“the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139,12)Darkness can be terrifying. It contains the potential for great danger. A female friend of mine was mugged four times in rapid succession going through a dark patch on her way home. She couldn't avoid the darkness, but she stopped wearing expensive clothing or carrying anything of value. The darkness changed her behaviour.
There is another kind of darkness. An emotional and spiritual darkness. Perhaps this is what Isaiah had in mind:
““Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples"
Such a darkness engulfs the world - and sometimes our world. Yet the darkness is temporary:
"but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60,1–3 NIV11)
When much younger I had the good fortune to perform Handel's aria based on the scripture above. A recording (not me!) is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiLJC6p3sjM
What do we do when emotional or mental health challenges darken God's light? And, how do we help people going through such challenges? I hope the class I put out this week will help. Please give me any feedback as I prepare the second class in the series.
“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; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139,11–13 NIV11)
