A Dark World

Sadly, we live in a dark world. The first four verses of the Bible remind us of both the reality of darkness and the promise of light:

Genesis 1:1–4 (NIV)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

In verse 1, we read that God is the author of creation. In verse 2, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters while darkness covers the deep. In verse 3, God declares, “Let there be light.” From the Gospel of John, we know that Jesus is the Light of the world. In these opening verses of Genesis, we see the presence of the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

In verse 4, it is God who separates the light from the darkness.

Today, we witness this ongoing cosmic struggle between light and darkness—good and evil, right and wrong—playing out before our very eyes. Wars and rumors of wars, red lines drawn and crossed, victories and losses, the suffering of the innocent, cries for mercy, pain, and devastation—these realities confront us daily. We see bombs fall, communities shattered, pleas for justice rise, and marches for the freedom of the oppressed. It is real. It is raw. And it breaks the hearts of those who have known love and experienced a relationship with a loving God who desires what is good for His children.

God detests evil. And as this cosmic battle unfolds, we hold firmly to this truth: in the end, God prevails.

How, then, do we respond when our nation is at war? How do we respond when soldiers are placed in harm’s way—when mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, watch loved ones volunteer to serve in pursuit of justice and peace for our nation and for others seeking peace?

I cannot adequately answer that question for everyone, but I can offer words of hope. When all else feels uncertain, God remains sovereign. It is God who raises up leaders and brings change according to His purposes:

Daniel 2:21–22 (NIV)
21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

So what will I do?

• I will pray for peace.
• I will acknowledge the grave realities and deep costs of war.
• I will stand with God and with goodness wherever it is found.
• I will seek to do no harm in my actions, words, or deeds.
• I will grieve for the suffering of the innocent.
• I will unite with others who seek God’s will—at home, across the street, and around the world.
• I will seek counsel, wisdom, and understanding.
• I will pray for forgiveness where I have contributed to darkness, and I will pursue the light fully and faithfully.
• I will trust in God.
• I will remain open to God’s transforming grace in my life and to the movement of the Holy Spirit in my thoughts, words, and actions.
• I will acknowledge that God can change me—removing darkness and filling me with love.
• I will pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit as our world longs for God once again to separate darkness from light.

As always, I am here to serve and to walk alongside you. I pray that this dark world will be
illuminated by God’s love and by the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,