He illumines our Darkness

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. Psalm 23:4 AMP

Even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You. Psalm 139:12 ESV

The LORD my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 NASB 1995

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy ladened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 BSB

As instructed, I flipped all the lights off before locking up. No big deal. I just had to walk from the church kitchen and across the gymnasium, to reach the push-bar door on the other side of the expansive room. But with the lights now off, the windowless gym room carried with it a palatable darkness.  I seemed to lose depth perception, and even felt I might lose my balance as I made my way to the other side of the room, and reached for the door. Once open, light rays revealed that though I had not felt or sensed progress, I had walked the length of the room. I knew my legs were moving. I knew I must be inching closer to my goal, but I had zero awareness of the reality of making any headway. 

Have you ever faced a trial that caused such a palatable darkness?

In its great depth of pain

In its sheer length of duration

In the panic-laced thoughts of what-if

Or the felt hopelessness of expectations shredded

If you’re human, I bet you have, or you know someone who has. Or you are there right now.

I’ve been there too. Not just in my great gym crossing, but in the darkness of painful trials that eclipsed any semblance of progress or hope. Causing thoughts of what-if, to shout louder than the promises I read in His Word. When pain and simple emotional exhaustion were as blinding as that dark gymnasium. Death and divorce. Rejection and regret. Addiction and abuse. Prison cells – created by cement blocks or past trauma.

Would you allow me to speak His Word into your darkness?

First, I must admit that there are no trial-free passes handed out to followers of Jesus Christ. If there were, I would be first in line to ask for a family package. Yet, right there, smack in the middle of our valleys of darkness, His Word declares, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Read that again, out loud.

Whether the darkness you’re facing is something as unimportant as crossing a gymnasium, or something as tender and uniquely painful as grief – His promise is the same. We do not have to fear, because He is with us. Assured of His Presence in the blackness of our trials. Assured that His rod and staff will protect and guide, as He leads us through the valley.  It is enough to know that HE can see in the darkness and will bring us to His desired destination. Jesus reminds us to come to Him when we are weary and overwhelmed by life, and He will provide rest for our soul. His is a promise of rest, even in the darkness of our trials.

Father, I don’t like groping in the darkness, I much prefer to see every step (ahead of time). Please enable me to trust that although I can’t see my way clear, You can. And You are with me. I love You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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