The Battle Within

I was going through one of my mission journals and came across a poem I wrote on December 21, 2002:

I fight the battle within:
A war of virtue vs. sin.
It is a brutal Fight
Of wrong against right.

Give up! You're through!
Nothing good could come from you.
You don't have a chance!
God would not give you a second glance.

Darkness swirls all around.
When will relief be found?
This is my plight:
To come from darkness to the light.

I feel I must give in.
There is no chance for me to win.
I have come to the end of my rope,
I have lost all my hope.

Suddenly I see a light,
And then a man dressed in white.
He looks and smiles at me,
As the darkness at once does flee.

His scarred hands, to me, do stretch.
Why to me, this horrible wrtech?
I hang my head in shame,
I cannot even utter his name.

"My child, you have suffered much,
Please allow my healing touch."
"But I am a sinner, gross and vile.
Repentance, for me, would be impossible."

"I know, my brother, that is why
I came to earth to suffer and die.
Repentance is hard, it is true;
But the power to do, I give to you.

"This is part of life's great test.
You must do your part; I will do the rest
Come to me with your burden of care,
And I will help you forget it was there."

I searched deep within my heart
To accept the his strength, to do my part.
I feel my savior's love within
And with His strength I now begin.

I will fight Satan and all my foes.
With the power of Christ from head to toes.
If I fight and do my best,
I am promised Eternal rest.