How to Fight Darkness and Gloom
This last weekend, in the middle of my morning time with the Lord, the electricity went out in the neighborhood, and I could no longer see to read. My time in the Word was cut short. After prayer, I ate a simple breakfast in dim early morning light coming through the windows.
We were visiting with our daughter and her family, including a married daughter who had come from out of town. We were without electricity for over 6 hours, requiring a complete change in our plans for the day.
It could have been more dramatic. When a nighttime storm takes the power out, suddenly all is totally dark. Strange sounds grow louder and the howling storm more menacing when there is no light to assess the threats and move to other activities.
Sudden darkness invades your life like an enemy, interrupting your evening plans. In total darkness, you can’t see to do anything, not even to get ready for bed.
How do you fight blackness that overpowers your life?
You don’t. It’s futile to try to fight darkness.
Darkness is the absence of light. The only way to overcome it is to add light.
When the lights go out, you cautiously go get a flashlight, feeling along furniture and walls so as not to break something or stub toes. You’re grateful you keep it where it’s handy. With flashlight in hand, you then search for candles and matches,
You don’t even stop to question what to do. When engulfed with darkness, you seek light.
That’s a natural reaction in the physical realm. But what about when our hearts and souls are engulfed in darkness? Why do we act differently when darkness invades the spiritual realm?
Isn’t the welfare of our inner man more critical than the external?
Sometimes soul darkness glides in like the evening gloom slowly settling in, and it takes time to realize we need to turn the lights on. On the other hand, it often descends suddenly, like a storm in the night, with harsh words from someone close, a cancer diagnosis, or the loss of a loved one. It could be news that the job has ended, that you failed the important test, or from a surprise heart attack.
What do you do? What is your automatic reaction?
Common responses include fear, hopelessness, helplessness, panic, and anxiety. You might wring your hands and pace the floor, withdraw and fret, or call a friend to cry or complain?”
But how quick are you to search for the light by looking upward to cry, “Help!”
I recently had a dark day and I couldn’t figure out why my world turned gloomy. That morning, the lights went out and I found myself in darkness that clung to my soul.
For awhile, I wallowed in the gloom. I tried to figure out what my problem was, had a pity party, snapped at my husband a couple of times, and was absolutely miserable. In short, I didn’t even fight the darkness, I groveled in it.
When I realized that I was giving in to it and needed to resist, I fought it for a short while. I tried to pull myself up by my bootstraps, by making choices to be cheerful, to smile, and such. Occasionally, that’s helpful, but it got me nowhere.
Finally, I prayed, asked Robert to pray for me (after apologizing for my short responses earlier), and read some Psalms. The gloom lifted some, but my soul was still heavy. I was on edge, an attitude waiting to happen. Playing worship songs as I tackled jobs that needed to be done helped further, but it took a good night of sleep to fully restore my soul.
Fatigue may have contributed to my darkness, but whatever the cause, that long, gloomy day opened my eyes to the importance of walking in the light. And of seeking the Light, the source of true light.
Jesus is the Light of the world and those who believe in Him do not have to live in darkness (Jn. 12:46). It doesn’t matter what darkness surrounds us or how it came. We don’t have to endure it. The Light of the Lord is brighter.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). Did you hear that? If we are following Jesus, we shall not walk in darkness!
That’s good news–unless you enjoy wallowing in darkness. Darkness of soul is an indication that your walk needs adjustment.
It isn’t just a matter of walking in darkness. If we follow Him, we can have the light of life in us. The Light can be part of us, enlightening our inner man.
It’s a choice. I certainly didn’t have to wallow in the darkness. I needed to seek the Light and follow Jesus. Somehow, I got off the track.
I’m grateful that when we ask we will receive, and when we seek, we can find Him (Mt. 7:7-8)–IF we follow Him.
In many circumstances, that choice must be made many times a day, but it remains a choice. Sometimes, we also need keep on seeking until we find the path of light, life, and joy. (The verb for seek implies continuing action, “seek and keep on seeking.”)
We need to pursue the Light.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Is. 56:6)—especially if darkness threatens to engulf you.
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Note: I’m speaking to those who are in the midst of a funk, rather than any who are suffering from serious depression. If you are suffering long term or deep depression, while this may help you gain helpful understanding, I recommend that you seek someone who can help you get over the hurdle so you will be able to seek and keep on seeking. Sometimes we can’t work through deeper issues without talking them out or taking medications for a season to help regain chemical balance.
Even in my one day of darkness, I sought help from Robert, telling him, “I know I need Jesus. I need to draw close to Him, but right now, I don’t know how. I need you to pray for me.” Jesus is the Light. He is the answer, but don’t put off asking someone to help you seek Him if you have trouble on your own.