How sad it is when a family watches a child walk away from the faith in which he or she grew up. And worst of all is to see sadness replace the joy that child once had.

One woman saw her daughter go from loving and trusting God to a life of sin and rebellion—but then back to the joy of a walk with Jesus. The daughter's sad, empty expressions during her time of running from God changed to an open, joyful happiness when she returned to fellowship with Him. The mother said the difference was like turning on a light that dispelled the darkness.

In John 10:10, we read of the contrast between the joy of life with Jesus and the anxiety of life in the realm of Satan. He comes deceptively as an "angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), but he wants to ruin us. He is described as a thief who steals, kills, and destroys. But Jesus is presented as the One who gives life—abundant life.

These two realms are constantly in a battle for our hearts. We have this choice: the light of life with Jesus or the depths of darkness in the devil's lair. Life or death? Light or darkness? Contentment or anxiety? Both realms beckon us.

Whom will you choose to trust with your life? The thief or the Savior?
  — Dave Branon