For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. (Ps. 40:12)
Years ago (I will not divulge how many), I went with my church youth group on an outdoors adventure trip in West Virginia. We went whitewater rafting and rappelled over the edge of a cliff, not knowing what lie beneath. But one of the most impactful moments was the day we went caving. Our guide took us deeper and deeper inside the earth, until we were at a point where sunlight was nonexistent. We all turned off our headlamps. Our eyes kept trying to adjust, but without any light at all, all we could perceive was the void. The darkness was frightening. Without light, we could have never found our way out.
How often do we feel the same darkness encroaching our vision when life becomes overwhelming? Circumstances blind us, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot grope our way through.
Here is where God’s mercy saves us. His light can penetrate our darkness. Perhaps at first, it will merely seem like a flicker. But the more we seek him, the more we call out for his protection, the more his light will push back our darkness. Even if our circumstances don’t change, his light becomes enough to sustain us, to help us see beauty in the midst of brokenness.
Seek God in the darkness; he will not forsake you.
Sarah E. Westfall writes and speaks about seeing God in the beautiful, broken, and in-between places in life. She resides in Indiana with her husband, Ben, and their four boys.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
