Lake Deaton at Home

Writer’s Name: Arlyn Willett

Ministry: Worship Leader

Scripture: Gen 1:2-3

As a kid who grew up from day one in the church, I did everything that a good church kid would do. I went to Sunday school and sat through church services. I attended every VBS and Bible study the church told me to attend. During this time, I always knew who Jesus was. He became that “invisible friend” I chatted with when I walked and worked in our family business.

As a late teen, I started to do what I wanted to do and ended up in a long season of life where I began ignoring my “invisible friend.” I would still talk to Him when times were tough, but I tried to ignore His existence while doing things that I knew He wouldn’t approve of. Later I called this season my “dark times.”

In Gen 1:2, it starts out talking about the earth being covered in darkness, where the Spirit of God was hovering over the deep waters. While reading this, I felt that the earth and God were separated at this time, just like I was separated from Him during my ‘’dark times’’. Reading this scripture is when the Holy Spirit put conviction in my heart. I didn’t want to be separated from Jesus anymore. I started trying to put Him back into my life, and when I did, He started showing up in my life! Then God said, “Let there be light!’’ (Gen 1:3) That’s when I realized He was beginning to bless the relationship I had formed with Him long ago! He hadn’t left me at all, just like He wasn’t really separated from the Earth, His creation. And I, being his ‘’Prize Possession’’ (James 1:18), was His creation too! He hadn’t left me; I left Him! He was waiting for me to open the door and let Him freely walk back into a refreshed relationship with me.

‘’I will never leave you, I will never abandon you” Hebrews 13:5 rings true in my heart every time I feel alone. He brings me the ‘’peace that passes understanding’’ (Phil 4:7)!

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

1. Have you had a “Dark times” season?

2. When was your ‘’Ah HAH‘’ moment when you retook your testimony?

3. Do you have a story or testimony that will help someone else get closer to God?