I was privileged last month to go on my first trip to Israel, which was a wonderful, life-changing experience. We spent a very blessed week exploring the Promised Land and I know that most, if not all, members of our tour met the Lord in a special way.

There were many things that struck me, but one in particular was that it seemed easier there, somehow, to draw close to God and hear from Him. I remember thinking that this was a true ‘mountain top’ experience, where, spiritually speaking, the air was clear and the view was incredible. Undoubtedly a major spiritual battle is raging in that land, but that week God nevertheless blessed me with a real time of refreshing.

As anticipated, it took only a few days for this ‘mountain top’ feeling to wear off, after the trip ended and we all headed home to our respective ‘valleys’ of everyday responsibilities, burdens and difficulties. But because I had been told to expect it, I watched my own feelings with interest as this process took place.

Britain’s Spiritual Malaise

What I discovered was that as soon as we arrived back in the UK, things ‘felt’ different – as the air was clear in Israel, so the UK was under a cloud – spiritually as well as meteorologically! Almost immediately it was more difficult to draw near the Lord and hear His voice, more difficult to sense His leading, more difficult to keep hold of a biblical sense of perspective on life.

Part of this is undoubtedly natural; so as the Lord graciously affords us spiritual ‘pit stops’ every now and then – times when we are taken aside from life’s clamour and given time and space to be replenished spiritually - so ‘normal’ life stands in stark contrast because it is naturally an ongoing spiritual battle, for any true believer.

But the sense of thick darkness covering over Britain was, for me, more than just ‘normal’ and ‘natural’. We are living at an incredibly dark time, when – if we are not careful – our lives as Spirit-filled believers will be suffocated and stunted because we unwittingly come under the spiritual malaise that is affecting the rest of the nation.

This, of course, should not – and need not - be. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:12-13). So my ‘thought’ this week, upon sensing in a new way the darkness covering our nation, is that we need to become more awake and alert to the effect that this is having upon us all, and intentionally seek the Lord for help to stand firm and stay close by His side. In the presence of our Messiah, Yeshua, is light, and life, and hope, and fullness of joy – enough to overcome any thick darkness (John 1:5; Isa 9:2).

Pinpoints of Light

I am reminded of Jean Darnall’s prophecy (received 50 years ago, in 1967) of the British Isles covered in mist and pin-pricks of light breaking out all over, burning brightly as fires which grew and joined together, representing hungry believers joining together to seek the Lord.

There is more to it than this, but I take hope that in God’s eyes we each have the potential to become a blazing fire, His light in us piercing the darkness all around, if only we surrender ourselves to Him, humbly and completely.

I believe that this is His desire for us, even in the midst of our ‘valleys’, and in these dark and difficult days. We await His soon return, when darkness will be vanquished completely. We await the dawn (Luke 21:28) – but let us be faithful while it is still night.

Author: Frances Rabbitts