The Shadow Light

By S R Pearl

With a glimpse behind the scenes of the obvious, The Shadow Light moves headlong into a hidden world less contemplated.

Someone is watching Michael and Amanda Bradley's every move. Who is behind the lies and deception? They had often wondered about the realm they could not see, but now they are face to face with the realities of the clash between the two worlds.

Michael knew he shouldn't have come to his prestigious office at the World Trade Center today, but now it is too late. He will need to get out, and fast. Amanda remembers the words she heard the week before as she passed by a funeral home, "Next week Michael will be there." In the midst of Amanda's hope and Michael's will to survive, a vivid spectacle is staged of the ongoing battle between the Kingdom of God, and demonic powers of darkness.
In this story of conquest and tragedy, through a drama embedded in atmospheric imagery, there arises a message impossible to forget; the importance of walking in the Secret Place, The Shadow Light.
“The Shadow Light is an intriguing work of fiction with fragments merged into the storyline that were inspired by my own experience. The drama played-out in my mind like a theatrical production... I wrote what I saw." S R Pearl

"It's sometimes hard to get the concept that we live in a world that we perceive with natural senses, yet at the same time we are influenced by a spiritual world that we rarely recognize. The realization that my own oblivious, or fearful approach toward the supernatural world was common inspired me to write this book. My hope is that through this fictional story readers will be encouraged to stand against the strategies and tricks of the powers of darkness, and to hide themselves in the shadow of His amazing Light. If we don't overcome, we will be overcome." S R Pearl

• Language: English
• Publisher: S R Pearl
• Release date: Jun 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9780987935823

S R Pearl

S R Pearl lives in the mountains of British Columbia Canada, with a husband she’s crazy about, a beautiful daughter, a hypersensitive Great Dane dog named Friday, and a cat that she pays a ridiculous amount of attention to.

Book preview

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

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I would like to thank my dear friend Rochelle Sammel for her work in editing the original manuscript. She is a woman of integrity who loves God, and her expertise and encouragement has been invaluable. To others who have encouraged me… you know who you are. The value of encouragement cannot be measured, and those of you who give it with a pure and honest heart… you move the world.       

I n t r o d u c t i o n

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IT’S SOMETIMES HARD to get the concept that we live in a world that we perceive with natural senses, yet at the same time we are influenced by a spiritual world that we rarely recognize. Several years ago a friend loaned me a book by a well-known author about this very topic. Even though I was a Christian, after reading only the first few pages it scared me so much that I couldn’t finish it. Later when I realized that the powers of darkness were fully defeated by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, all fear of this strange world was gone. I finally got a real revelation of what we as believers have been redeemed from.

The realization that my own oblivious or fearful approach toward the supernatural world was common inspired me to write this book. My hope is that through this fictional story readers will be encouraged to stand up firmly against the strategies and tricks of the devil. If we don’t overcome, we will be overcome. The power is in the Blood of Jesus.

This book is a work of fiction. However, the terrible September 11 attacks are a backdrop on which much of the story was written. As The Shadow Light is a fictional story, I make no claims that any description of the events surrounding that day in this book is accurate. The real attack of 9/11 was and is both devastating and painful and there is no intention in this book to capitalize on or add any grief to those who have personally suffered through this tragedy.

While The Shadow Light is an invented story, I believe there are biblical truths in it. The original manuscript was footnoted with scripture references as it was written. I fully intended to have the book printed with these footnotes. As I was writing, scriptures would come to mind, or I would search for confirmation in the scriptures of some of the ideas that were

 flowing. However, as it is not common for fiction to have footnotes I have left them out of the final copy. My hope is that you will search the Bible yourself if something in the story speaks to your heart. It is my intention to include some of these references and also notes from Amanda’s diary on my website.

The supernatural storyline in this book is very basic. The reality of the world we cannot see is far more real than we can fathom. In fact, I believe it is more real than the natural world we experience each day. If our eyes were opened, we would likely see millions upon millions of supernatural beings in the heavenly realms. The choice is ours as to which side we are on. If we know Jesus intimately, and we act upon his Word, we can be confident that there are many more with us, than against us.

There are fragments woven throughout the story that were inspired by my own experience. For example, chapter one opens with Amanda dealing with inexplicable panic. My own success in using the same tactics to overcome was behind this idea. Another example is where she passes by a funeral home and hears a voice telling her that Michael will be there soon. This was similar to my own experience where the voice told me that my son would be there the next week. It is interesting to note that the next week my son was missing for a few days. I also dealt with this the same way Amanda did. The title of the book comes from a note in Amanda’s journal where she is writing about Psalm 91. The Holy Spirit speaks to her and tells her that the shadow of the Almighty is not dark; it is a light so brilliant that the enemy cannot find you…if he cannot find you, he cannot touch you. I remember the day that I wrote this in my own journal.

