Why Does the World Feel So Dark?
It can feel as though hope itself is under attack. Discover what the Bible reveals about the unseen battle—and how you can stand firm.
If you’ve ever driven a car in a large city with the windows down, you know how your eardrums are assaulted by a cacophony of noise! If that grates on your nerves you have choices: You can absorb it—and enjoy the vitality, be beaten down by it—and become angry or worse, or close your windows and ignore it.
Similarly, your drive through this world is filled with a cacophony of noise: war; escalating inflation, pandemics, natural disasters; declining morals and values that are flipped upside down: right is wrong and wrong must now be celebrated; increasing terrorism, murders and suicides—every day brings new sufferings.
It’s as if hope, itself, is under attack.
We’re told the world has been here before, but never in our lifetime. It’s ruining our drive. It’s overwhelming.
Has God abandoned us?
Revelation 12:12 (ESV) says, “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
The hostility we feel amid the noise is real—but its deepest source isn’t merely human. Scripture reminds us that a spiritual enemy knows his time is short. We need to be aware of it. We need to be prepared for it. We need armor to stand our ground in the day of assault.
Ephesians 6:12,13 (ESV) says, “Our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood…therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” Then Ephesians 6:14-20 details the armor God provides for standing against such a powerful adversary. Take a moment to read the passage and ask yourself, “Am I really going to put this armor on today?”
Which is the same as asking, do you seriously believe the Bible is truly God’s word? Are you living in the righteousness that comes from obedient faith in Jesus? Are you willing to love people and stand against the powerful forces that are assaulting not simply this world, but our nation, our communities, our families and friends?
If you answer, “Yes!” then pray seriously, like a spotter calling upon God to intervene where the spiritual warfare is great; pray to be bold to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be willing to take some heat.
This world has never been a friendly place because the darkness we see is more than human. But don’t mistake the darkness for God’s absence. He has not abandoned His people. Through Christ He has already secured the victory and equipped us to stand firm.
Today, put on the armor of God through obedient faith, not to isolate you from the world but to protect you from the cynicism and evil within it so you can faithfully live, boldly pray, and stand firm against evil.”
