Surviving Darkness

Sometimes we experience seasons of darkness, where the hope and the promise are the only thing to get us through the day. We see the promise- but each day brings darkness and, in these moments, we wonder, “Where as you Lord?” “Do you see me?” “Do you hear me in my despair, where are you Lord?” We so fervently seek the light and we wait with expectation for the sun to come up. We are awaiting the new dawn that is promised to us.

Psalm 37 gives us the promise that God’s righteousness is as sure (steady, reliable, unchanging) as the dawn of a new day.

Like clockwork, dawn comes. We have the assurance that night is going to end and that the sun is surely going to come out tomorrow. The sun will slowly start peeking over the horizon and once again, just as it always does, illuminate the sky. The glory will be unimaginable. You will not even be able to open your eyes- it will be that bright.

Light and darkness were never meant to coexist.

In Genesis 1:14-18, “And God said, let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days, and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so. God made two great lights- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the starts. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

God saw that it was good- to separate light from darkness.

At the same time, the lights in the sky were to mark the seasons. Even though he allowed and ordained the night- he also set a lesser light in the sky to govern the darkness- the moon.

Even though we experience true seasons of where it feels as if all we have to hold onto is the hope of a promise- the dawning of a new day- look up child! What is it that you see in the night sky? You are not immersed is pure darkness. For if you would just look up- you would see a light that shines in the darkness- the moon. The moon is meant to govern the night. To govern means to “exercise continuous sovereign authority” over something or someone.

Does this remind you of anything?

John 8:12, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

There is a light that shines in the darkness!

While we are in darkness- patiently awaiting the dawning of a new day- we need to remember, the moon exercises sovereign authority over the darkness.

This is a picture of Jesus.

We may be surrounded by darkness but Jesus exercises sovereign authority over the darkness.

Be encouraged. In your lamenting, melancholy, and despair, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Lift up your chin- and illuminate your face in the light of the moon. “Those who look to him are radiant’ their faces are never covered with shame.” (Psalm 34:5)