Beware! Don't be caught in a projection of the Echthroi (Greek for enemies).

Do you ever have bleak despairing visions of your future? 

I have mentioned that my big fear is failure.  So lots of times some version of this vision comes to me.  Howard screws up big time, loses his job, his reputation, disgraces himself, his family and friends abandon him, he ends up penniless, out on the street, diseased and dying in a gutter with people shaking their heads, "Tsk, tsk, what a fool!  Serves him right!"  And God is nowhere around...

Hmmm, what a minute, God is always present.  He promised never to forsake us.  I know who the source of this vision is, the old adversary, the accuser of the brethren, Satan and his minions.  Joan and I are reading Madeleine L'Engle's book, The Swiftly Tilting Planet again.  And the Echthroi are out to try and trap the heroes of the story into believing their projections for the future so they come true and all mankind is destroyed.

So when we find ourselves having dark thoughts void of God, remember the source of those and turn  to the Father of lights. 

James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: 17all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.  NABRE