Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

The Experience of Darkness

Have you ever experienced a power outage at night?

Those first moments can be unsettling. In an instant, what once brought ease and comfort disappears into the shadows. Familiar walls and objects become stumbling blocks, and every step feels uncertain. Fear creeps in, and suddenly, you feel vulnerable from every angle.

Life can feel the same way. Even as people of faith, we sometimes find ourselves in seasons of deep darkness. This darkness can come in various ways, whether through our own doing (e.g., disobedience, addiction, or complacency), through unexpected suffering, or when life weighs us down. At its worst, it becomes a pit of miry clay, and fighting our way out on our own feels nearly impossible.

The Enemy’s Trap

Scripture reminds us that we have a real enemy. Satan seeks to keep us trapped by convincing us we lack the power or authority to escape. He’ll have you believe your past will always define you and that your efforts in overcoming are futile. Yet his power only lies in smoke and mirrors. Though the darkness may seem deep, engulfing, and suffocating, it has no real hold on you.

The truth is that the strength needed to overcome is not found in our striving but in our surrender. The more we lean into God’s presence, the more we discover what Apostle Paul declared, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). And even when we feel too weak, the name of Jesus gives us victory, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness and in Him, we are more than conquerors.

The Power of the Light

Think about the relief when the power suddenly returns after a blackout. The room regains its familiarity, and what once felt threatening is now harmless. That’s what happens when Christ’s light floods our lives. Obstacles lose their power, and fear that once gripped us dissolves. As the psalmist declares, “The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

Paul also reminds us in Ephesians 5 that we were once in darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. That shift in identity calls us to “live as children of light” (v. 8), reflecting God’s goodness, righteousness, and truth in our daily lives. The passage urges us to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness, not by shaming ourselves, but by allowing Christ’s light to reveal and transform. It ends with a wake-up call: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (v. 14).  In other words, we are invited not only to step out of darkness, but to live awake and alert, and to radiate the presence of Christ.

So ask yourself: What’s holding me back?

• If it’s your mind, renew it in Christ.
• If it’s your habits, change them through His strength.
• If it’s your circumstances, ask and trust God to transform them.

The Hope of Freedom

God calls us to live in freedom, not bondage. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

He wants you to live in joy, peace, and abundance. He longs to comfort you in your weakest and darkest hour, and He understands your pain. Jesus Himself endured the deepest darkness on the cross, abandoned by the world, so that we would never be abandoned by God.

He has not left you helpless. In fact, He has never left you at all. Therefore, you are not a victim. You are a child of the Living King and have a seat at the table of the Most High. So show the darkness who’s boss and experience the freedom of basking in God’s brilliant presence.

If you find yourself here today and you’re not yet a believer, this invitation is for you: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). Ask God to come into your heart. Acknowledge the darkness you’ve walked in, and declare that Jesus is King over your life. From this moment forward, give Him full authority to lead you. It’s only in Him that we can experience true freedom from darkness.

Drawn from the NIV Telos Bible.