In my young adult speculative novel, The Demons Among Us, the characters’ eyes are opened to the reality of angels and demons. They experience both when they least expect it, and are left shaken by the force of the spiritual realm.
Do you believe in angels? Demons?
I do. I’ve never seen either one, but I’ve experienced their presence. When my son, Marvin, was eighteen months old, doctors diagnosed him with autoimmune neutropenia. His red blood cells were killing off his white cells. On his third Christmas, when he tested negative for white blood cells, we implemented similar protocols to what we followed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not the merriest of Christmases.
Shortly after Marvin’s fourth birthday, I prayed face-down on the floor before another monthly blood test. At the appointment, my jitters skyrocketed. How could we endure another low count? We already lived like a family in a bubble.
Then a serene presence filled the room. The air freshened, lightened. A comfortable warmth enveloped me. Peace flooded my anxious soul, and my heartbeat slowed. The nurse took several vials of blood from Marvin as he contentedly flipped through a book. Unusual. The last few months, several nurses had to hold him still.
Each month, we’d wait at least half an hour for the test results. During this excruciating period, my heart would hammer in my chest, and a million scenarios would run through my mind. Not this time. Relaxed, I watched my son as he pretended to read, almost as if we were in our own living room.
About twenty minutes later, the doctor advised us that Marvin’s white cell count had returned to normal—he’d outgrown the condition. Just like that. No slow increase of white cells. Immediate. I looked at my son in time to see his face glow for a brief moment. He’d been healed.
I truly believe an angel accompanied us to that appointment. There’s no scientific explanation for our experience.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalms 34:7
I’ve also encountered demons. One time, my friend and I had taken our kids to St. Augustine. She stopped in front of a cute little shop with fairy dolls hanging inside the window. The kids clambered to go in. I opened the door and stepped inside. The hair on the back of my neck rose. I glanced around to see lots of bright color, but in a blur. I couldn’t make out the products. Something was very wrong. “Get out!” flooded my mind.
I backed from the store and stood with the kids as my friend offered to go first. She returned moments later, her face pale. She said all the products in the store were wiccan, displayed in colorful packages to attract those who didn’t know better. In the short time we’d been in the store, both of us had experienced the presence of evil wrapped up like candy. So strange because evil is usually associated with darkness, where I’ve also come across demons.
Over the years I’ve discovered that sometimes I don’t recognize angels and demons. But later I realize that one or the other has come to my aid or threatened me. I’m a believer in both, not only because I’ve experienced them, but because I believe in the Bible, which holds many verses about the spiritual realm.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14
I’ve compiled a list of my favorites for you in case you’re waffling in your belief. If you have questions, I recommend you speak with a local Christian pastor.
Have you ever encountered an angel or a demon? Please comment below.