Holding On to Light in Dark Times
Life has a way of placing us in valleys we never planned to walk through. Sometimes it’s the sharp pain of losing someone we love, the heavy silence of loneliness, or the uncertainty of not knowing how tomorrow will unfold. Other times it’s grief that lingers quietly, or the invisible battles of the heart and mind that no one else can see.
These moments are real and cannot be pushed back just because they may cause immense pain and depression. If you’ve ever found yourself praying with tears in your eyes or smiling in public while carrying a silent weight, you are not alone. With faith, it acknowledges that there is darkness, but at the end of the tunnel, there is light. In that darkness, He is with you and will be guiding you out of it. Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That closeness is what gives us strength to breathe again, to hope again, and to keep walking even when the road ahead looks uncertain.
But even in those valleys, we are reminded that God’s light is never extinguished. That light is called faith and lives inside everyone who believes God is our saviour. It grounds us when we are struck with fear and gives us strength when we have none.
In Isaiah 41:10, God reassures us and says, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” These words remind us that we are never alone and that His hand will always hold us steady.
Sometimes your troubles overwhelm you to a point that you see nothing else, and all you might need is to be seen. In John 16:33, God speaks directly to our troubles. He says, “Trouble is real, yes, but so is victory. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” . Christ reassures us at this point and reminds us that no obstacle is ever bigger than Him. He is telling us that He has already overcome every storm that we face, and that becomes the anchor to our hope.
I remember a brother in my Church who bared his heart to God and informed the congregation that his mother, who had been ill, was diagnosed with cancer. This was a dark time for not only him but the church, too, as his mother was a pillar of our community. He asked for our prayers, and for months and weeks, we had special nights that were dedicated to praying for a miracle to happen to his mother. After months, he testified and said that they were coming back from the doctor’s office and were told that no cancerous cells were found in his mother’s body. This means that his mother no longer had cancer. What stood out most was that the doctors kept asking how this was medically impossible.
In this dark time, it is vital to surround yourself with community, as God never intended us to walk through life alone. The scripture reminds us in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” This verse is an invitation to share in one another’s burdens and to be present in joy and in grief. Sometimes, the light we need shines through the people God has placed around us.
That light may come in the form of checking in on a grieving friend and reminding them that they are not alone, joining in a community prayer session, or doing acts of kindness like offering anything that could lighten their load emotionally or physically. Sometimes simply listening to the person going through something could make a huge difference.
While community and faith are good anchors, there are simple practices that could help you hold on to light even when you feel down. Those are doing a daily prayer that lifts your spirit and having a gratitude attitude to shift your heart towards hope. You can also remind yourself daily that you are not alone and that God is with you, no matter what you are facing. You could also surround yourself with any music, podcast, or scripture that is faith-filled. These practices don’t erase pain, but they remind us that the light is always within reach and not feel abandoned.
Dark times may be part of our journey, but they are never the final destination. Just because it is dawn in the moment does not mean there will be no sunrise.
Jesus reassures us in Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” And Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that the comfort we receive from God becomes the same comfort we can share with others.
So if you are carrying a heavy heart today, let this be your reminder: you are not alone. Hold on to the light because even the darkest night gives way to morning.