This post was last updated on May 8, 2026

Day 36 (Year 2)

Inner Darkness  

“They grope in darkness with no light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” (Job 12:25 NASB)

The above verse is Job’s description of leaders who lack proper understanding. The word “grope” (mashash in the Hebrew) can be interpreted as “to move forward by feeling, to decide according to one’s sensations.” In spiritual darkness, people often make decisions based on immediate feelings or emotions. When they cannot see far ahead nor hear clearly, what else can they rely on except feelings? Indeed, human feelings are precious. But if we solely rely on present emotions to determine our path, we can easily fall into deception. In darkness, people often enter a cycle of constantly pursuing pleasant yet shallow feelings. However, what feels unpleasant may actually be beneficial, like a Chinese saying goes, bitter medicine that heals. In contrast, believers who continually receive God’s light can develop better spiritual sensitivity, sometimes called a kind of spiritual intuition. This spiritual perception can lead us to reach farther and deeper into hidden realities.

The phrase “makes them stagger” comes from the Hebrew word ta’ah, which means “to cause to wander about (physically), to cause to wander (of intoxication), to cause to err, or mislead (mentally and morally).” Darkness causes people to roam without purpose or direction. When someone relies mainly on feelings, his or her mind is easily biased. Thus, spiritual darkness is not only an external condition but also an inner state of confusion or disorder that easily leads to mistakes. Inner darkness can make a person feel conflicted or unsettled. For this reason, everyone needs to turn away from the darkness within and enter into God’s light.

Finally, the verse mentions “a drunken man,” which echoes the earlier word “grope.” The verse may be rendered: “They grope in darkness, without light; they wander in error like a drunken man.” Those living in error are compared to drunkards. This image carries a negative sense, yet some observe that drunk people seem different. Some of them appear to have another perspective on life and the world. They seem detached from reality and unconcerned with subjective approval. They may be chasing illusions, escaping reality, or seeking relief from pain and bondage by means of addictions. Yet this detachment from reality makes them even harder to resolve real-life problems, and their darkness seems endless.

Reflection questions:  

1) Do you rely too heavily on immediate feelings or emotions? If so, how can you rely on the Lord to address this?  

2) Do you experience inner confusion or contradiction, or even a tendency to pursue illusions and escape from reality? If so, how can you rely on God to resolve it?