Are you suffering in darkness, walking through dark days? On a recent dark day filled with pain-full moments, the Lord gently reminded me that He who created my days (Ps. 139:16) also created light and darkness, sun and moon (Gen. 1:5, 14). His power spoke them into existence and He continues to daily rise the sun and illuminate the darkness by the glow of the moon (Ps. 136:7-9). He shows us His constant faithfulness in this very act that sustains all life on earth. His life-giving light in the sky pointed me to the comforting truth that He is light, even in our trials.
God made light and God is light
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (I Jn. 1:5 ESV, emphasis added).
Somehow, our dark days must include the light of God too. Somehow, they must be enveloped in His light, cocooned in His warmth.
Remember how God illuminated the darkness of the wandering Israelites? In their forty years of physical and emotional challenges, He daily led them by the fiery light of His presence in the darkness (Ex. 13:21; Ps. 78:14; Neh. 9:12). He never left them alone. Beloved, the God who is light is guiding you with His continual presence too. Let’s pray with a “praise interruption” today.
Lord, in the dark days, please lead me by Your light. Each day, You make the sun rise and in Your perfect and constantly faithful timing, You bring light to the night by the moon. Help me to see Your light in my darkness today, great and wise Father of light. Help me to praise You today, for You are worthy of my praise.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise!
(“Immortal, invisible, God only wise,” Smith, W. C., 1867)
Lord, help me to see Your light when I’m suffering in darkness
Lord, in the darkness, sometimes it seems You are hiding. But I praise Your glorious name, as Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. I remember that Your pure and holy light is so blinding that Your glory lit up Moses’ face like neon. Please help me to see Your light in my darkness today.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render, O help us to see
‘tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Jesus is the Light of the World
Lord, You drew me to Yourself, You opened my eyes, You made me a new creation in Christ. By Your grace, You gave me a new life, reborn as a follower of Jesus. So, although these days seem dark, I’m not walking in darkness anymore. You tell me that I have the light of life. Even in what feels like dark moments of my life, I have You. Why? Because You gave Yourself for me and gave the light of life to me. Hallelujah!
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn. 1:5 ESV).
You overcame all darkness of unbelief through the person and work of Jesus Christ, all darkness of every permutation of sin that separates people from Your holy presence. You rose victorious over sin’s most horrible effect, death itself. Just as the prophets foretold in Scripture, we who are Yours no longer walk in darkness, even on the darkest days of this earthly suffering.
The LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory (Is. 60:19 ESV, emphasis added).
Once again, Father of glory and Father of light, I see my need for the gospel in today’s suffering. Although these circumstances seem dark, nothing can overcome Your light of my everlasting gospel hope in Christ. You have saved me and given me Your light, forever.
As I walk through today’s challenges, please help me to continually look to the glory of Your brilliant and beautiful light as You draw me close to You. Please help me to worship You rightly and believe Your Word today, singing of Your gift of grace and my gospel hope in Christ, into whatever I will suffer. In the beautiful name of Jesus, my light and my life, amen.
Lord, when I’m suffering in darkness, help me sing praise to You to remember Your light
This fallen world continues in darkness of sin, raging in the weakened grip of the enemy and sin. And so, we all suffer. In our dark days of suffering, the enemy wants to make us think God is not there, that our gospel hope is not true, and that darkness wins. But, as one of my favorite pastors reminds me, “Jesus wins!” Let’s hold onto His resurrected victory over sin and death in those days when we feel covered by darkness.
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 as bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you (Ps. 139:11-12 ESV, emphasis added).
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (I Tim. 1:17 ESV).
I’ve created a playlist to help us remember our gospel hope in Christ, to sing praise to the Lord in personal worship, to help us walk through dark days with our hearts and minds fixed on His light. If gospel-centered hymns and songs of worship could help you endure your suffering, sign up here and my weekly playlist gifts will come to your email.
Now, you’ll also gain access to a resource library filled with many thematic worship playlists so you can interrupt your suffering with gospel-centered worship music! I pray that these playlists will help you (and me) endure with faith, joy, and hope as we walk through our hard trials, together. God bless you!
