How do you like to sleep – light on or lights out? Sleep habits are interesting. Many people refuse to go to bed at night without a light on. For some a nightlight is sufficient, but others require full illumination. Then there are those who prefer sleeping in the dark, the darker the better. Even the glow of an electric alarm clock is too much.
While opinions about sleepy-time darkness differ, most of us would agree darkness in everyday life can be disconcerting. When people talk about ‘things that go bump in the night,’ more often than not it involves toes banging against some furniture while trying to navigate darkened rooms. If you’re a fan of TV mysteries and crime shows, you’ve probably noticed they often start with nighttime scenes. ‘Uh-oh,’ we think, ‘something bad’s about to happen.’ And typically, it does. Sadly, that’s true for real life as well. Evil likes to lurk in the darkness.
Some folks would opine that we’re in “dark times,” and I’m inclined to agree. We might not all concur about what that means, but to have even the brightest day darkened all we need to do is turn on the evening news: Natural disasters. Plane crashes. Severe weather outbreaks. Fatal traffic accidents. Major health crises. Reports of violence in many forms. Bad news, always seeming to get worse.
Manifestations of the dark side of humanity, of course, date back to the beginning of time: Cain killing his brother Abel out of jealousy. The Israelites enduring 400 years of oppressive slavery in Egypt. King David having an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, then having her husband Uriah killed in an attempt to cover up his sin. The list could go on – and it’s not a short one.
During the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, arguably the darkest day in history, actual darkness preceded His death. “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ When He said this, He breathed His last” (Luke 23:44-46).
Out of this unspeakable darkness, however, hope and joy quite literally arose to dispel the despair. Christ’s resurrection three days later declared God’s once-and-for-all-time victory over sin. As John 1:4-5 declared, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” The “light of the world” (John 8:12) had not been extinguished.
So, while commiserating over the depths into which humankind seems to have fallen, we can also find many promises in the Scriptures that can give us hope. After writing, “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief…,” King David declared, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:9,24).
Recently a speaker who often addresses students on college campuses observed, “The dark is getting darker, but the light is getting brighter.” She pointed to signs of spiritual revival and renewal at colleges and universities across the country.
Even the entertainment industry, often regarded as a promoter of dark images and thinking, is showing signs of life. Actors, directors and producers are boldly washing their hands of the “Hollywood” lifestyles and ideologies, determined to shift to redemptive, uplifting TV programming and films.
Similar trends can be identified in other segments of society, giving us reason to feel encouraged. Most of all, the Scriptures assure us even the most oppressive darkness is no match for our God. “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You” (Psalm 139:11-12).
The book of Isaiah and other prophetic books are replete with declarations about darkness, the relentless assault of diabolical behavior upon the world God created. However, they also offer assurances that light ultimately triumphs. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3).
In perhaps his most beloved Psalm, David draws from his experience of leading flocks of sheep through darkness, when even shadows posed intimidating threats. This is one reason his faith in the Lord was so strong: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
In our darkest, most desperate moments we have God’s promise that He is with us, ready to guide us back into the light. “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains” (Psalm 107:13-14).
Are you, or someone you know, feeling enveloped by darkness? All you need to do is cry out to the Lord. He will deliver you. Darkness, at least for some, might be conducive for a good night’s sleep. But it’s not where we want to live.
