Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

I did not grow up around spiritual warfare. I was surrounded by light at a young age, and intoxicated by the brightness of my upbringing, I assumed everyone else was the same. I didn’t realize that along with my 42-pound backpack, Southern accent, and general American privilege, my baggage included my blindness to spiritual warfare. Stepping off the plane, some of my squamates immediately felt the thick darkness of this city sitting on their hearts. Witchcraft is practiced freely here, Communism is a recent memory, and even the clouds refuse to emancipate the sun.

Why does this darkness exist? The older generation is plagued by the hungry memories of communism, and the younger generation has been invaded by drugs and alcohol which are consumed from the earliest ages of 10 and 11. Every local I have spoken to has expressed bewilderment that Americans would ever choose their city to tour. “People here are sad because they work and work and work, and have no time to do other things,” one woman said, “All of our money goes to food and housing and clothes and nothing fun.” Others I spoke with agreed with phrases like, “People here are so angry,” and “I want to move out as soon as I can.” Besides the financial and social struggles of the Craiovans, the Roman Orthodox Church sets its heavy yoke of good works upon its people. The lay members have no idea that nothing they can ever do will deserve the grace which has been given to us freely. Joy is almost extinct in Craiova. 

Raul, the lead pastor at Hope Church, asked me why I looked so happy. “What is your secret?” He questioned. I didn’t exactly know how to answer, since at the moment I didn’t feel particularly joyful. He moved on. “Do you ever get sad? What happens then?” I responded, “Even when I’m sad, the Lord is still good. I guess that’s why I’m joyful.” Sometimes I forget that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Sometimes I forget that it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I can’t force myself to feel joy, because it’s not a feeling. It’s a product of the Spirit’s habitation in your heart. At the presence of joy, darkness flees, because it is a weapon of immense light, supplied by Christ and wielded by humans. 

I think we feel entitled to live in bright places. We whine when we con’t see God’s presence around us. We forget that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We forget that God sent us into darkness so that we could display His light. We forget that He doesn’t leave us, and that even when we walk through the darkest valley, He will be with us (Psalm 23). When wars break out against us, we will fight back with the joy of the Lord.