When You're Alone in a Dark Pit of Despair

He has delivered us from 

the domain of darkness 

Col. 1:13

When you're at your worst, it feels so scary, so lonely, so dark. Like you've fallen into a dark pit and no one can see you. You start to worry that no one will remember to come and look for you. 

Darkness breeds and amplifies panic. 

But all it takes is one friend to jump into the pit with you and light a match...

Suddenly you can see; the darkness vanishes. As your eyes adjust to the sudden light, you see all of the people around you in that pit. You thought you were all alone; everyone else felt alone too because it was dark and fear kept their voices captive. 

It doesn't end at death in the pit. The light bearer leads anyone who is willing to come, through a hidden walkway on the far wall of the pit. The wall that no one goes near because it's so far away, but in the light, a walkway becomes visible. A walkway that has always been there.  

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

They walk. And walk and walk and walk in the light that one person provides.  As the light leads, the darkness flees and suddenly as they round a corner, the source of all light is pushing through the darkness and they can see the way out. 

The way out was there all along, they just couldn't see it. 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Isaiah 9:2

The darkness flees when one person is brave enough to show some light. As someone was the light for you, be a light for someone else today. One way is to share a piece of yourself that is hard so that it gives someone else permission to do the same and taste freedom; to look around and realize they've never been alone. I have seen this in action and experienced it firsthand. 

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. 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 1:5-7

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:6

Even if you can't share yourself just yet, encourage someone who needs it. Be light to as many people as you can this week! Tell them they can do this hard thing. Lead them to seek help and remind them there's no shame in needing it. Most importantly, be the hands and feet of Jesus and tell His story to the ends of the earth. 

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 1 Thes. 5:5

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

As each person exits the pit, the light clothes them in an armor of light. A protection they will need since they will be returning to the pit to save those who wouldn't/couldn't come. 

The people who woke up that morning 

cowering in darkness alone

end the day as a group of warriors 

armored in light and prepared for battle. 

The armor they receive when they leave is the only way they can reenter the pit and be able to leave it again. Those who were once in darkness have a lifelong responsibility to be the light to those who are still there.

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Matt 4:16