Are you afraid of the dark? Me too…sometimes. Despite having baggage around dark seasons of my life, God is inviting me to view darkness through a new perspective. While darkness holds a certain fear of the unknown, it also showcases even small amounts of light in a spectacular way. When we relax our negative view, we find darkness reveals the light of God’s promises with a clarity unseen in the distraction of daylight.
Though we often believe clarity comes with the light of day, at times only in the night seasons do we perceive the clear truth of God’s promises for our future.
When God chose to reveal the fullness of His plan for Abraham, He brought him out into the desert at night. Beneath a canopy of stars as far as Abraham could see, God’s future promises became crystal clear.
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look towards heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
The darkness reveals the light of God’s promises to Abraham through a starry night object lesson but also allows Abraham to see with greater clarity distanced from the distractions of his days and doubts.
Gazing into a cloudless cerulean sky we imagine our sight penetrates through countless miles upward and beyond. Yet apart from observing the sun, we see no further than the Kármán Line, where the earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins, which is a mere 62 miles away.
By contrast, at night scientists believe that the farthest observable object is Andromeda, a collection of one trillion stars lying 2.5 million light years away. We require the cover of darkness to reveal the true clarity of the sky.
As with Abraham, at times God brings us into the night seasons so that we may perceive more clearly what He promised us in brighter times. Despite a more radiant light during the daytime seasons, we become focused on doubts and what is before us, and our sight becomes myopic.
In the daylight seasons, we often find preoccupation with the urgent or more desirous of tasks or outcomes. While the night seasons obscure the lesser distractions, challenging us to look farther.
God referenced blessing Abraham’s descendants more than thirty times in the Book of Genesis. The first mention came in chapter twelve (Genesis 12:7) and ten years passed before God speaks again in Genesis 15. Abraham was 75 years old at the time God again confirms Abraham will have an heir in Genesis 15. Yet it would be another 25 years before the promised heir, Issac is born.
Abraham waited 35 years until he was 100 years old before he received the fulfillment of God’s promise of an heir. That’s over 12,775 nights to look up and number the stars while holding fast God’s future promise.
Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Or perhaps longing for the fulfillment of God’s promises?
Instead of feeling frustrated or fearful of the extended night seasons, God invited me into a view of the darkness that confirmed rather than cast doubt on His promised work in my life.
As with Abraham, God began a good work in my life several years ago, (Philippians 1:6) but its fulfillment remains yet future. While Abraham could look up and the multitude of stars encouraged him with God’s promise to multiply his descendants, he was also reminded by the vast distance, that God’s promise was yet far from fulfillment.
During the night seasons of my life, God spoke hope over me reminding me, darkness is not dark to God. God is Light and there is no darkness in Him, (1 John 1:5) and no darkness can overcome Him. (John 1:5) This truth holds firm in my darkest times because God is always with me.
“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
When we pass through night seasons of waiting, God’s presence becomes the Light of His promises for us. The proof of His promises is in His presence. Though the fulfillment of His promises may yet remain future, the Light of his presence reveals its certainty ever clearer in our darkest places.
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Growing up in my grandmother’s spooky, old house, night-time was a fearful time. Yet, I remember inviting God into it, holding on to Him to protect me. It taught me that in the dark of night – and in those dark seasons you talk about – that He is there – and we are closer to Him during those seasons. The comfort and presence of Him in the dark and dark seasons makes me miss Him in the seasons of light. I am learning to bridge that gap. Thank you for sharing your heart here – so much truth and goodness in this post!
Maryleigh, I remember a spooky house or two from my childhood, but mostly the woods behind my house! I could see them from my bedroom window and imagined all sorts of things. But like you, over the years I have learned God is with me in every dark place and season and what a genuine comfort that is!!
This >> “When we pass through night seasons of waiting, God’s presence becomes the Light of His promises for us.” Yes! It is amazing how God’s presence becomes so sweet and comforting in those night seasons. Beautiful and hope-filled post!
Joanne, it is amazing how much brighter God’s love and presence shines in the night seasons! May our faith truly become stronger along those dark and hard paths!
This post beautifully reflects the deeper meaning behind those difficult “dark” seasons of life. The way you draw from the story of Abraham and connect it to our own journeys is so powerful. It’s easy to see waiting as a time of frustration, but you’ve shown that it’s often in the darkness that we gain the clearest vision of God’s promises. I love how you remind us that the darkness is not a barrier for God—it’s actually a backdrop that makes His light shine brighter.
The imagery of the stars and how they’re only visible in the night is a perfect analogy for how, sometimes, it’s only in those tough, uncertain times that we truly see the fullness of God’s plan. Your prayer for God to bring spring to the heart during these times of waiting is so encouraging. It gives hope that even in the seemingly darkest seasons, God’s presence is the light guiding us forward.
Thank you, Melody for your kind and thoughtful words! I praise God His words here resonated with you, and your thoughts are exactly what I hoped readers might glean from this post. So often we fear the dark or hard paths, and yet they are the ones which provide us with the most intimate encounters with Christ.