Often in life, we feel like we are in the dark. It may be a season of grief where you feel alone. It may be a situation where you are the only Christian in the room, and you feel isolated and very small. It may be that you are living a sinful life and cannot find your way out. When we are in these moments when the path ahead is obscured by sin, grief, or uncertainty, how do we react? What do you do in the dark?
If our path is dark, we must seek someone to guide us. That someone must be trustworthy and seek the best path for us to follow. The light they carry must be bright enough to illuminate each step they take. We need a guide who knows the terrain. We need a guide we can trust and who has probably been this way before. We need a guide that is fully aware of what lies ahead. The only one who knows the steps in front of us perfectly is God. In Psalm 18:28, God will be our light, guiding us through the darkness. “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” He alone is the one we can perfectly trust. His character is holiness. He never lies. He loves us more than anyone, and proved that to us by sending His Son to die for our sins.
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Along with having a trustworthy guide, we must have the right kind of light. There are flashlights, phone lights, floodlights, solar lights, and the list could go on and on. I want a light that illuminates a wide path and several steps before me. I want to be sure of each step and see if anything is coming down the path to meet me. Have you ever stared into the darkness until it seems like something is there when it’s not? You keep staring, but as you get closer, you realize your focus was wrong. It was not what it seemed at all. We are to keep our focus on God as we walk, and we remember His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. We have direct access to God through Jesus. Even when it seems like our pathway has a veil of circumstances covering our eyes, we must remember that Jesus tore the veil. Now we have direct access to Him. To light our path correctly, we must know and focus on His attributes. Even in the darkest of nights, His light is enough, and by focusing on Him, we become a reflection of Him. In John 8:12, He is the light, and if we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
When we know to trust the one who controls the darkness, and we have the right light to follow, what should we do to navigate the darkness? We must step forward, one step at a time, in obedience. Darkness is not an excuse to stand still. We cannot yield to our feelings, but we continue in truth.
First, we must keep serving. If it feels like drudgery, remember why we serve. It is for His glory alone.
1Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Second, keep praying. In Luke 18:1, Jesus teaches them about the persistent woman who would not stop asking until she received an answer. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Even when it feels like God is not hearing us, keep going. Make sure there are no sins in your life you need to repent of. Check your heart and push forward. In Romans 12:12, we are to be consistent. In Colossians 4:2 we are to continue steadfastly in prayer, and in I Thessalonians 5:17 we are to always have a mindset to pray.
Third, we must keep loving. Christ calls us to love everyone, especially to the ones we have nothing in common. It is easy to love those who are living right and showing us love, but that is not the command. There are over 50 verses in the New Testament that teach us to love, serve, honor, and encourage one another. We are even taught by Jesus in Matthew 5:44 to love our enemies.
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
While you are navigating the darkness, keep preparing for your destination. Our final home is heaven with Jesus. It is in these dark times that we must not faint. These should be our “packing time.” God may strip away what we don’t need while in the darkness, but He will replace it with the holiness we need for the next part of our journey.
Are you staring at the darkness, or are you beholding the One who stands in it with you? Remember, the goal of the Christian life is to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” That “well done” is earned by the steps of faith we take when we cannot see where our feet will land.
