The Battle Over Darkness

For each of us, there is a moment in time when everything changes. We will forever reference time as “before the moment” or “after the moment.” If such an occurrence hasn’t happened yet for you, it will. This turning point, for many, is when darkness falls and the battle begins. The Uncommon Story you are now reading shares such a journey. It is the haunting, heart-wrenching “moment” in the life of my friend, Patti, and where that moment has taken her.

There is a fascinating Agatha Christie novel called Towards Zero that contains this quote, “But you know they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that – years before sometimes – with all the causes and events that bring certain people to a certain place at a certain time on a certain day.” Although there is no resulting murder in this story, I still think it’s important to start at the “Zero Moment” to tell it.

Patti is 14 years old. By this time in her life, her mother has left her stepdad and come out of the closet as gay. Patti doesn’t mind that her stepdad is gone. He molested her in the past, and it is better that he isn’t around. Patti was conceived during an affair, and as a result, her real father isn’t part of her life.

Since her mom owns a bar, Patti has lots of time to run the streets. Tonight, she is supposed to be at home watching her two brothers and her niece, while Dessa, her mom, works at the bar. However, that’s not what happens. While it’s still light, heading to the store for some snacks sounds like a great idea. The store is not far away and Patti can easily walk, so she does. On the way home, the August sun is setting and the hot Texas temperature is beginning to relent.

Just as darkness begins to fall, an unfamiliar man walking down the highway stops and asks for directions. The interaction is short, but as Patti turns to walk away, he grabs her from behind. The man drags Patti across the ditch screaming and rapes her by the side of the road. Cars with open windows pass, but no one stops. Patti is certain her cries are heard.

“Why doesn’t someone stop?” Patti wonders. But no one pulls over, and no one comes to help.

When the attacker is finished, he releases his grip on Patti. She immediately senses her opportunity to escape, and as fast as possible, Patti runs for home. Little does she know, in the darkness, she is being followed.

Patti runs in the door to her house where her niece and two younger brothers are waiting for her to return. Unable to even catch her breath, she looks up just as the door opens again and her attacker stalks into the room. “Do you have any money?” he interrogates, as sweat drips off his face. Patti answers, “No.” “Then call your mother,” the man demands. “Tell her to come home but don’t let on anything is wrong.” Patti responds by doing as she is told.

When Dessa receives the call from Patti, she knows something is wrong. As she leaves the bar, Dessa tells her girlfriend that she is heading home to check on Patti. Upon walking in the door of her house, Dessa finds the assailant tightly gripping Patti in front of him with a knife held at her daughter’s throat. The man expects Dessa to be carrying cash, but he is wrong. Dessa arrives empty-handed, and the deeply agitated rapist threatens to kill Patti as the knife shakes at his young captive’s neck.

As the drama unfolds, Dessa receives a phone call from her girlfriend checking to see if everything is alright at home. By subtly coded wording, Dessa communicates the need for help. The police arrive quickly, bursting into the front room. Dessa takes advantage of the distraction, jumping Patti’s attacker and wrestling him to the floor, beating him as fiercely as she can. The police drag the man off the floor, but as they make their way to the patrol car, the attacker, high on meth, overcomes the officers and flees on foot into the night.

The police take Patti and her family to a safe house for fear the man will return. The next day, the man is apprehended and not long after, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But the conviction could never erase what had become Patti’s Zero Moment. Her world would never be the same.

Following her assault, Patti’s life began spiraling completely out of control. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Patti stopped going home and instead started couch surfing wherever she could find a place. She became deeply involved in drugs and began dabbling in the occult by reading a Satanic bible and trying to cast spells. While couch surfing, Patti met a man eight years older, and despite the fact she was only 16 years old, her mother gave approval for them to marry. Dessa hoped that perhaps marriage would calm Patti down.

Marriage did anything but calm Patti down. She left her husband and joined a street gang where she began stealing cars. Before long, Patti had acquired her first felony charge for burglary. At the same time, she was stripping in a bar to earn money with a fellow stripper named Majik. Majik was a practicing witch and together with Patti they were involved in Satanic dark arts. This was an incredibly dark period of my friend’s life in more ways than one.

Fast forward now, around 17 years later, to a small town named Joplin, Missouri. In the interval, Patti was married again, had three children, divorced, spent a year in prison and was released on parole with a good part of those years intoxicated and high. This is when Patti and I first met.

Arriving in Joplin, Patti and her kids lived in her van under a bridge. They managed to secure a place to rent, and one day on the way, her van quit running in front of our church. Our pastor, Cliff, saw Patti and went out to help. Before getting her back on the road, Cliff acquired her new address, which happened to be right down the street from our church. Later that week, Cliff handed me that same piece of paper and said, “I think this is someone you would enjoy meeting.”

It wasn’t long before I was knocking on Patti’s door. Walking through that door seems like such a long time ago. Patti and I have been through quite a lot since then. In fact, Patti is mentioned in my story about our friend, Mike, called “Messy in the Middle.” But for this story, I want to focus on a memory that just Patti and I alone share.

From that very first time Patti and I met, we began talking about Jesus. One thing to know about Patti is that she is able to understand things quickly and is quite smart. But every time I mentioned forgiveness, there was a block. It was like she couldn’t understand or just didn’t want to.

One particular conversation went this way. “Patti, you can be forgiven. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Jesus freely offers to forgive us if we ask.”

Her response was, “I can’t be forgiven. I just can’t. I’ve even tried to ask Jesus for forgiveness, but the words just won’t come out.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think about her response. I began to come up with ideas in my own mind of why this might be happening. Perhaps she convinced herself that she had committed too many sins to be forgiven or maybe just believed she was past saving. I encounter people who believe those things all the time, but those ideas aren’t consistent with Jesus’ teachings. And let’s face it, if we’re talking about Christianity, Jesus is the one who gets to decide what goes.

Being a verbal processor, and one who appreciates advice, I mentioned Patti’s issue to a friend, describing her inability to ask Jesus to forgive her. This conversation happened on a warm spring evening as my friend, Pam, and I sat on the bleachers and watched our sons play baseball. I have to admit, I was shocked at Pam’s response. She replied, “Have you asked Patti if she has ever invited anyone else in?” There may be some of you, who at this point, don’t know what she is referring to. But the moment Pam said it, I did.

Possession and the occult aren’t things I think of often. In fact, prior to Patti, I rarely thought of them at all. Somewhere in Jr. High, I watched The Exorcist and that was enough for me. I slept with my Bible every night for weeks. Not that I knew much about Christianity or anything, but just the sheer frightening thought of heads spinning around, bodies levitating, superhuman strength, and utter darkness, made me look for some type of protection, especially since we had an attic above my room. You just never know, or least I didn’t, if a “Captain Howdy” could be lurking around.

With time, the Bible moved out of my bed and no one I knew ever had a problem with demons, so my fears were laid to rest. But somewhere in my late thirties, I started reading the Bible. Not just reading scripture, but actually studying it. There is a big difference, a world of difference. In both the Old Testament and New, I found plenty of accounts of demonic activity and concluded demons were real and that the spiritual battle between good and evil was still going strong. I was just happy I hadn’t seen it face to face. But now, all these years later, Pam was suggesting that perhaps that moment had come.

The following day, I ran into my good friend, Kim. Since I was convinced I should ask Patti about the “possible possession thing,” I asked Kim if she would pray over me. Visions of The Exorcist were already starting to re-form in my mind. Kim was happy to pray and invited me to come to her truck so we could talk.

Once again, I was surprised. Kim mentioned she had recently read a book on the occult that spoke about possession and exorcism. Of course, I was interested in learning anything she had to share. She gave me a few tips, which looking back now seems pretty funny. Here are two people, clearly out of their league, discussing an exorcism like it was plans for dinner. But in the end, she did give me some really good advice. And most importantly, she prayed over me. In fact, out of nowhere, Kim produced a little tiny bottle of anointing oil. Really! I mean who carries around anointing oil? The answer to that is, my friend Kim.

So, armed with anointing oil on me, prayer, and some advice from a book someone else had read, off I went that night to see Patti.

As the evening came to a close, I gave Patti a ride home from our meeting. Sitting in the car outside her apartment, I worked up the courage to ask my friend the thousand-dollar question. I remember the event in great detail like it was just yesterday. I turned off the engine of the car and then turned to face my friend.