My hope is that readers of The Shadow Light will not only be entertained, but will seek to hide themselves in the shadow of His amazing Light.

The Shadow Light is also available in paperback. For more about this book and others, please visit the Moody Mountain Publishing website at, www.moodymountainpublishing.com     --- S R Pearl

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Ephesians 6:12 (Amp)

Chapter 1

FEAR

IT TOOK HER breath away. She was suddenly awake in a panic sweat. Her eyes strained in the dark. Focusing on the red illuminated numbers on the clock, Amanda blinked. It was 3 A.M.  The heaviness in her chest pressed hard against her lungs as she struggled to inhale. Confused by this rush of anxiety, she wondered what could have so abruptly jarred her from a dead sleep. A feeling of dread pressed in with so much intensity that thinking about it didn’t matter. The oppression was crushing. Her ears were acutely aware of the sharp panting sound she made with each breath. She lay still, waiting… hoping… pleading for it to pass. It wasn’t letting up.

Air, she whispered out loud to herself, I need to get some air.

As she turned to get up, she reached for her Bible lying open on the night table.

What’s the matter?

Her husband Michael spoke in a low voice as he propped himself up to look at her through the darkness. She was glad he was awake.

I don’t know. I’m feeling kind of panicky, I can’t breathe…

Why? What’s wrong? Michael asked again.

I don’t know… I just woke up feeling like this. I’m feeling claustrophobic. I’m going downstairs for some air.

She carelessly banged into things in the dark and left before he could say another word.

Sighing, Michael lay back down again; his eyes were adjusting to the darkness. He yawned and stretched, and looked around the room but didn’t see anything unusual.

Amanda had gone through this sort of thing before and he thought she was over it. He wondered about why it was starting up again now. For days, and sometimes even weeks at a time she had been plagued by episodes of panic. Even though it seemed irrational, she was a victim to the symptoms and uncontrollable panic. Sometimes, she would bolt to the balcony door, and rush outside to breathe the open air. They had tried to figure it out, but neither of them could. The panic would hit seemingly without rhyme or reason. Eventually, they learned the truth about what was behind the attacks and they stopped. They had been forgotten until now.

Michael lay thinking, staring through the shadows of the blinds closed against the large picture window. It was quiet downstairs. He figured that Amanda would be sitting in the living room.

Amanda sat straight and stiff on the sofa just inside the French doors. She tried to breath deep. The panic eased a bit as she took in the openness of the room. The night sky seemed bright tonight. The moonlight beaming through the floor-length beveled windows cast huge squares of light onto the carpet beneath her feet. She felt cold from getting out of bed but was distracted by her thoughts. She was busy trying to analyze the overwhelming fear that was still captivating her in waves of panic. She was confused by the suddenness of the assault and wondered what could have opened the door to this. In the past she hadn’t known about the conspiracy and the battle she couldn’t see. Fear had incapacitated her. But, this time it was different. Now she knew the truth. She knew that what she was experiencing was real… the heaviness in her chest, the shortness of breath and the torment in her mind, it

was all real. But knowing the truth had equipped her to fight back.

Amanda had expected that Michael would follow her downstairs. He wouldn’t be able to sleep until he knew that she was all right. He had told her many times that she could wake him up any time she needed to. He was always so good to her.

The sound of the hallway floors moaning and creaking announced his appearance in the doorway. Crossing the room, he stepped in front of the moonstruck windows and gazed out into the well-lit yard. He watched as the shadows from the trees intercepted the moonlight, and danced on tiny ripples forming on the surface of the swimming pool. He stood motionless, staring out into the night.

In the distance, he could see a bright reflecting bowl of light above Lower Manhattan. In daylight, the scene was a mosaic blanket of texture and color. Tonight however the skyline shone with a sullen intensity.

Towering conspicuously above everything were the lighted tips of the Manhattan Bridge and the top halves of the most ambitious corporate headquarters in the world, the Twin Towers. The towers intimidated the scene. They stood like immovable pillars. Though they lacked the refined ornamental character of the Empire State Building and the distinguished Chrysler Building, the World Trade Center towers were uncompromising. They stood unashamed and unrelenting. They were undeniably striking symbols of America’s power and wealth. They were the Mecca of the western world. They were the high temple of corporate America, the altar of success. Somewhere there in the melded illumination was his office.

Even though she knew Michael understood, Amanda still felt a little silly about sitting there in the middle of the night afraid of what appeared to be nothing. She didn’t say a word, but quietly watched him while she breathed deeply, trying to relax.

