Darkness Will Not Overcome

The topic of spiritual warfare, strongholds, and demonic activity can sometimes be controversial or uncomfortable, but they are undeniable spiritual realities as the enemy tries to lie and deceive, at times trying to take hold of entire geographic areas. For the past several years now, Durango has had a peculiar uptick in suicides, and in particular in the 15-29 year old age range. A pedestrian bridge has appeared numerous times in local news recently due to several suicide attempts taking place there, but only recently did all of this begin to encroach on us in a more personal way.

A couple of months back, Andrea visited the aforementioned bridge together with her fellow YWAM Mazatlan/Durango staff members to pray and worship at that location. While there, they met a young guy who was there with sinister motives of self-harm and were able to minister the love and hope that Jesus offers, ultimately saving a life and helping him get professional help.

But things hit closer to home a few weeks ago, when the head coach of the flag football team I coach shared with me that one of our players hadn't come to practice that Saturday because she had made an attempt on her life the night before. Fortunately, a friend found her shortly after and nothing more serious happened. She was apparently back to normal the day after, almost as if nothing had happened, but I knew that those sorts of things don't disappear from one day to the next.

I reached out to her the following day. She was moved that I would take the time to check up on her, and she quickly opened up about that incident, other past events, and current psychiatric treatment she was undergoing. We talked about how my main reason for moving to Mexico was to help people know God more, and that getting to know Him could change her for the better. I was pleasantly surprised when she accepted my invitation to attend the open Discipleship Training School class that Andrea and I host in our house.

She has now attended two of the open classes, and she even opened up with Andrea and I about some of the traumatic experiences that had brought about her depression. I continue coaching her on the field, but she has been very open to the things of God and says that her time in the classes and chatting with Andrea and I have helped immensely. A pair of girls her age befriended her during the open classes, quickly getting her number and inviting her to their church. There's even talk of she and I starting a book club together with the other football coach, as he has also recently expressed a need to get closer to God and I had recently gifted a copy of Mere Christianity to both of them. (If that is indeed the next step for these two, pray that things would fall into place so that we can discover and discuss Jesus together in this format!)

While subjects like suicide can certainly be intimidating, God has been showing Andrea and I that we can still play a part. Though the psychological aspects may be beyond our capabilities, there are spiritual aspects that we have all been given authority to undertake. Though we can't provide medical assistance, we still have something to provide. I feel like part of the enemy's strategy is to intimidate believers into thinking that we can't help in certain situations. Although it is definitely important to recognize our limitations, it is equally important to remember that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. It helped us to know that this young woman has the support of her family and is receiving professional care from psychologists and psychiatrists, since there are clearly things that we can't do. But in the midst of all of this, the simple phrase I felt like the Lord was speaking is simply: darkness will not overcome. Jesus, the light that shines in the darkness, has not been overcome; quite the opposite. Wherever He is, darkness is not, and as we each learn how to better shine His light to the people around us, darkness will not overcome.

Please join us in praying for the salvation, restoration, and healing for this young woman. Pray that God's light would shine through the darkness of suicide trying to establish itself in our city. And pray for wisdom and guidance as Andrea and I continue working to make God known in the lives of those around us.