This devotional was originally published on April 28, 2017.
Darkness is a bully. I don’t know if you have ever encountered a bully, but their mouths typically exaggerate their strength. What do I mean by that? A lot of bullies are all talk. They want to appear strong but, in reality, are weak and powerless. Darkness is a lot like that insecure kid that picked on everyone in elementary school. Kids feared him because of what he said he could do, yet he never bothered to prove it. Darkness, although at times scary, really doesn’t have that much power.
At some point today, I want you to try a little experiment. Take a small flashlight, cell phone or matchstick and go to the darkest place in your home. Make sure there is no light coming in from underneath the door. The experiment won’t work if you are not in a place of complete, can’t-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face darkness. Once you have been in the darkness for a few minutes, considering its ability to stir the fear in the strongest of men, take out your light source and turn it on. What do you think will happen? That darkness that was so heavy and consuming will instantly be consumed by the smallest of lights. What is the point of the experiment? To remind us all that darkness seems a lot stronger than it actually is, because it can never overcome the power of light.
The scripture often refers to the world as broken, fallen, sinful and dark. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” What does that mean? Jesus is way more powerful than the darkness that is currently weighing you down. Allow the light of the world to defeat the bully of darkness that has been picking on you.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
— John 1:5