Light and Dark
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Psalm 139:7–12 ‘If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you…’ (vv11–12a)

We can be utterly secure in knowing God’s presence with us. We can be at one with the psalmist when he talks of God being near, watching over and caring for us.

And then something happens and it’s as if a storm cloud has gathered over us and is showering its ugly contents! The psalmist clearly had a moment when he felt this way.

Perhaps he was feeling low and far away from God. Some speculate that, as a musician, the psalmist may have known the ups and downs that sometimes come with a creative disposition.

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The psalmist has to remind himself who God is: ‘I know that darkness is as light to him’. God knows what He is doing through the tough times that we face.

He will be with us in them, even if He doesn’t take them away immediately, or ever. When we go through tough times – perhaps you are even now – it is time to remind ourselves of God’s love and faithfulness, even if in the short run we feel very distant from Him.

We need to not trust our feelings and not take our doubts seriously. And if this is especially tough at night, remember that blood sugar is low, and everything seems worse at this time.

Remind yourself that God is with and you and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it seems dark at the moment. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.


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A Prayer To Make:
‘Thank You, God, that You are light and one day You will dispel the darkness forever. Amen.’

An Action To Take:
Memorise the words ‘darkness is as light to you’ and remind yourself of this if and when darkness comes, whatever the source.

Scripture To Consider:
Job 10:1–22; Isa. 9:1–7; John 8:12–20; 1 John 1:5–10

Micha Jazz is Director of Resources at Waverley Abbey, UK.