Darkness has not Overcome

Pain, a bat, a black, bulb-eyed thing, laughed mercilessly as his companion whispered into the human's ears. Meanwhile, the rest of the dark spirits sat back waiting for the right moments to join the fun. They were a motley band of tempters, harassers, and deceivers, with one goal in mind...destruction. Pride was in charge of this human, but had been sent plenty of reinforcements over the years. It helped that as the centuries pass spiritual defenses got weaker and weaker. He smiled as Lies explained why there was no hope to the human. It was amusing to see how the humans reacted to Lies and his words. Often they put up a little resistance, but in the end...his eloquent words and the creative spin that he put on things...often prevailed.

Jared sat on his bed. Pain, confusion, and despair all gripping him. "No, please, not again, no more..." he thought. Just when he'd thought he'd escaped, his old friends were back. He hadn't been this badly hurt in a long time. He played with his knife, wondering if suicide was really as bad as people acted like it was. After all, none of them knew how much pain he was feeling. It couldn't be as bad as his life was right now. He thought about Stephanie. "Why did it have to end the way it did? Why did she have to treat him the way she did? How could she use him the way she did?" As these thoughts passed through his mind, he laughed bitterly...nobody cared for him for who he was...just for what they could get from him. He looked back at his knife.


Leo couldn't break through the darkness in his path. Leo, golden-haired Herald of the Host, was determined, his fiery eyes taking in the entire situation. The demons swirled around Jared, like insects swarming around a light bulb. Holding tightly to his sword he charged towards Jared and his "companions" again, but slammed roughly into the wall of darkness. It was suffocating to him, and once again he had to pull back. He looked back over at Sablo. Sablo, a dark, bearded, massive spirit with thick, powerful arms and a heart as courageous as they come, was looking out towards one of the neighboring houses. Both were dressed in dull white as well, and wore formidable swords at their sides. Leo, sheathing his sword, moved to stand beside his friend. "What are you looking at Sablo?" he asked.

Sablo, turning to face Leo, responding with a voice that conveyed the gravity of Jared's situation, "I'm hoping the Lord sent Michael to get help...as long as the saints aren't praying, we're powerless." Leo nodded in understanding. They could always feel when the saints were praying. Always.


Nicole and her brother Brett were in the middle of watching The Two Towers in the living room. Michael had to act fast, Jared wasn't listening to the Holy Spirit's voice anymore. He could tell that God was doing His part in their hearts, otherwise they're spirits would seem more at rest. Deep down they sensed the problem...but would they act in time? Michael walked over to Nicole and put his hand on her shoulder, "We need you dear one. Please listen to Him." Another minute passed before Nicole acted. She paused the movie and looked over at Brett. "Brett, I can't stop thinking about Jared. He keeps coming to my mind. I don't understand". She said.

Brett, laughing, picked on her, "I didn't realize that Jared was your type." She gave him a look of exasperation, "You know that's not what I meant. I just feel like he's being put on my heart for a reason...." Brett looked at his younger sister...he knew what she meant. He'd felt something strong in himself too, especially when she mentioned that she felt that there was a reason for Jared being on her mind. "Okay, I believe you Nicki, let's pray for him."

As words of thanksgiving left Michael's lips, a demon flew right up to Nicole. "Prayer? That's not what you're supposed to do. Just talk to him tomorrow, maybe he just needs a friend...worry about it tomorrow...." whispered Deception. Michael watched as Nicole started to hesitate, knowing what she was about to say. "No. Not this time!" Michael exclaimed. Revealing himself in glory he flew towards the dark creature with his blade of light drawn. Deception shrieked for help, but none came. As he tried to draw his blood red blade, he was cut down by a power that was far greater than he could even imagine. The power of a Captain of hosts.

Nicole wondered why she had been about to argue with Brett. She knew prayer was effective, it was part of her testimony. Why had she hesitated and doubted it for a moment? As these thoughts ran through her head, she knew it was time to go to God in prayer. She and Brett started to pray, genuinely, for Jared and for God's will to be done. Meanwhile, Michael watched on...ready for any demons that might try to interrupt the saints that he was watching over. No spirits were going to take out prayer cover as long as he had a say in the matter.

Jared had already drawn blood. But not as deep as he'd meant to. He'd truly intended for that cut to end his pain permanently. But he thought he'd heard a voice telling him not to, causing him to hesitate. That wasn't right though, nobody was here. So he grabbed the knife tighter this time. This time he'd do it right....

The prayers were working.

"NOW!" Yelled Sablo. They felt their prayer cover coming, and as their cover came the wall of darkness started to clear, it was time to act. He and Leo charged the demons with a vengeance. It looked as though the sun itself had exploded, as the brilliant comets with wings of fire rushed to Jared's side. They both knew that God had other plans for Jared...now to give Jared a chance to hear that same truth for himself. They were heavily outnumbered, but they could feel the prayers of the saints, they could feel the will of their Lord. They were in full glory, bright and visible, swatting and slashing at the demons that swarmed around them like vile, biting bees. They built a wall around Jared with their blades, still holding off the fierce onslaught.

As the blade started to come down, Jared stopped. He could think, it was if his mind had cleared for a second. And as he realized that something was different he heard it. The voice.

I love you. My light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That's all it took. He fell to the ground sobbing. "Jesus! I need you!" he cried.

Even as Leo had felt Sablo weakening and saw a swarm of demons trying to get through a small opening...then it happened. "Jesus! I need you!" The demons shrieked, trying to cover their ears at the sound of that name....

Michael came flying through the back, while Leo and Sablo charged from the front. It didn't take long to defeat and push back what was left of the dark forces. The angels rested easier, knowing that God...as always, had come through in the nick of time. Meanwhile Jared started to talk to the one that loved him more than anything. There was a lot to work through, but that was God's specialty after all!


"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

Regardless of whether or not you realize it, we are in a war. You've been called to fight, as we all have. Don't give up. As C.S Lewis said: "There are two common mistakes that one can make in dealing with demons. The first is in giving them too much emphasis; the other is in not giving them enough."

Realize that they have power. But realize they are powerless against God's strength. Pray for each other and those that are hurting. Pray for the saints. And most importantly...pray for God's will. After all, in the end, that's the only thing that matters.