An Encouragement in Dark Days
I am still afraid of the dark.
Now, it’s not that childish fear that makes me cry for my mom as I sit paralyzed on my bed. I’d say it’s more of a mature fear – just go with me on this – that makes me wonder.
It makes me wonder about what I can’t by handle myself. What is hiding in the darkness? The unknown. The uncontrollable. The undefined.
I believe this is where the COVID-19 pandemic hides for millions of people today. In the darkness, out of their reach to control and drive away from them and their loved ones.
Yes, this is another Coronavirus post. I know you’re tired of reading about it every single day in the media, but I have some encouragement that I desperately want to share with you.
An Encouragement from the Psalms
I was recently reading one of my textbooks for an upcoming assignment when I came across Psalm 139:7-12.
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
I love studying the psalms. The beautiful poetry never fails to trap my mind on one specific chapter, one specific statement that connects to my immediate situation. And right now, Psalm 139 is exactly what I need to open my eyes.
I’ve gotten so carried away with the panic currently sweeping the entire world. So carried away, in fact, that my focus has wandered away from God.
Wonder and question and worry all swirl around in my head. Why is this happening? When is it going to end? Am I safe? Is my family safe? What will happen if it never ends?
Verse 12 struck me hard – hard enough to keep me awake all night and make me think about how I’ve failed to remember how powerful our Creator is. Nothing is too much for God. For Him alone, there is no challenge when it comes to stress or worry or a worldwide pandemic.
Don’t Rest in the Darkness
Since I have been trapped in the darkness of today’s worry, I have completely forgotten that my God is with me wherever I am. Even in the darkness. He knows my every thought and feeling and worry as I sit here and consider the devastation that has raked over our world.
But I have nothing to fear. To God, the darkness is not dark to Him. And that is enough for me to rest assured that my darkness isn’t as dark as I had thought.
I know I will be remembering this verse for a long time to come. Sadly, I can’t say that my fear of the dark is completely gone. I’m human; I’m going to have to work hard at it. But my fears are not as strong as they were because my eyes are back on the One who sees through the darkness.
So, as you go about your day, I encourage you to remember Psalm 139:7-12 and focus on this truth: God is with you even in your darkest days.