Out of the Dark Quotes

“I have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:20 puts it this way: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” I love that! The other parts of my identity are important, but my identity as a servant of the Most High God is most important.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“First and foremost, I am a representative of Christ.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“I’ve discovered that when I let God into my deepest struggles, my questions may increase, but so does my intimacy with Him. Do you ever remember being angry with a parent when you were a kid? Maybe your mom or dad told you no when you wanted to hear yes. But no matter how angry you were with your parents, they didn’t stop loving you.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“Christian apologist C.S. Lewis wrote: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”3”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“In fact, I’m pretty sure that when I get to heaven, King David and I will be good friends.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“She continued, “I feel like the Holy Spirit said, ‘Disa.’ It was a testament to me that God hears His kids, and the prayers of a righteous person avails much.” As Janine told me that story, I became emotional. Almost a year had passed since that event. And during that time, Janine had traveled on the road with me when I was at my lowest. Little did I know that as I curled up in my bunk on the tour bus, Janine would be right outside my curtain, figuratively banging on the bus in prayer. God had revealed to her that the moth was me—and He wanted to set me free.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“Looking back, it’s uncanny the people God put me on tour with at such a pivotal time in my life. Light pushed through the darkness every time I heard Danny and Jeremy talk about how they persevered in faith with broken hearts. I would expect it to be impossible to trust God after losing their spouses through tragic circumstances, and yet they did. In the midst of pain and loss, they chose to keep believing. In spite of losing someone they loved, these men abided in the love of Christ and continued to proclaim God’s goodness. Observing their faith and strength began to heal some of the raw parts of my broken heart. Testimonies are powerful. God uses our stories to encourage others and to reveal His power and goodness. It reminds me of Psalm 66:16, which says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” When we proclaim to fellow Christians what God has done in our lives, it strengthens their faith and ours. Some of my most powerful songs have been stories of something God has done in my life. I love to proclaim from stage the victories God has accomplished in my walk with Him. And as I tell others about the ways He has been faithful, I am encouraged in return.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“There’s some of you here tonight that need to be reminded to hold on a little bit longer. The pain won’t last forever. You are going to have a story that will pull someone else out of the pit you’re currently in. True redemption, which God the Father specializes in, is when God uses the thing you’re not sure you can make it through and makes it your ministry.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“Guilt is different from shame. Guilt is seeing the sinful thing you have done; shame is seeing yourself as a failure because of it. The difference between the two is a fine line I have always struggled to maintain. I have often felt like a failure because of my sin—and at times just for who I was or how I failed to meet others’ expectations. But shame is toxic, and God doesn’t want it to hinder His work in my life. One of the benefits of being His child is that the work of Christ lifts my shame! I’m still learning this—and it’s a lesson I imagine I’ll spend a lifetime learning. But verses like Isaiah 50:7 have encouraged me: “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” Shame is not God’s way. It is one of the things that holds me in darkness.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“The thing is, when it was time to come down from the mountaintop, I was not prepared for what awaited me in the valley.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“I want the love, I want the light I want the beauty on the inside I want the One that you can’t see to be the definition of me More than the face, more than the girl More than the voice, more than the world I want the truth that I believe to be the definition of me”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.’” God reminded me again that this journey wasn’t about me, my flaws, or my insecurities. He had chosen me, and He wanted to speak through me. At that moment, I had no idea all that would entail, but a few days later, I would get my chance to represent Him to my biggest audience yet.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“I’ve come to realize that forgiveness isn’t really about me or the person who hurt me. It’s about accepting the mercy of the Father and paying it forward. It’s about understanding the weight of the debt I owed before Jesus took my place. Because of Him, I can stand faultless before my Father in Heaven. I have been handed the best day ever—every single day.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“I’ve been praying (how long?) For so, so long Believing (for what?) That day would come He heard me (yes, He did) And He pulled me out He put me right here for such a time as now”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“There is something about the vastness of an ocean that makes me appreciate the omnipotence of God. Seeing as far as the eye can see, yet knowing it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the enormity of God’s power and presence, always causes my heart to reflect. I have read Psalm 139:17–18 countless times. My mind knows that God’s thoughts about me are precious and outnumber the grains of sand. But in that moment, actually standing with my toes in an unfathomable number of grains of sand, a new understanding of His love for me, and the assurance of His plans for me, stirred my heart with awe.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“When I regularly declare truths about God, my own struggles fade into the background. Instead of calling myself names and giving in to bitterness, I can accept what God says about me—that I am His beloved child, that He has created me for good works, that I am never alone or abandoned.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“The things I declare about God and myself have power. My perspective shapes my worship, and it shapes the kind of Jesus-follower I am. Psalm 89:2 says, “I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” That’s”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy

“designed us each unique, like a fingerprint, with specific good works that only we can accomplish. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The word handiwork in that verse is translated from the Greek word poiema, which is the word from which we derive our English word poem. You and I are a poem—an artistic work—created by God. Our details and quirks are not inconsequential. God has a purpose for each and every one, namely good works—actions that help others and bring glory to the Father.”
― Mandisa, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy