Coming Out of Darkness

By Latasha Brandon

Coming Out of Darkness is about moving forward in life. In our dark places, nothing is visible. We struggle to find our way. It makes one wonder why they are there and where they are going. Reality doesn't exist, and everything seems to be a lie. Coming out of Darkness is a God-inspired book, written to encourage others and be a witness that there is light at the end of the tunnel. By the grace of God, one can obtain deliverance, forgiveness, and true love while fulfilling the purpose God has willed for them. "For I know the thoughts I think towards you said the Lord, thoughts of good and not of evil to give you an expected end" (Jer. 29:11). Darkness comes to bring fear and doubt in our minds and hearts. But God has not given us the spirit of fear. The Lord has given us power, spirit of love, and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). In the moment when you are about to throw in the towel, God strengthens your faith in him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644581933

Book preview

Chapter 1

My Story

My ministry is about helping others get through the pain and the hurt and see a better outcome. God has never let us down. He has and will always be there. We let ourselves down when we don’t do what he has asked of us. I’m not here to play games or condemn anyone but to uplift and let you know that my God so love you that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believed on him will not perish but have everlasting life (Tyndale, 2012 ).

Have you ever asked God why?

I find myself asking God why. Why did this happen to me? Many times, we question God about our problems in life, not realizing that he is the problem solver. Yes, we deal with situations and circumstances that are not even big enough for God to say, I need to handle this now. God is the one that can and will do all things according to the power. What power? you ask.

For the word says in Ephesians 3:20: Now unto Him who can do exceedingly abundantly, above all that we can ask or think according to the power that works in us.

God has called us to another power, which means God has called us to him. He is the power that surpasses all power. There is a song that says: Who can stand against the Lord? / Who can stand against the King? And it goes on to say: No one can. / No one will (Dulaney, 2016).

I can testify that there were times when I thought I could do all things and was able to fulfill my own destiny and desires only to find out that I cannot do anything without God.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, the purpose is the reason for which something is done or created. In my opinion, the word of God defines purpose as God’s will and plan for human life. Man defines purpose as something that he must obtain to gain acceptance by others or the world. How do you define purpose?

Well, I define purpose as a place in which God has ordained and allowed humanity to obtain only through divine intervention. Nothing is too hard or impossible for God to get you to that destiny or desire that he has purposed for you according to his will.

I would rely on money, jobs, men, and even society resources to only find out in the end that none of these things fulfill my life’s purpose. Destiny was ahead of me but too far to reach or come to it. God’s plan for my life was there, but I was blinded by the lust of the flesh and lust of the eye. It was what society would say was love, but God called it sin. I did not know I was standing in the way of my own destiny with the perception that one day all my dreams would come true. I would fulfill my dreams of marrying the love of my life, having children, and living a life of happiness. I dreamed of living the good life with a man who would love me and take care of his family. My friends would share the same dream, come to the house for family gatherings, and go on shopping sprees while enjoying the riches of our hands. The dreams that my reality would laugh at in the end.

Purpose—what is it? I asked. How can I obtain it and fulfill the destiny that God created me for?

How I long to see God’s will perfected in my life. I would have never thought that my purpose would be to conquer things that others couldn’t imagine even going through, let alone talk about. Who would have thought that little old me would walk in a women’s conference broken and come out stronger than I went in?

A change would come after the brokenness that I felt weeks before the trip. I would have never thought or imagine the word of God breaking every chain that was keeping this book from being written. I ask, who would have thought my life would be a testimony to the nations and generations of women who have gone through the cycle of hurt, pain, and suffering, through molestation, abandonment, and brokenness, with no father around to protect me from the raging animal nature of man? I suffered through heartbreaks and loneliness, wondering if I would ever find or have true love.

I was suffering because no one could understand the hurt, the pain, and the mindset of not belonging and how these things can affect the nurturing of a single mother of four. It was suffering that would cause a cycle of curses that would be broken by the power of God through the prayers of a mother. I long for purpose because the purpose is what it takes to understand the meaning of real love. True, unconditional love was purposed for us to be reconciled back to the Father. Jesus was the purpose!

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

I would search the scriptures and go to every church meeting, but what was my purpose? Scriptures would say that I was created to worship and praise God, but with all that, I felt like it was more than just going to church. It was more than just reading scriptures. God wanted all of me, and I wanted all of him.

When I began studying the word of God and writing out sermons, I never imagine myself being a minister or preaching the gospel, but there was something inside of me that embraced the feeling of speaking his word. I never wanted to become a minister or have any title for that matter because I learned that humility was the best place to be. My prayer to God when he began to use me was God, keep me humble before your people. Ministry became a passion for me, and I loved the way God was revealing his word and message to me for his people, but I wasn’t satisfied with my own life.

My friends would tell me that I have an anointing on me that I couldn’t see, and I needed to ask God to show me. I would say I don’t want to see it because I want to always be humble before him.

Never be ashamed of what God has placed in you because it’s all for his glory. I remember doing a sermon on Esther. Esther was a Jewish girl who became queen. Now Esther didn’t know anything about being a queen. I would even say that she didn’t even want the position. But it was her purpose, and the one who knew this was her uncle Mordecai. Esther had to learn, prepare, and embrace this position for the hope of her people.

As I took this assignment, I asked myself why do I need to learn about Esther? Even though God had been dealing with me about Esther and her being a woman walking in authority and royal priesthood. What I had to learn was that, like Esther, I had to prepare and embrace what God was doing in my life at this moment and how he was going to use me to get the glory.

When I speak on the word position, I’m not speaking about titles or the position a person holds in the church building. I’m speaking about your life’s purpose, which is a position for all who are chosen by God. God is looking for people who will be committed no matter what comes or goes. They don’t just try to look cute but fulfill the purpose and the will of God.

Esther had to embrace the position that she was chosen for as queen. Esther had to change her attitude. See, she was looking at her position as queen as a title or place in the palace, but what she didn’t know was that God had placed her there to fulfill her purpose.

How did she change her attitude? She let go of the bitterness, she submitted to true spiritual authority, and she knew she could handle the pressure. She was prepared in advance. She was informed of her purpose, and she walked in her place. Esther didn’t miss her divine moment. It’s time to step out in faith, and it’s time to draw near to God. God had to remind Esther of who she was and where she came. It’s only by God’s grace that we are in positions that we are placed in. Whether it be in the church, job, home, or public eye, we have a purpose to fulfill.

Life may lead you where you least expect, but have faith that you are exactly where you need to be. Serving God demands us to die to our own life to gain the life of Christ. Often God places us in situations to accomplish his purpose. In those situations, we may go through some rough terrain and may even face some predators along the path,