“Patti, I have something I need to ask you. A couple of days ago, I told my friend about your inability to ask Jesus for forgiveness. She suggested that I ask you if you have ever invited anyone else in?”

I hoped that by leaving the question somewhat vague, if possession wasn’t the problem, she wouldn’t understand what I was even asking and we’d just move on to a different line of conversation. But, no such luck. Patti responded with, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I can’t be forgiven.” With a somewhat sinking feeling in my stomach, I asked her to tell me what had happened.

While she was stripping back in her teenage years, her friend Majik asked Patti to attend a Satanic ritual. Surrounded by a coven of witches, it was during this ceremony Patti invited a demonic spirit to indwell her. Soon afterwards, during a striptease act on stage, Majik asked Patti if she could “cut her.” While Patti laid on the stage floor, Majik carved an upside down cross on Patti’s chest to be a constant reminder of her dark possession. To this day, my friend still bears the scar of that dark decision.

“That’s why I can’t be forgiven. I could never be forgiven for that. I’ve tried to ask, and the words won’t come out. And I’m afraid that ‘he’ might hurt my kids or my mom.”

As you read the following paragraphs, I want you to imagine yourself sitting in the car with us, late at night, no lights and no one around. What happened next might be hard for some people to accept. But as eyewitnesses, both Patti and I can verify it to be true.

I replied, “Patti, all I know is that Jesus taught that anyone could be forgiven in this life no matter what they had done. The only sin that isn’t forgiven is coming to the end of your life and rejecting the forgiveness that He’s offered you. And you’re not at the end yet. Do you want to be forgiven? Do you want to allow Jesus to rule your life instead of this demon?”

“I do,” Patti whispered softly.

In response, I replied with perhaps one of the most accurate things I’ve ever said: “I don’t know what we should do.” I added, “We could try to do something tonight, or set up an appointment with Pastor Cliff tomorrow, or call some professional. I don’t know what’s best.” Then I followed it up with perhaps the smartest thing I’ve ever said: “Can we just take a few minutes and pray about what to do?”

While I prayed, the wind began to blow. Not just a little, a lot. From one who’s been in a tornado before, the wind that night felt very much the same. The car literally began shaking and rocking back and forth from the wind, like a boat caught in the middle of a storm. And it became extremely dark. It wasn’t just a nighttime dark – it was the kind of dark you could cut with a knife.

I’ll be honest, at this point I was scared. Then abruptly, out of nowhere, the car began making loud clicking noises. I’m sure I must have jumped several inches out of my seat. It took me a minute to realize it was the CD changer in my car. And yes, this story occurred during a time when cars really did have CD players.

The music had been playing on the way to Patti’s house and I had turned the volume all the way down for our conversation. Now it was changing to a new CD right in the middle of praying. To me, that had relevance, as if “someone” was trying to get my attention. I turned up the sound to hear what particular song would start playing.

When the song was over, Patti and I looked at each other. “I think it’s here and I think it’s now,” I announced. “What about you? Are you ready?” Her answer was yes.

Sometimes we run away from things we’re afraid of. And sometimes we just do them scared silly. I just did this one scared silly because I truly believed Jesus was leading the way. Putting my trust in a God I can’t see is what I call faith. So, in the middle of complete darkness, with the wind roaring outside and the car rocking, Patti and I took hold of each other’s hands and began to pray.

I really couldn’t even tell you all the things that were said since I was pretty scared, but without a doubt, I incorporated the tips I’d learned from Kim. As we finished, the wind began to die down and it didn’t seem quite so dark. By this time, Patti and I were both crying. “If you want Jesus to replace the darkness you’ve had inside, now would be the time to ask,” I said.

Patti prayed the most beautiful prayer. Once again, I couldn’t really tell you now exactly what she said, but it involved asking for Jesus to be in charge of her life and for Him to forgive her. The thing that was so exciting was, for the first time, when it came to asking for forgiveness, she was able to actually speak the words out loud. Patti says, looking back, “The darkness started to go away and things didn’t look so bleak. For the first time, I felt there was a chance for me to be okay.” And what happened inside Patti, also occurred outside. The pitch-black darkness in the car faded away.

