“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- John 1:5 ESV
Well, I noticed something this morning. My human was sitting on the porch with his coffee, Bible, and one of those looks on his face that tells me he’s thinking about something a little deeper than where I buried my bone.
Seems this time change has a way of messing with things. The sun goes down earlier, the mornings seem darker, and before you know it, nighttime starts showing up when you’re still thinking about supper.
Now, I don’t mind the darkness too much. I’ve got a pretty good nose, and I can usually find my way around without turning on a light. But I’ve learned that not all darkness is outside.
My human was reading about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Forty days without food, and here comes the enemy with one little word: “If.”
“If you are the Son of God…”
Funny how one little word can stir up so much doubt. The enemy wasn’t just questioning Jesus. He was trying to get Him to question what His Father had already declared.
And my human says that’s still one of the enemy’s favorite tricks. He whispers questions into our minds, trying to turn God’s promises into doubts.
“Does God really love you?”
“Can He really forgive you?”
“Does He hear your prayers?”
“Are you sure Jesus is who He says He is?”
Well, I may be just an old dog, but even I know there’s a difference between walking in the dark and losing your way in it.
The darkness of shorter days is one thing. The darkness that creeps into our thoughts and makes us question God’s goodness, His promises, and His love is something else entirely.
That’s why my human keeps coming back to the Word. Because feelings change, circumstances change, and even the amount of daylight changes.
But God’s truth never does.
And here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t come just to give us a little encouragement when life gets dark. He came to be the Light. He went to the cross, bore our sin, conquered death, and rose again so that those who trust in Him would never have to walk in darkness alone.
So when the enemy starts whispering his “ifs,” remember what God has already said. Don’t let a question mark replace the period God has placed on His promises.
The days may be getting shorter, but the Light hasn’t gotten any dimmer.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Stay in His Word.
And when darkness comes, remember who has already overcome it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my favorite sunny spot on the porch. Even as the sun rises, an old dog knows where to look when he needs a little light.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
