Hope in the Midst of Darkness

recently, i read an article posted by a friend who is about to move to Scotland with his family to church plant.  and until i went to Scotland, the idea of doing missions in a city never crossed my mind. (yes, i am guilty of imagining that missions only happens in third world countries or poverty stricken areas... etc) during my time in Glasgow, i heard about the darkness that loomed over this city from time to time, but never really recognized the seriousness of it until i read this article. take a read if you would like [http://headhearthand.org/blog/2012/11/09/spiritual-report-on-scotland]

as 'dark' as Glasgow is, ironically, my time spent there was filled with much growth. it was the safe haven where i learned more about God and more about myself than i ever imagined. it was the place that taught me how to have hope and live life to the fullest. as i look back and reflect on all the great memories i have had in the beautiful green lands, it gives me more hope because i know that even in the midst of darkness, God is still at work.

in some ways, i feel that much of my time in Scotland was in a spiritual bubble. it was almost as if God knew that if i wasn't protected from this spiritual darkness over the place, i would be hurt, possibly severely. this was a bubble filled with lots of love, encouragement, joy. it was my safe haven to question, learn, grow. i learned what means to love and be loved. God also gently opened my eyes and allowed me to see that there was much need for him. i wasn't blind to the reality of this world. but i couldn't see the need without first knowing God and knowing what is on his heart.

there is hope. there is hope that there are people who care. there are people who care about what is on God's heart. there is hope that no matter how dark it is, God is continually at work. there is hope that in the midst of darkness there is light. and no matter how little this light maybe, it makes a huge difference in the darkness.