Darkness tried to steal my breath this week - right from underneath me. It tried to cover me in a silk so soft, I wouldn't recognize its presence. Anxiety tried to tell me that my voice mattered, but not that much. It attempted to convince me that the pressure I was under might never relent. It encouraged me to settle. It whispered loudly in my ear. Darkness tried to steal my breath.

Darkness didn't just try to steal something from me, but from the King of peace.

Flowers bloom because the breath in my lungs create life.

The sun rises because the breath in my lungs kiss the stars goodnight.

It tried to steal His breath from my lungs.

Yet, darkness didn't realize who they'd threatened. It didn't remember who I belonged to.

And the moment darkness stepped up, He roared.

He roared so fiercely that I dropped my defenses, tended to my wounds and tapped Him in.

He rushed to my defense this week. He tore through the stars and ripped apart the night.

He destroyed the complacency I started to find comfort in.

He covered me in love. In something immeasurable.

He recklessly chased me down until I noticed how His eyes caught mine.

He relentlessly kissed my cheeks and caught my tears.

He rushed to my defense this week.

Darkness tried to out run Him. Tried to out think Him. Tried to make me forget Him.

Just as He fought for me, He watched me as I sat among the falling leaves. Praying for a change in season to be as seamless as nature itself. In the same moment that His arms embraced me, He destroyed any weapons I was too tired to run from.

Even though the shadows tried to erase the light, I found His winks around every corner. As I tried to catch my breath, my eyes caught His presence. As I tried to calm my heart, His kindness brought me back to life.

Darkness didn't realize my breath wasn't something to steal; but something to be threatened by. Darkness, please, try to steal my breath again. Lest you forget, He'll be there - waiting. Always at my defense. Ripping any authority out from under your feet. Try Him.