cling to the comforts of this earthly realm; they are so temporal. His Kingdom alone is eternal and that must be our continued focus.
God Never Said We Wouldn't Have Trials
Our Lord did not lie when He said, like the sparrow, He would meet our needs. He said, "Don't worry about what you eat or drink or wear" (Luke 12:22). Those are not big concerns to Him. Worrying too much about temporal things keeps us in bondage and vulnerable to the enemy. The only true freedom is to "love not our lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11), and to be "dead" to this world, to let go of worry and fear and grab hold of our heavenly Father with all our might. Seek Him first and watch Him take care of your needs His way (Matthew 6:33).
God never promised us we would have no trials; He only said He would be with us in our trials. He promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He'll fight for us until He sees His perfect and beautiful will come forth in us. He will never give up on us. We may want to give up but He won't, and He won't let us give up on ourselves either.
Through the fire and through the flood He's with us—providing for us and comforting us with His peace. Though the enemy rages, we can know our God is in control! Indeed, the harder the enemy rages against us, the deeper our roots sink into Christ and into His strength.
For a season, Hell may rage against us. But this is to accomplish Christ's ultimate purpose. As Christ knew He would have to endure an hour when darkness would have its way, the ultimate victory was His. The hour of darkness would produce the glory of Heaven on earth and the ultimate victory of Heaven. "After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, 'Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so He can give glory back to You'" (John 17:1).
While being arrested, Christ told His captors, "This is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns" (Luke 22:53). He knew, yes this was their moment. But it was only a moment—the final victory belonged to Christ. Evil would have its moment, but even in that moment, God's will and purpose would be fulfilled.
God is in control and He will have His way! Though the enemy rages and it seems like darkness has won, it has not! For a season and for a time the kingdom of darkness may have its way, but when you see what God can do, even in the darkest moment, you will stand back in awe.
A Testimony of Hope in Heaven
My son's best friend was killed in a car accident and we were so devastated and confused. It seemed to us like such a pointless loss until, through his death, the boy's father came to know Christ. While living, he fought constantly with his father about God, but through the tragedy of his death, he was victorious and his father gave his heart to Christ. That is ultimate victory of eternal significance that will never stop giving.
My son's friend is in Heaven now rejoicing at his victory and I'm reminded of the song "My Hope is in Heaven." It says, "Sometimes our brightest days come out of our darkest night."
Jesus warned that darkness would come and though it takes what we hold dear, it cannot take our greatest treasure—our faith in Christ. Our treasure is not of this world—our hope is in Heaven. Our joy is not bound to temporal things and our peace is eternal. Our joy is boundless even in our darkest hour.
Our Radiance
Our worship is undeniably powerful. When we cast off worry and fear and lay our needs at His feet and dance before Him in total and complete absolute surrender, our enemy is dumbfounded. When the answer to every difficulty our enemy can throw at us is, "Jesus is Lord! God is in control!"—he is enraged.
As the onslaught of Hell rages, don't let worry take control of your tongue, but give it to praising Jesus! Wow! Again, that is ultimate victory. Then our darkest hour will become our finest hour—an hour of unfathomable glory released on the earth.
Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance—Isaiah 60:2-3
As darkness has its hour, the world will become desperate, but WE WILL NOT! We will remain steadfast, completely "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). We worship God when our enemy expects us to crumble into disappointed, accusation and hatred against Him. Because we have the light living in us, we have hope and we have ultimate victory. As His light shines through us, the darkness makes it shine brighter and brighter. We can't help it, it's just what we do. We who know Him radiate His joy even when despair surrounds us.
How peculiar to have joy in the midst of despair. When all is lost we find out what we truly have—we find out what's truly valuable to us. "Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy" (Isaiah 60:5).
Expect God to move! Expect Him to challenge the darkness! Expect Him to use you to change the world! We are not bound by fear, saints, but He's given us love, peace and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Even in the midst of darkness, we have victory. Darkness is given a moment, but it is only that—just a moment. On the contrary, we as Believers are given an eternal justice.
Dear friend, take His hand—take it and hold it. He has something for you. You have a mighty High Priest, Jesus, who has defeated your enemy. But you need to know that your position in the battle is to be hidden with Him in God. Though you see the enemy raging all around you, you will not fear. For you know with certainty that you have already defeated him as you stand with Christ!
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world—1 John 4:4
Victoria Boyson
Speaking Life Ministries
Email: victoria@boyson.org
