When we’re introduced to God in the Scriptures, the first person we meet and witness in action is the Holy Spirit.
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Gen 1:2 NIV
The Holy Spirit is “hovering”, present and pondering the situation at hand. There is darkness and disorder. Why is not the concern, the scriptures just tell us it is the case and God has a plan.
Present, concerned, controlled, and pondering is the disposition I understand The Spirit to be in.
The scriptures present God as one in control and always on his throne, not given to anxiety or fret because of the darkness which seems to engulf creation.
God is light, God creates light, God draws beauty and order out of the disarray and the void because in him there is no darkness and without him creation is lifeless. What I have found in fighting against my sin, against my darkness and formless void, is that the darker it is, the deeper the grace. “Holy places are dark places,” (C.S Lewis) because there is where you find the Spirit of God at work; present, concerned, controlled and pondering how to enact his justice, present his righteousness in grace, truth and beauty. There is no need to fear darkness, frustrated yes, for it seems daunting, but never grow weary in dispelling the darkness wherever you are present.
“Holy places are dark places”
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In view of that truth and working of God “in a fearful world we need a fearless church” (C.S. Lewis) not misinformed or aligned to every whim that piques our interest, our understanding, our narrative but one that is Kingdom-minded and Christ-centric, driven by compassion and protection for the other in the name of Jesus.
“It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence”, (C.S.Lewis) because “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1 NIV)
“And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1:9 NIV)
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Gen 2:6 NIV)
Because the steady mind and heart of God was present in the darkness and over the void we would end up created, image bearers of the Divine and now can be present just the same; our concern is for others. Our journey is to be a light in the darkness. Present, concerned, controlled, and pondering for the same Spirit we see in Genesis 1 is the same spirit living within every believer.
Dispelling the Darkness
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It is not my job to know all of their experience, but it is my honor to empathize all the more—
to dispel the darkness
to form a foundation in the void
to ease the tension
to assist with any burden
to listen with intention
not always with an answer
but always with my presence.
I hear you.
I see you.
I am here.
never in manipulation for that
diminishes and deteriorates dignity
for selfish gain but because I care!
what else is needed?
speak life, inspire dignity, do good 