Genesis 1:1-4

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Light from Nothing

I was listening to a report on NPR this morning about a resource program in Michigan for those suffering from severe depression. One woman interviewed had wrestled with depression for many years. She had tried to take her life regularly through those struggles. She described her depression as darkness that would overcome her and pull her into more darkness. She said she would try to make the pain stop by taking her life.

I was reading another article that talked about the downside of bariatric surgery. The article sited statistics about the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide following surgery. The patient interviewed in that article said there was so much focus put on her body and her weight that no one told her how to cope with life's other issues when she couldn't bury them in food.

Finding light in a dark world is difficult, if not impossible, on our own. We are not equipped to pull light out of darkness. It is easy to understand the Michigan women's description of depression over taking her and pulling her into the void.

But...

Those of us who have been born again are literally of a linage where the impossible is possible. Luke 1:37 sums it up nicely, "For with God, nothing shall be impossible."

And it is that simple. When our faith is in God and His Love and His Power...when we rely less on our own capabilities and recognize the fullness of Who He is and that His love of us is true, and thorough and pure...when we take Him at His word for provision, protection and for setting us on a path meant for our redemption and not our destruction...when we turn to this God, there is nothing that can be withheld.

This God is the one who turns mourning into dancing. This God is the one who speaks into nothing and creates light, dark and life. This God is the one who made all things good for man, and in light of us making wrong choices, set a process in motion that would restore us to right relationship with Him without possibility of reversal. This is the God who loves you and loves me so much that He sent His own Son, the embodiment of Himself, to pay the penalty for all sins committed, and that would be committed.

There is the possibility of light from nothing. Whatever we face, no matter how painful. No matter how destructive, there is a way out. There is redemption. There is joy.

As you face whatever seems impossible today, remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible.

Psalm 30

30 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Joy to you.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.youarechosen.net) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.

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