Being overwhelmed with tragedy happening all around us is easy. Darkness and evil make the headlines every day. Not allowing the misery and suffering of the world to consume our thoughts can be a challenge. Focusing on dark, distressing things can quickly become paralyzing.
The fact that God is light in its purest form, yet His throne is surrounded by darkness, has always posed an enigma to me. He is not touched by the darkness; He simply lives in the middle of it. The purposes of God remain the same. He continues to hold the world together with the power of his Word. He heals, delivers, and sets people free. All in the face of darkness.
Perhaps the key is that He never allows the darkness around Him to affect who He is or what He does. Within Him, there is no darkness at all. He makes no room in Himself for shadows of gloom to fill.
We, too, are called to be the light that shines in dark places. Our motivation is the truth of God’s Word within our hearts and the desire to share that truth with others.
Fear can disable and prevent us from sharing the light we carry with the ones who need it the most. But when we fix our gaze on Christ, the light of the world, we begin to see the truth about ourselves and the situations around us.
God’s Word is light. The more you allow the Bible to shape your heart, the stronger you become in resisting the darkness. You don’t have to fall prey to the shadows of negativity. Stand firm in Christ and the light He brings.
Brenda Fink is the founder and president of Glory Releasers ministry, an organization dedicated to deepening the awareness of God’s presence through writing and teaching. She is the author of Mysteries of the Dark, Delving into the Hidden Treasures of the Secret Place, and the devotional journal, Transitioning from Famine to Fruitfulness, A 30 Day Journey into Fresh Hope. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and writing poetry.