We live in a time where the darkness can feel suffocating. Our enemy wants us to believe the shadows are overwhelming—that it would be easier to simply stop fighting for what is right. When the darkness creeps up to our very doorsteps, the temptation to give up is real.

David faced a similar valley in Psalm 12. He describes a world devoid of righteousness, a landscape of lying tongues and selfish people who climb over the innocent to get ahead. Yet, it is precisely at this low point that David reminds us: God sees the plight of the needy and rises up to deliver them. I love the Psalms because David never ignores the negative; he simply refuses to let it have the final word.

As believers, we must acknowledge the shadows, but we cannot forget that the Light shines most piercingly in the deep dark. When life is easy—when gas prices are low, and a loaf of bread doesn't break the bank—it is easy to wander through life on autopilot. But in the struggle, our eyes are drawn back to the Lord. Our "darkest pits" reveal the true value of our relationship with Him.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus calls us "the light of the world." We are commissioned to receive His brilliance, look to Him for guidance, and then reflect that radiance to a world in shadow. Don’t be discouraged by the gloom around you. Look for His light; in the darkness, it is nearly impossible to miss.