Dreads the Coming Darkness

For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

Maybe it’s because we’re just two now in a house that still feels made for six.
Maybe it’s the tiny snatches of news I listen to, ominous pandemic predictions and sadness around the world.
Whatever the reason, I’ve been lighting our window candles in 2021, a practice I have always reserved for Advent, but which feels necessary for pushing back the darkness that’s advancing as our planet leans away from the sun–and as our world seems to lean further and further away from the only source of True Light.

In his postcard-sized epistle to the early church, John was warring against darkness in his own day:

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-6

In John’s writing, darkness becomes a metaphor for self-deception, sin, and even isolation. When he uses the term fellowship, he’s not thinking potlucks. He’s sounding the alarm about eternal life. Fellowship is all about salvation and then living in a way that does not repudiate the believer’s claim to faith.

John is inviting his readers to humbly submit to the searching power of Light:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

Notice that the blood of Jesus doesn’t render us sinless, but instead provides a remedy: cleansing. Walking in the light becomes a metaphor, then, for truth, purity, and reconciliation.

Jen Wilkin points out that “there are two ways to escape feelings of guilt about your sin. One is to repent. The other is to repeat the sin over and over again until you no longer feel remorse.” This, by definition, is walking in darkness, choosing darkness instead of light.

John’s call to walk in fellowship and purity is a candle in the window, beckoning me toward the One in whom there is no darkness at all. His offer of continual forgiveness is my only hope of an ongoing relationship with God.

Fight Darkness with True Light

Thanks to my garden, I’ve soaked up a lot of sunshine this year. I’ve taken Vitamin D to boost my immunity and to prepare myself for a long winter here in Mid-Coast Maine. I’m enjoying the yellow glow of window candles, beckoning me into homey warmth when I’m outside and pushing against the early dusk when I’m barely through with the supper dishes.

But that is not enough light to counteract our culture of isolation or the enemy of my soul.

If you dread the coming darkness here in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you feel yourself succumbing to the darkness of error and self deception, lean hard toward the Light. Regular doses of truth from scripture are like Vitamin D for your soul.

Let spiritual practices of prayer and meditation strengthen the cords of connection between you and God. Through purposeful hospitality and the ministry of intercession, war against isolation and strengthen ties between you and other believers. Reach out beyond the safety of your usual group and be the light shining in someone else’s darkness.

Don’t allow the coming darkness to drag you into patterns of sin, isolation, or self-deception. Make the decision to “walk in the light.” Begin today.

Holding You in the Light,

Michele Morin

John’s call to walk in fellowship and purity is a candle in the window, beckoning me toward the One in whom there is no darkness at all. “Walk in the light…” (1 John 1:7)

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

43 thoughts on “For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness”

  1. Repeating the sin over and over for me seems that also the Spirit hat is left with us seems to help also because it plays on loop in the head sometimes. Then I’m reminded that I have given it to God so I can stop hammering myself. If that makes any sense. 🙂 Happy Sunday

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  3. The warm light of candles is such a comfort in a “too-quiet” house as the darkness of winter approaches. A perfect metaphor for the peace of walking in fellowship with the Light of the world. Thank you for a very timely reminder to choose the light!

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  4. Beautiful, Michele. I do feel the darkness of winter coming on; this weekend has been our first cool weather and the days are shorter and shorter. But I’m thankful we don’t have to live in the dark. I love your practical suggestions for ways we can stay in the Light of God’s love all year round.

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  7. Just what I needed to read this Monday morning, my friend! I especially need the encouragement to practice intentional hospitality and to invite people not just like me into fellowship.

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  10. I love that you are lighting your window candles all year. I may just start doing the same! This is such a beautiful act we can do to remind others Advent is coming. Jesus is coming. He always comes to bring His light to this dark world.

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  11. Michelle,
    I keep candles lit in my windows from October until the Spring!! It is a thing around here in NEPA to do so!!
    Thanks so much for stopping by!! I truly do appreciate it!!
    Hugs
    Deb

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  13. Just re-reading this post that I read a day ago. Letting it sink it…and hiding the truth in my brain. The one that is so prone to forget – especially once the coziness of those dark winter evenings has worn off. I need fresh doses of “vitamin d” for my soul daily!! The tendency toward isolation is, indeed, a real war – but I am preparing myself for the battle!!:) Thanks much –

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  14. Michele, this is such a beautiful post. Yes, this world is growing darker. We have the privilege of being the candles—the light-bearers—in the windows. May we shine brightly in our worlds.

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  17. Hi Michele, Awesome news, and HUGE congratulations, as you will be featured on the upcoming Senior Salon post, Monday, Oct 25th as one of the top three bloggers. Thank you for your support and participation. Please invite your fellow bloggers to come and participate, thanks in advance.

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  18. Clocks change next weekend and the nights are creeping longer and longer. The news is filled with darkness and I am grateful for this week’s school holiday to reconnect with my family and the world outside work. We need to offer light and hope to those in despair, a smile can light up the day. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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  19. I love the idea of lighting a candle in the window to offer some brightness. Things can seem very dark at the moment can’t they? We always light a candle in the window on Christmas Eve so that Mary and Joseph would know that they were welcome (Irish catholic tradition), but I never thought to do it on other nights too. I will now!
    Thanks for joining us on #MischiefandMemories
    We hope you will be back for our two week Halloween special.

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  24. […] This week’s featured post is, For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness, by Michele Morin. A beautifully Biblical piece, Michele exhorts us to “Let spiritual practices of prayer and meditation strengthen the cords of connection between you and God.” For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness – Living Our Days (michelemorin.net) […]

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