I find myself visiting this room often. Never on purpose, and I never plan to stay long.
Frankly, I never plan on going there in the first place.

This room is a dark room.
Not Pitch black, but just dark enough it is hard to see.
It’s a small room, with not much inside.
The cracks in the walls are just big enough to allow anxiety to slip in.
Worry quickly follows.
The fear of returning to this room keeps me there longer;
Ironically.

There are no windows.
There is no door.
There is no hope.

But.
There is a light switch.
The Light switch is across the room.

The heavy weight of darkness keeps me from moving towards it.
The fear is almost deafening.
The anxiety, the self pity keep my feet glued to the floor.

But the light switch continues to beckon me.
It calls my name.
Louder than the fear.

I stand to my feet.
Slowly.

As I stand, the weight of darkness pushes me in the opposite direction.
I think about giving up.
Returning to my dark corner.

But the light switch calls my name louder this time.
Cheers encouragement in my direction.

It tells me I am strong.
I stand again.

This time the darkness feels lighter.
The fear is not as loud.
The anxiety creeps back through the cracks it came from.

I slowly make my way across the room.
The light switch is mere feet away.
It feels like miles.

I extend my arm as far as it will reach.
I feel my fingers brush the end of the switch.

Almost there.

The light switch calls out Louder now.
The encouragement, the JOY, is all I can hear.
I reach a little farther.

Finally.
Finally the the light is on.

The darkness has no place to hide.
The light is overwhelming.
Blinding.
Breathtaking.
Consuming.

Powerful, and yet gentle.
I am wrapped in peace.

I want to stay in this room.

In this consuming Light.
I never intend on leaving this room.

But when I do…
It is never on purpose, and I never intend on leaving for long.
Frankly, I never intend on leaving at all.

But I can be assured,

I will always find my way back to the light.

we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.  2 Corinthians 1: 9-11