Today’s Reading: Psalm 88
From the beginning of time, darkness has always held a mystery. But that mystery was revealed and solved by God’s light.
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
We have been conditioned to be afraid of the dark. There are many things that happen in the dark when you’re not able to see your surroundings. The uncertainty of your environment creates a sense of unnerving and suspense. These thoughts have been used over the millennium to create distractions and anxiety . In today’s psalm, there’s nothing but fear and isolation and a cry out to God.
“For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.”
Psalm 88:3-7, 18 ESV
But if we look at darkness through a different lens, darkness has some positive aspects.
In darkness … there is shelter.
In darkness … there is peace.
In darkness … there is rest.
When you have a relationship with God, the darkness is not as scary as it could be. But the darkness does give you a chance to reset and reflect upon your situation or your circumstance.
Darkness can be a place of shelter. Many times when David was fleeing his enemies, he would go into a cave and he will get shelter. He was in darkness, but he was safe.
“And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”
1 Samuel 24:3-4 ESV
In this story, David is in the cave and Saul is right in front of him. David is so close to him that he was able to get a piece of his garment. David was safe in the darkness. David has shelter in the darkness. Darkness can give us peace from the chaos and hustle of the day. In darkness, we are able to disconnect and be in unison with God.
Darkness can give us peace. Jesus advises us to go into our closet and pray to God. This is where you are isolated in the darkness and you are able to communicate and focus on God. In the darkness, you are able to receive peace.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
In darkness, you can get rest. At the end of the day when you are tired or frustrated and you find a dark place to rest. Your body becomes rejuvenated and your spirit becomes refreshed.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
In many aspects of our life, we can see the situation through many perspectives. But when we allow God to open our vision in our perspective, we can see things differently. Things that we used to fear and become distraught, now we can see God‘s work in them and allow his work to be with us.
May you be able to best restful, at peace, and comforted and safe in the darkness and allow God’s presence be your strength and comfort.
Be blessed
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