Light in the Darkness

You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 91:5)

Anyone ever feel like your thoughts tend to hold you captive at night? When there’s no one and nothing to distract you from the fears that pace through the recesses of your mind? As darkness falls and I retreat to my bed to rest...those pesky thoughts that tend to lean toward fear and worry begin their race around my mind. 

Fear is a horribly unwelcome companion...at night especially. There have been times when I’ve laid awake letting certain thoughts take root and spring up into much larger problems in my mind. In the moment it’s hard to focus on anything else. 

But one night, during a season of worry, I woke up feeling like the Lord had something to say. I had finally fallen asleep and then woke up all of a sudden and grabbed my phone to start journaling what I felt like was a song. 

When night comes and the darkness settles round

Fear starts tapping at the windows of my soul.  

The wheels in my head  - they start to turn. 

Thoughts of how I failed come creeping in. 

I search my mind and heart for where you are.  

I press into you 

I press into your heart for me

I press into your love and it covers me.  

The tapping fear fades away 

And all I hear is a waterfall of peace.

Your voice on a breeze 

Speaking soft assurance

Your voice reminding me 

Of all I am and have in You. 

Reaching up to where you sit enthroned in majesty

Reaching up for the loving arms I know are waiting for me

And there I find the sweetest peace and satisfying love. There I find exquisite joy that keeps my heart full and strong. 

It was as if God waited that night for sleep to reset my brain and then woke me -in the midst of rest- to speak life. I was able to hear His quiet message. A message that gave me direction. 

Press into Me. 

When fear attacks in the dark (both physical and spiritual) and you feel most vulnerable, press into Him. He is there...despite the voice of fear telling you He’s not. He is there. It is a promise He made us from the beginning of time. 

He gave the sun and moon and stars - bright lights that shine upon us - to assure us of His presence. To assure us that even in the darkness of night, He provides for us. 

Then God said, “Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God’s provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years; and let them be useful as lights in the expanse of the heavens to provide light on the earth”; and it was so, [just as He commanded]. God made the two great lights—the greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night; He made the [galaxies of] stars also [that is, all the amazing wonders in the heavens]. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to provide light upon the earth,

Genesis 1:14-17 AMP

The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 AMP

Our surviving and thriving in a difficult season does not depend on our strength or wisdom. It depends on following our Guide, whether we have a map or not. As humans we long for a map and a plan. We feel scared of the unknown. We want to see. 

When our kids were small, we placed nightlights in their rooms to comfort them at night. If they woke up, they could see they were safe in their room and find their favorite stuffed animal or pacifier. The small amount of light gave them just enough of a glimpse that they were safe in their bed. We have lamps that burn all night on our street. It’s a feeling of safety and comfort to those that live here. We can see what’s happening outside.

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. Psalm 13:3-5

When we experience difficult things, fearsome events, or general worry that we aren’t enough (as parents, as employees, etc.) we can make a conscious decision to turn away from fear. Easy? No. But the more I reject fear and turn to Jesus, it gets easier and easier. Holy Spirit will highlight His grace and provision. And He shows me He’s trustworthy and faithful. He is a shepherd that knows the way. Truth takes root instead of the worry (which are lies I was believing). 

Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 139:12

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 8:12

I find that so incredibly reassuring! Nothing is hidden from Him! He sees it all. He knows what was, is and is to come. “Seasons” don’t catch Him unaware. And He doesn’t have terrors of the night pestering Him. The Creator isn’t afraid, nor is He selfish. He let’s us in on it. He gave us Jesus as an exact representation of Himself, our Peace in the storm, and His Holy Spirit to continue helping and teaching us. 

And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.

Matthew 17:2

This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. 

1 John 1:5

We have an incredible HOPE and LIGHT for our path that is only found in the Godhead. An incredible promise in what He’s done for us and gifted us with. He is our Light-refuge to run to and to follow day and night. When we receive this revelation of who He is, we are found...immersed in His salvation. And in turn we become an ambassador to the rest of the world. He even designated us as light-bearers. We are to reveal His nature and His goodness. We are to plant His Kingdom in confidence, knowing He will cause fruit to grow.

“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

And one day, when we have overcome, and all is set right and made new, we will no longer even need the created light in this world, but only the Creator of light. He will be more than enough for all that choose to follow Him. 

And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light.  Revelation 21:23