Don't Fear the Dark: Part 2

Dan Stanford
Oct 3, 2025
2 min read

From Hiding to Healing

As kids, most of us slept with night-lights and monster inspections. (For the record, 80% of kids fear the dark. The other 20% create the jump scares.) But the Bible says the scariest darkness isn’t midnight—it’s the secrecy we keep at noon.

Jesus put it this way: “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46) Darkness loves secrets.

“Everyone who does evil hates the light…for fear their deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20) Translation: sin thrives in the shadows; shame is its favorite fertilizer.

Here’s the good news: when Jesus shines on our hidden places, it’s not to humiliate us—it’s to heal us. “Even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day.” (Psalm 139:11–12) God has night vision. Hiding from Him is like my kid “hiding” under a blanket in the middle of the living room yelling, “Don’t look under the blanket!” Cute. Ineffective.

Studies suggest most of us are keeping a handful of secrets. Some are harmless; others are toxic—addictions, resentments, private compromises that quietly drain our joy. The old saying is true: we’re as sick as our secrets. Hiding is heavy. Honesty is healing.

So how do we step into the light without oversharing online? Start simple:

Tell God the truth. Real prayer beats image management.

Tell one safe person. Confession isn’t punishment; it’s surgery.

Trade a trigger for a new habit. Walk, call a friend, open Scripture.

“If we walk in the light…we have fellowship…and the blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Don’t fear the dark; fear staying in it. Hand Jesus the flashlight. Step into the light today, and let healing begin.

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