Days of darkness

So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘the Lord has sent me – Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ At once something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptised. (verses 17,18)

Read Acts 9:10-19a

It must be traumatic to lose your sight. Saul experienced it after his dazzling encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In the darkness that ensued he must have wondered if he would ever see again. This would have been a time of self-examination. He had to come to terms with the wrong he was doing. When, by God’s mercy, he was allowed to see again, he experienced a complete change of mind. Jesus, once his enemy, was now his master instead. So he was immediately baptised.

You may not have experienced loss of sight, but everyone has their days of darkness. Disappointment, loss and despair visit all of us at some time. You wonder why God lets this happen to you. However, such times give you a chance to stand back and see where you are going and to see if you need to change direction. When Jesus is part of the process, there can be a lot of light in your life after the dark.

Dear God, spare me the darkness, but please help me to see the light of your way for my life. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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