The Dark World

Have you ever really considered that there’s more working against us than what we can actually see?

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 6:12 NLT

Reflection

Every so often you read a Bible verse that stops you in your tracks. This is one of those. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, lays it out pretty clearly. There are forces at work around us that we cannot see, and they are not working for our good.

That’s a bit unsettling, isn’t it? In the world God created, there is another world working against it.

You can’t help but wonder, why would anyone want to do that? Maybe one day we’ll get to ask God directly. But for now, the better question is, what do we do with this truth? Because this stuff is real.

I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. And honestly, I’ve faced it more often than I’d like to admit. But knowing it’s real makes me want to run toward God, not away from Him. There’s safety in His light. It makes sense to stay there and avoid the shadows.

Prayer is how we stay connected. It’s our way of staying close to God in a world that’s trying to pull us away. The Holy Spirit guides us. Jesus opens the door. I don’t have a perfect explanation for how it all works, but I believe in it. And I try to practice it.

Growing up Catholic, I was taught to start and end every prayer with the sign of the cross. I’d joke that it was like dialing God. The Orthodox do the same thing, just in the other direction. Non-denominational folks just get right into it. I like that too. Sometimes you just need to pray right away.

And when it comes to fighting off the dark world Paul talks about, we need all the help we can get. We need God’s Spirit working in us and around us. Because these dark forces tug on us all the time.

You see it in people who always need validation. If they don’t get it, they fall apart. Or the ones who can’t let something go and have to hit back harder. Others try to feel better about themselves by tearing others down. Some avoid truth altogether because they’re afraid of what people will think.

And then there are those who live in the past. I know that’s not always easy to let go of, especially if there’s pain there. But when we let the past take over, we miss what God’s trying to do today.

I believe Satan uses our thoughts as his playground. That’s where he likes to stir things up. He’ll use anything to trigger you. He will remind you of old wounds, bad memories, something someone said. And before you know it, you’re down a road that takes you away from peace.

So what do we do when that happens?

Call out to God. Focus on what you do have, not what you’re missing. Recognize what you can’t change, and do something about what you can. That opens the door for God to help you see things differently. It pushes back against the darkness.

These forces don’t stop. It’s what they do. Their goal is to pull you away from being centered with God. I don’t fully understand why, but I do know they’re committed to it.

That’s why Jesus said to turn the other cheek and love your enemies. Not because it’s easy, but because it gets you past the trap. Those enemies are anything that pulls you away from the joy you have found with your Father. It sets you free from the burden that those thoughts bring.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is clear that other forces are at work in this world. They are not new and they are not from You. Help us to recognize them and to call out to You when they come against us. Teach us to lean on You, to draw strength from You, and to resist anything that tries to pull us away. Show us the good that is still possible, even in the midst of darkness. Help us live more connected to You and less connected to those influences. Please watch over us, our families, and our friends. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.