You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness. (Ps. 91:5–6)
“Don’t switch off the light,” our six-year-old daughter, Zoe, whispers almost nightly as she gets ready to sleep. She has a fear of darkness, and rightly so as a child. According to Zoe, the trusted remedy to darkness is the presence of light in her bedroom.
Light and darkness have their obvious differences. While the falling of night comes with darkness and night is a period of all manner of terrors, light always wins. Light overcomes darkness, and that light can show us a clear path. Just a little bit of light gives us confidence to navigate the darkness.
When the Israelites left Egypt, the Lord went ahead of them by day in a pillar of cloud to guide them. Moreover, by night they had a pillar of fire to give them light. Opportunistic and intentional evils prevail in the dark of night. However, the provision of light can give us clearness and cast away fear.
Living in this dark world requires light, and Jesus Christ declared that he is the Light of the World. Without Christ in your life, fear and the terrors of the night and arrows that fly by day will continually torment you. Like Zoe, ask God to “switch on the Light in your life daily,” and pursue an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Reflect on a season Jesus Christ brought light into your personal world.
Jim Machuku is an ordained minister, resident pastor at Mc3, and an educator. He is passionate about leadership development in Africa.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
