The dark tendrils of doubt appear

Inching into view as tiny specks

Barely noticeable at first glance

Sparking no cause for alarm

Insignificant dots on the distant horizon

Oh how devious and deceptive they are

How cunning and sly

The danger creeps ever closer

So benign, so harmless it appears

Only too late does reality expose itself

Doubt is a malignant tumor

A terminal cancer

An insidious invasive enemy

A persistent uninvited parasite

It is a decidedly dangerous enemy

It’s true danger…

The extreme difficulty of detangling

Destructing and removing

It’s invasive tendrils once set

The infective nature invades

Like a weed

A vine of ivy that burrows and grows

It’s only intent is to survive

To thrive

To replicate

To avoid eradication

Doubt.

Its dark tendrils bury deep

Sticking resolute

Inching along, claiming ground

Feeding off every possible scrap of food

And once begun

It is self perpetuating 

Growing on the slightest encouragement 

Until it becomes a monstrosity 

Too large to behold 

Is it any wonder then

That it was THE tool

Our greatest adversary, the serpent

Sneaky and diabolical 

Used upon us, mankind, in that perfect place

“Did God really say…”

Was all it took

Doubt made its entrance into creation

The perfect world

Polluted with uncertainty 

A plague on creation

Ever since

A daily malady

A persistent and unwanted pest

Every decision, every moment more complicated

And so it goes

Grief or despair

Hurt or anger

Hate and malice

Lust and greed

Envy and jealousy

All springing from doubt

Doubt in your goodness, Abba

Doubt in your love and care

Doubt in your provision 

Your will, purpose, and plan

Doubt in you

The dark tendrils 

Creep 

Inch

Moving slowly at first

And then ravenously 

As they find traction

Overtaking

Darkening

Eating, feeding

And consuming all in their path

Deadly.

All of them.

What a dark and bleak prospect

A despairing view

A hopeless darkness

Were it not 

For an eternal light

Doubt is darkness

Despairing and deep

Profound and real

But we know the light

And light drives out darkness

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 8:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Jn 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

16  the people dwelling in darkness 

have seen a great light, 

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, 

on them a light has dawned.” 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 4:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 4:6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Doubt need not be

A lingering companion

The dark tendrils of doubt

And all others that invade

Can be removed

By eternal light’s true rays

The refuge of light

Shines upon the darkness

And darkness cannot withstand it

Darkness is powerless

When light shines

Drive the dark tendrils

From the dark corners

And hidden recesses 

Of our lives

And fill us with your great light

O True and Eternal One

Shine your light upon our hearts

Flood us with your brilliance

And radiance

And let us worship

At the source of all true light.

Michael Stitzel