have you ever been in a dark room trying to find something without the light on? or you need a light but cant find the switch? or have you ever been in a haunted house where you are in one of those pitch dark rooms and in order to get to the next room you have to find the one and only exit door. the one that seems nearly impossible to find because you cant even see your hand in front of your face because of the darkness!

imagine this: you're in a haunted house. the "haunted" is your past, the unknown, your failures, your uncertainties, the things around you that you feel you have no control of. the house is your life.

to get into the haunted house you have to stand in a long line most of the time. you will pay a certain price. you will chat amongst others who are waiting. usually you go with friends or a group. as you're in line you will see some that are running out screaming in fear, some are being chased, and then there are those who walk out as if nothing is wrong.

you arrive inside the haunted house. at first you are a little anxious because you don't know what is about to happen or what you are about to go through to get back on the outside of the haunted house, and there are people starring at you; weird people. you are clutching to the ones you are with. you come to a place where it is no longer possible to hold on to those that are with you. the space is too tight and you must enter alone. you are really scared at this point. there are so many noises and people that seem like they want to harm you. you journey on through this haunted house. you have went through so many mazes, dark places, tunnels, and then you reach the dark room!

inside of the dark room you start to feel a little claustrophobic, like all of the air is being sucked out of the room. you are holding your arms out in front of you reaching....for something. anything. you cant see a thing. this is irritating. you ask yourself " why cant i find the door"? i have been around this entire room it seems a million times!" you keep searching. waiting to hear someone say its over here. come this way. follow my voice. finally that voice comes.

as you make your way to the voice and into the next room, your eyes are blurred and you vision is sketchy. the lights are dancing and you re still inside.

sometimes our life is like going through this mentioned haunted house: you don't know what to expect, you will meet people along the way.you will drift away from some and you will lose some. some people that god allows in your life are just meant for a season and some are meant for a lifetime. life will give you mazes and some will be harder to find your way out of than others. you will at some point in your life experience the dark room maybe a few. this is the point in your life when nothing seems to be coming together and you don't know which way to turn. you will eventually find yourself in the next phase of your life....as long as you follow the voice. the voice that knows your name. the voice that can speak peace into your life and then there is immediate peace. the voice that can lead you through all circumstances.

my prayer is that i will continue to learn to hear god's amazing voice and that i will be available for those who might be in the "room" behind me that needs a friends voice and guidance to help get them through. this past year was the most difficult year and i am sure glad that god can make all things new again.

just trying to live under gods grace and mercy and find comfort in his arms!