It was Michael who interrupted the silence. You know what this is don’t you.

I know.  Her voice was weak. Then with more certainty she added, Yeah, I know what this is. It’s a spiritual attack. I just don’t know why it’s happening now.

I prayed for you upstairs, do you want me to pray with you again?

No, I’m alright, she tried to convince herself.

I’m just going to sit for a bit here and read my bible and pray, she added.

Continuing the pressure against Amanda’s chest, the spirit of Fear twitched his small pointed ears on the top of his head and listened carefully to the conversation. Less than three feet tall, his rather small size was no limit to his success. This demon had a proven record of overpowering his victim with ease. He was squatted on Amanda’s lap peering at her through dark glinting eyes, unwilling to take his focus from her for even an instant. One three-pronged cloven hand was pressing against her breastbone; the other was gripped tightly around a sword he strategically aimed at her head. He knew that Michael had prayed, but for now he still had permission from Amanda to stay put.

This sword was his weapon of choice. He had successfully used it over and over again. He held it now at a forty five-degree angle; the razor sharp blade was aimed with precision just waiting for the opportune time to strike. His strategy was to immobilize his victim with fear and bombard her senses all the while leaving her helpless and unable to think with a sound mind. Displayed proudly to gain the envy of the other forces of darkness, the handle was distinctly engraved with the dreadful name of this demon, Fear. For additional coercion he had inscribed the word Intimidation along the blade of the sword. The shadow that appeared much larger than the weapon itself fell across Amanda’s face.

Turning from the window, Michael leaned across the glass end table and reached under the lampshade for the switch. A soft glow cornered the room. He yawned and then collapsed onto the leather sofa and stretched out. He lay there for a few minutes and then reached for the remote. With a quiet click the television lit up and he began to flip through the channels. He stopped randomly, but nothing really caught his interest. Across the room he could see Amanda reaching for her Bible; he noticed that she looked a little less stressed. He had prayed for her before he had come downstairs. He knew she would be fine this time. He had to get up earlier than usual for work in the morning; it wasn’t a good night to be missing sleep, nevertheless, he would be patient.

Amanda was aware that this flood of fear was one of the devil’s schemes against her but even so, she still felt the tremors of anxiety spasms. The surges of fear were interrupted by interludes of calm when she reassured herself that she was able to resist and overcome this dark power. In recent months she had come into better understanding about this battle in the air, the unseen war raging between the powers of darkness and the Kingdom of God. A desire for an intimate fellowship with God had sparked her passion to study the Bible. Her passion became a craving that ignited a flame of light over the scriptures. Her knowledge and understanding increased. She was amazed at the words of Life and Truth illuminating before her. The Truth revealed so much more than she would have ever guessed. Her deepening relationship with God had opened her spirit senses. The more she sought the heart of God and set herself to line up with His ways, the more her perception of things in the spiritual world intensified. She was learning not to rely on what she could see but rather to rely on the Spirit of God and the truth she had learned in His Word.

Don’t touch that book! the demon hissed through thin black lips, revealing a dozen or so narrow jagged teeth. His long forked tongue lashed out between every word. He spewed hot breath in the direction of the Bible as Amanda’s fingers made contact with it. His eyes widened with horror at the sight of the Holy book.

Unable to see the demon still clenching her tightly, Amanda couldn’t have detected he was there with her physical senses but spiritual insight made her well aware of a presence of evil.

Shifting his grasp and tightening his grip on the handle, Fear flashed the sword in front of Amanda’s face. She stiffened. Her breath caught in her throat. Fear’s thin lips curved up slightly, a sly smile was beginning at the thought that she was ready to  submit.Amanda took a slow, deep breath as she began to flip through the pages to find Psalm 91. She loved this passage. It had brought comfort and strength to her so many times in the past. There had been days when she thought she just couldn’t get through another moment. These words had encouraged her.

The curved lips straightened as Fear drew them together in a pursed line. The demon, once haughty and confident drew back into a crouched position, his eyes darting around, and his twitching ears listening intently. He appeared to be bracing himself, as if he expected a horrible impending calamity. As Amanda began to read the words, a foreboding look of terror overtook the face of Fear. His eyes locked onto a bright figure heading towards Amanda. Fear froze.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, Amanda read aloud, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. She breathed deep then continued, For he will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Amanda closed her eyes and lay back, resting her head.  Oh God, she prayed, "I thank you for your love for me and the assurance I have that as I walk in your ways I live under your protection. I thank you for your Son Jesus who redeemed us from the curse of sin and death. I thank you that I don’t have to fear because you have rescued me