The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1a

It’s 2026, and the world seems darker than it has in my lifetime, that’s for sure. It’s easy to be afraid. It’s easy to feel ‘black pilled.’

The issues plaguing society aren’t the only forms of darkness we see.

Darkness comes is the form of a diagnosis, in the discovery of a cheating spouse, in catching a friend in a lie. Darkness comes in the form of poverty and exhaustion. Darkness shows itself through crime and the unspeakable. Darkness shadows days with memories of abuse or trauma. Darkness displays itself on the news, constantly…

So what’s the antidote to darkness?

Is it light?

Is it denial?

It’s God.

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Psalm 139:11-12

God is bigger than the dark for He is the one who created it.

I discovered true intimacy with God during the darkest time of my life. One daughter had just been diagnosed with a severe form of congenital heart disease. My son had his own health issues he was struggling through and my oldest daughter was diagnosed with autism. We were told she would never talk. My husband was an active duty soldier. We’d just been moved to a new place over 1,000 miles from anyone I knew, and he was about to leave the state for months. At that time, I was more physically exhausted than I’d ever felt in my life. I had medical care, but wasn’t given a solution. Later, I’d discover I was suffering through undiagnosed anemia and Hashimoto’s disease. At the time, I had no idea. I kept asking the doctor why I was so tired.

“Girl, you just had twins,” was my answer.

Finally, I got treatment, but it’s been a long battle. At least I haven’t been anemic for a while. That was rough.

I was so tired.

My beautiful children were young. They needed me strong.

Mind over matter wasn’t enough to stretch myself past the physical exhaustion. In order to be what my kids needed, I had to look for true strength.

I had to look for God.

I found God in that darkness. Not a church. Not a personality. Not a podcast. Not social media. GOD!

He was the only way I was able to not just take care of my kids, but make sure that they thrived!

Believe me, you can always make time for the word of God. Keep several Bibles scattered throughout your house. Wherever you spend time, make sure a Bible is there. Keep a Bible on your nightstand, in the living room, in the kitchen. Read a quick passage while cooking. Make His word accessible to you, no matter where you are in your house. This makes it easier to turn to it, even if it’s only for a minute here or five minutes there.

You take time to drink water, don’t you?

Do the same with His word.

I’m only sharing this because it’s worked for me. Now that I know God in such a close and intimate way, I can’t imagine reverting back to the time when I didn’t.

I need Him.

Oh, and praying… You can do that anytime. God knows our thoughts. You can pray in silence, all of the time. In fact, we’re supposed to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). There is nothing stopping you from drawing near to God other than YOU.

Drawing near to God is a choice. I made it and I’m so glad I did.

God was there for my children and I when my husband was home, and for all the times he wasn’t. Two year long tours to Korea weren’t the only separations our family endured. That’s not including his deployment to Iraq before we had kids. My husband had to travel stateside so often, when our twins turned six, we tallied up those TDYs to discover he’d missed half of their lives.

There is no way I could’ve made a happy home for my children during those challenges without God.  

I thank God for lighting up my darkness. He has given me so much strength and hope.

You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. Psalm 18:28

My oldest daughter I mentioned, the one we were told would never talk… Not only is she talking, she’s in college and just made the dean’s list.

What a miraculous dose of light!

My husband is no longer in the military. He won’t have to go overseas for another yearlong tour, ever again.

Another dose of light.

But does that mean everything is perfect and I should only believe when bad things turn out good?

No.

Heck, I just had a cancer scare.

Like is not perfect. It will never be perfect. There will always be darkness to overcome.  

No matter how bad things are around me, I have to trust God. Otherwise, despair, hopelessness, weakness, and sorrow will fester and may even overcome.

I have to do whatever it takes to make certain that God’s light is within me.      

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” Luke 11:34-36

Oh, human pride can mask darkness as light. This is why humility and constant communication with God is so important. We don’t want any ‘dark corners’ in us.

To find what those dark corners can be, we need to take a look at what the LORD hates…

There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. Proverbs 6:16-19

Sounds like communists and mean girls…

Let’s keep digging. What else does the Lord hate?

But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all of these things, says the LORD. Zechariah 8:16-17

The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Proverbs 11:1

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—both are detestable to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15

A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him! Proverbs 28:17

For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows. They speak friendly words to their neighbors while scheming in their hearts to kill them. Should I not punish them for this?” says the LORD. “Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?” Jeremiah 9:8-9

“For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:16

God really cares for our hearts, EVERY aspect of our hearts! His love is astounding!

People on the other hand, they’ll let us down, every time.

I’ve certainly dealt with my fair share of schemers and liars in my lifetime, and I’m not even going to get started on what I see on the news and all that’s happening in our courts…

Right now, there’s a ton of darkness covering the land like poisonous gas.

We can’t let it consume us.

The verses listed above are great starting points. We know what not to do. It helps identify any form of darkness that could be masquerading as light. We don’t want any of that to seep in and pervert our hearts.

God doesn’t want us hurting and oppressing each other.

He wants us wise.

He wants us strong.

He wants us to shine.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2

So no matter what darkness surrounds you, no matter what you’re going through, seek God. He’s there, waiting to help you with open arms full of love and light.

The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Micah 7:9b

Kimberly Humphreys