Walking in the Light (Part 1): What Is Light and Darkness?
Discover the true spiritual meaning of light and darkness and how this daily contrast shapes our journey with God.
For a while now, I’ve been thinking about writing a series of articles that dig deeper into the daily spiritual battles we all face — especially the ongoing struggle between light and darkness. It’s something that we all experience. After reflecting on this, I’ve decided to give it a go. I hope this series will offer you encouragement and practical steps to walk confidently in God’s light every day.
The contrast between light and darkness is very real in our everyday lives. There are moments when I feel God’s presence so clearly, and then there are moments when I just feel lost — whether through fear, confusion, or even my own poor choices.
This is not unique but a daily struggle we all face: the battle between walking in the light of God’s truth or drifting into the shadows of confusion and sin. And understanding this battle is the first step toward victory.
Over the next five weeks, we will look at recognizing, confronting, and overcoming the darkness in our lives by choosing the light of Christ. And what it means to live each day with clarity, power, and peace, even in the midst of life’s chaos.
Part 1 of Walking in the Light will try to answer the question: What do “light” and “darkness” really mean?
Light vs Darkness
The Bible uses light and darkness as symbols, but they represent much more than poetic imagery. Spiritually, light is the presence of God. It’s His truth, His character, His guidance, and His holiness. Darkness, on the other hand, is everything that resists or rejects God — sin, fear, lies, confusion, and rebellion.
Jesus Himself said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This is not just a verse to quote but a promise. Jesus describes a reality we are invited to live in every single day. Following Jesus means walking in the light, living with clarity and purpose.
But that doesn't mean life is suddenly without struggle. Even though I follow Jesus, I’ve had seasons where my thoughts were dark — not because I didn’t believe in God, but because I wasn’t fully living in His light. Sometimes the darkness is subtle. It’s not obvious sin, but the slow fading of truth in our minds or the quiet acceptance of fear as normal.
The Nature of Light
One of the most powerful things about light is that it reveals. Think about when you switch on the lights at night in a room, for instance. You see things as they truly are: the chair, the table, or the bed. It doesn’t lie. This is why it can feel uncomfortable at first. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more His light reveals to us things in our hearts that need changing. But don’t look at it as condemnation — it’s mercy. He shines His light not to shame us, but to heal us.
It is natural to go through a season when you are constantly anxious and can’t understand why. It is then when God will show you that you had let fear quietly creep into your thinking. His light exposed that fear — not to condemn you, but to free you. That’s what walking in the light does: it brings truth where there were lies and healing where there was hidden pain.
Darkness Is Not Just Evil
Darkness isn’t a thing on its own. It’s simply the absence of light. That means we don’t fight darkness by trying harder — we simply invite more of God into our lives.
This truth has changed how I approach things I struggle with. When I feel weighed down or confused, I no longer look at what’s wrong with me but at where I have stopped letting God shine His light. This shift in my outlook on life changed everything.
It means that darkness never has the final say. As soon as the light appears, darkness must flee. That’s not theory — it’s reality. And it applies to every part of our lives, from our thoughts to our relationships to our daily decisions.
And as with everything, it is a journey. Every day we must choose to walk in the light or stay in the shadows. God doesn’t force us but invites us to live in His truth, His love, and His clarity — not just for our own freedom but so that we can shine for others.
So, to summarize, light and darkness are not just spiritual concepts but part of our daily lives. The good news is that we are not alone in this journey. Jesus is the Light of the World, and He offers to walk with us, gently and faithfully, every single day. If we stay close to Him, we’ll never walk in darkness again.
Next Week:
In Part 2, we’ll look at the daily battle between light and darkness — and how our small, seemingly ordinary choices can either invite God’s light in or slowly drift us into shadows. I’ll also share a personal story of how one tiny habit almost stole my peace — and what God taught me through it.
Well done and written. Glad you took some steps to get on the Substack platform. Your connection to the Bible and practical everyday illustrations make it relatable. I can tell you like to place an emphasis on His grace and mercy to all.