So today, I’m recalling that memorable night and celebrating Patti by writing her story. She is officially 1,000 days sober and clean. She will tell you life wasn’t instantly easy after that night. The battle over darkness never is. The fact is, it has been extremely difficult. Although Satan doesn’t own her anymore, there is considerable wreckage to work through. Every day is a battle she fights hard to win. Some days are two steps ahead, and some days are one step back, but Patti never gives up. She wants to encourage you not to give up either.

Her “Zero Moment” at age 14 had sought to destroy her. The lies embedded into her heart and mind made her believe nothing mattered, that she had no value, and that she could never be whole. When no one came to help her that day, she believed she wasn’t worth saving.

But Jesus disagrees. Patti is immensely valuable to him and so are you. Whatever your “Zero Moment” is, it doesn’t have to define you. Jesus came to bring life not death; light not darkness. He’s seen where you’ve been and he still loves you. He will wade into your mess to save you, because you matter. He can make anyone whole again and he will if you trust him. Patti did, and it has made all the difference.

Since that night, my mind has been blown by the number of people I have encountered who are involved in some type of occult practices. At a writer’s retreat I attended, they offered tarot card readings every morning. There are psychics in every town, horoscopes in almost every paper, and Ouija Boards in most game stores. I’ve spoken with individuals who see apparitions in their homes, who are involved in astral traveling, who have witchcraft books, and even witches who actively cast spells. Some stumbled into the occult, and some went looking for it, either to gain control of their lives or simply because they wanted power. Most individuals didn’t realize what they were getting into. And some, when it became overwhelmingly frightening, started looking for a way out.

So, this story is not just for Patti, but it is for anyone who is involved, or has been in the past, in the occult. You may have arrived at this website by what you thought was chance, but it is no accident. If you are looking for help, or a way out, you need to know that you can be forgiven even of the darkest and ugliest of sins. If you are looking for a way out, Jesus’ own response to you is, “I AM the way.”

The dark powers and authorities in this world do have power, but it is no match for the power of God. In every situation where Jesus encountered either Satan or demons, there was never any doubt who was in control. It was true then, and it remains true now. Victory lies in the hands of the Light of the World and the darkness will never overcome Him. I will leave some scriptures and resources at the end of the story. These are only a few of many. Just know, darkness doesn’t win and there is always hope.

So today, congrats to Patti! I am so proud of you and truly grateful to be your friend. You have the determination of a warrior, and yet, a heart of compassion like Mother Theresa. Your story gives hope to all who battle against the darkness. Also, a big thank you to Pam and Kim without whom this story would not have turned out as it did. Your friendship and partnership in the Gospel are invaluable. And ultimately, I am thankful for a God who is able and willing to forgive. If not for Him, there would be no beautiful stories to tell at all.

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“Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light.” Romans 13:12 CEV

“…God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b

“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” John 1:5 NCV

“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.” Ephesians 6:12 NCV

“God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13

“Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, not angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, not anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NCV

“There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” Matthew 12:31-32

“I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Ps 139:11-12 NLT

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Resources: A Book – The Kingdom of the Occult by Walter Martin was incredibly helpful for me. It is a comprehensive and authoritative resource and also where I found out that the Exorcist was based on a true story! 😳

An Essay including additional links by The Gospel Coalition titled Demon Possession

Media Sources of Interest: Articles recently posted by CBN on Kat Von D and Priscilla Blanchard who both left the occult. Links to podcasts included.

Instagram post by Pastor Josh Howerton on the dark and disturbing journal entries of the Minnesota Catholic School shooter. Here’s the link for those who use Facebook.

A Show – The Chosen Season 1 Episode 1 helps us imagine Mary Magdalene’s life with seven demons and how an encounter with Jesus could change everything.

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A few pictures of Patti and two of her favorite songs. If you’d like to leave a comment for Patti, do so at the end of the story!

Here’s two more songs I believe go really well with the story. The songs always complement the story. 🎶

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Now for the Pinterest pins with “The Battle Over Darkness.” For all the other Pinterest pins, check out Uncommon Stories on Pinterest.

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And don’t forget to check out “Messy in the Middle” where Patti goes on an adventure with Mike and me.