When the lights go out, pitch black soon follows.  Even after your eyes adjust, darkness still surrounds.  No matter how familiar you are with wherever you are, manuevering through darkness rarely seems to be your best move.  I can get most everywhere in my house without ever turning on a light.  But why would I when I live in a house with light switches? I’ve lived here long enough to know how many steps there are leading to the basement, how many paces it takes to get to the kitchen from our bedroom, and so on.   But why would I stay in darkness when light is such a readily available option?

Sometimes we don’t want found out.  Sometimes we can’t bear what life in the light looks like.  Sometimes it feels safer in the dark.  Sometimes we just can’t find the switch.

I will save you the “there are two kinds of people in this world” line…but the reality is I’ve spent enough time in the dark that I’ve learned I don’t want to stay there.   

I’ve been studying through the Psalms and just keep getting drawn in by this lyric…”Give light to my eyes.”  David was crying out to God to deliver him or else he would “sleep in death.”  David was actually referencing a severe physical illness where death was at his door.  And his prayer, his song, was “God, give light to my eyes.”  Revive me.  Restore me.  Bring me back to life.  Bring Your salvation.  Deliver me.  Rescue me. 

As far as I know, I am not in a staring match with any severe illness.  But I have definitely felt darkness before.  I have definitely felt alone, broken, and distant from God.  And I have definitely felt like a piece of me has died at times…I long for light, because with light comes life, with light comes healing, with light comes freedom.

Is death at your door?  Is everything closing in on you?  Have you been found out?  Are you walking around dead?  Has life sucked the life out of you?   

David ends the psalm with this…” But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.”  You will never find yourself so far from God that his love doesn’t reach you.  You will never find yourself so far from the Light that He will not shine upon you.  God is good…and I pray my heart sings that song…until my voices gives out.