This post was last updated on May 17, 2026
Day 43 (Year 2)
Understanding Darkness
“He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.” (Job 12:22 NKJV)
“They devise injustices, saying, ‘We are ready with a well-conceived plot’; For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.” (Psalm 64:6 NASB)
In the first verse, darkness refers to hidden and deep things. In the second, the wicked’s inward thoughts are described as “deep.” The word “deep” in both verses comes from the same Hebrew word amoq, meaning “mysterious, or unsearchable.” This word describes both darkness and evil. Indeed, if Jesus is to rescue believers from sins and the shadow of death, our understanding of sins must go deeper. We need to understand how our hearts can be transformed, healed, and set free in cooperating with His work.
Many people first need to understand the darkness around and even within them before God’s light can drive it away. For instance, some are imprisoned in darkness with chains (Psalm 107:10-11). I understand those chains as having been fastened either intentionally or unintentionally. Many are bound from early childhood, before they could discern right from wrong, which leads to disobedience to God’s commands. Furthermore, the deepest bondage is not only obvious sins but also outwardly good and even praiseworthy pursuits, such as single-mindedly pursuing academic success, achievement, or riches. Such pursuits can easily lead people to rely on themselves, even live under the shadow of death, but not depend on God.
When believers understand our own darkness and the shadow of death in which we dwell, relying on the Lord’s guidance, we often begin to see a way out and break free from bondage. For example, when someone becomes addicted to a certain bad habit, it may begin out of curiosity. Yet it may also stem from childhood wounds, as a way of numbing pain. When those wounds are healed, the need for addiction might disappear, too. In my experience, we who are in darkness or bondage must earnestly seek God’s guidance to identify our hidden darkness or chains. We need to deepen our understanding of spiritual life so that we can pray more accurately for God’s greater work in our lives. When His light comes in, hidden and deep-seated evil will surely be exposed. In this way, darkness and sins can be understood, and God’s light can enter and drive away the gloom within us. Above all, we must firmly trust that God’s light will surely overcome all our darkness.
Reflection questions:
1) Are you determined to rely on the Lord Jesus to understand the deep darkness within you? What practical steps can help you gain deeper spiritual insight?
2) Will you persist in prayers, asking God to give you guiding light so that you may break free from all darkness and bondages?