The Strength of Light: Finding Hope and Faith in the Darkest Seasons of Life

The light always overcomes the darkness unless it is snuffed out or covered up. Throughout my healing processl, not surprisingly, I have had many nights where the seemingly simple task of falling asleep felt like an impossibility. Now, one of the things I love the most about the humid Maryland nights are the lightning bugs, something I never saw in California. I would, in a strange way, look forward to these sleepless nights because I loved sitting in the backyard (with plenty of insect repellent on) and watch these amazing creatures. I couldn’t get over the magical dances of these fireflies.

I would sit there and temporarily remain in my imagination of being Titania from the Shakespeare play “Midsummer’s Night Dream” watching her fairy prodigies with pride and reveling in their celebrations, while the rest of my family were sleeping soundly. One thing I noticed about these spritely insects was that to truly appreciate their beauty and mystery was to observe them in total darkness. The darker the environment, the more that I could clearly see.

The sky never seemed dark enough, but the leaf coverage from the line of trees surrounding the open space, provided the backdrop of seemingly complete blackness. I would marvel at this natural display of God’s perfect ballroom dancing scene. As I was thinking on God’s care for detail, I realized that the light from a lightning bug, as subtle and slight as it is, overpowers the complete darkness. Even the dimmest light overwhelms darkness.

Isn’t this the same as faith? Darkness has no power over even the slightest light. According to John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” There are those moments in all of our lives where we feel like only a barely flickering candle and then there are other times where we feel strong, like a searchlight that disguises any darkness whatsoever until the pursued steps outside of the ring of illumination.

Throughout this journey of my Christian life, there have been times where my faith has seemed to me as weak. I imagine myself as a tiny mouse in the dark domicile of a hungry snake. This insignificant mouse, barely out of the bite of the snake’s powerful jaws, seeks out the beam of sunlight pouring in knowing that it must do whatever is necessary to reach the only escape from the snake’s lair, barely alive.

Then, there have been other times in my faith walk where I have felt like a powerful woman warrior who is standing tall with a strong stance, squared jaw, puffed chest, my arms strong with one hand upon my hip and the other holding an unconquerable weapon which is ready to strike with my eyes and mind focused upon the formidable mission at hand. In my imagination, there I am standing in the midst of evil, with the light of heaven shining down uponalivend my enemies cowering in fear.

The stage directions call for front lighting with a pure, warm light, shot with the camera angled from the ground up, and, of course, a wind machine. Clearly, I have watched far too many episodes of Wonder Woman as a child.

However, the key is not how I am feeling, but rather the fact that the light within me can overpower any darkness, just as the light from one tiny firefly can, regardless of whether I feel like a frightened mouse or a powerful faith fighter. Anyone who has chosen Jesus holds the power of the Holy Spirit within them and can defeat Satan’s evil schemes. The scripture promises us this, but we have to be willing to notice and use it. This was the only thing that helped me not to remain in my deep obscure hole of hopelessness and depression and to seek the light, my only chance for salvation.

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With Fireflies of Hope,

Amanda Olson