Afraid of the Dark

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.. Psalm 139:11-12 ESV

Monsters lurk in the dark.

They hide in the shadows, empowered by fear. Deception. Manipulation. Lies. And sometimes they reveal themselves with violence, tightening their control with terror.

They reflect the heart of the one manipulating them, “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

Did you know that’s one of his names, dear one? Deceiver of the whole world.

Yes, Satan deceives. Everyone. Always.

He’s probably deceiving you. If you struggle with fear, it’s working.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

God leads with love. Our enemy oppresses through fear. Look at what Jesus said about the deceiver and those he influences in John 8:44.

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan lies to get what he wants, and people under his influence act just like him. He’s a murderer, and they’ll murder. He deceives, and they deceive. Deception has bound their hearts to his desires, convincing them they’re right to do what they do.

If only the children of God lived as dedicated to His cause.

But our hearts aren’t bound to God’s desires. Instead, the deceiver convinces us to stay focused on our own. Instead of uniting in strength against the darkness, we fight one another. And instead of living in the truth Jesus proclaims, our hearts remain frozen in unbelief.

We’ve become convinced we can do nothing but hide and wait out the darkness. So we sit in our homes and point fingers while we watch the world God loves collapse upon itself.

He does love the world, you know. That’s actually why Jesus came.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

There’s something else we probably should consider. Jesus succeeded. The cross was enough. The power of darkness has been defeated (Colossians 2:15). And now Jesus waits for His church to reveal His victory.

 “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

The deceiver doesn’t want you to know the power you wield, beloved. He’s tricked you into thinking you’re a powerless victim. But God’s Word says you’re anything but powerless.

You are the answer to the darkness.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3

Isaiah 60 tells us that evil will increase. Thick darkness will spread its cloak over the earth to smother all people.  But it also delivers a glorious promise. The people of God needn’t fear the darkness.

Light has come, beloved. The glory of the Lord has risen. Did you notice where people will see it rising?

Upon you.

You and I can trust what God says. In fact, I believe that’s what He’s waiting for. Darkness appears powerful because God’s children don’t really know who they are. You carry the light that defeats the darkness within you. Jesus gave it to you the moment you put your faith in Him, making you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). And John 1:5 declares your authority,

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Darkness can only exist where light doesn’t. That’s what darkness is, dear one. The absence of light.Now He asks you to believe and trust who He made you to be. You and I must become the light that destroys darkness. We must yield to His nature within us and become who He is.

Darkness advances as the deceived more fully reveal their father. Light can only advance as the children of light reveal the nature of ours.

Darkness advances as the sons of the evil one more fully reveal their father. We must reveal ours. Share on X

You and I are the answer to the darkness, dear one. A deceived world is desperate for truth. We must give it to them. Love is the way.

Light is, indeed, greater than the darkness. The One who lives in us is greater than the one who deceives the world.

Let’s show the world who Jesus really is.