Freely Speaking

Darkness and worry are hard on the body. Our Creator made us to withstand a lot, but He doesn’t want hardship for us. People hurt people, and poor personal choices are part of this life—God calls us to lean on and trust Him through those times. Our bodies are not built to dwell in darkness, we’re created for light.

Often trials are hard, and they can be long. We fight or become numb and forget to look for the sunlight at the end of a dark tunnel. Darkness may feel familiar, comfortable to give into—to befriend. But how can anyone thrive there?  

All living things survive and prosper with nourishment, proper watering, and sunlight. Without it, they wilt, and some become diseased and eventually die. This isn’t the will of our Father.

In life, toxic relationships, poor diet, avoiding a community grounded in love and truth, or retreating to your bedroom can contribute to an imbalance. Identifying what feeds the darkness in your life is crucial to wellness and freedom.

For me, ongoing high-stress levels have been my imbalance, causing me to question if a reprieve will ever come. I don’t doubt that my loving Father, can help me out of that tunnel, but I get overwhelmed and forget to pause the spin cycle. I forget in those moments that He’s in control; He’s working something out in me. He hasn’t abandoned me. He doesn’t cease to exist just because our life isn’t what we expect. Maybe we need to ask, “What are you trying to teach me here, Lord?”.

Jonah’s story in scripture was a perfect example. He ran from God, refusing to step into His purpose for his life. God didn’t punish him; He let him go. Jonah chose his way, but hardship found him anyway. In the belly of a fish there’s lots of time to ponder. Thank God he stopped resisting to gain wisdom in his darkness.

How do you resist darkness? Whether you read your Bible, write in a gratitude journal, sing praise and worship, or spend time with fellow believers—God will bring light to your darkness when you seek it.

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