One Sunday at church, my priest spoke about darkness. Not the kind that comes when the lights go out or when night quietly settles in, but the kind that finds you… even in broad daylight. The kind that wraps itself around your thoughts, sits heavily on your chest, and whispers things that feel true but are not.
He spoke about how darkness can surround you, engulf you, and if you are not careful, convince you that there is no way out. And I sat there thinking… what do we really do when we are already in it? Because it is easy to talk about light when you are standing in it. It is easy to say “have faith,” “pray more,” “stay positive.” But what happens when you are sitting in that place where none of that feels reachable? When you feel stuck, trapped, and unsure of how you even got there?
Darkness is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is quiet. Subtle. It looks like exhaustion you cannot explain. It feels like disconnection, from people, from purpose, even from God. It sounds like silence when you try to pray. So how do we step out of it? I do not think it starts with a grand gesture. It starts small. It starts with awareness. Acknowledging, “I am not okay right now.” That alone takes courage. Because darkness thrives in denial. It grows when we pretend everything is fine.
Then comes the decision, however fragile, to reach for something outside of it. Maybe it is a prayer that feels empty but is spoken anyway. Maybe it is opening a window, stepping outside, or calling someone you trust. Maybe it is sitting still and choosing not to believe every thought that crosses your mind.
Stepping out of darkness is rarely instant. It is a process of choosing light in small, consistent ways, even when you cannot fully see it yet.
And what about preventing it? That is a harder question. Because the truth is, we cannot always prevent darkness. Life happens. Disappointments come. Loss, stress, uncertainty, they all have a way of pulling us into spaces we did not plan to visit. But we can prepare ourselves. We can build habits that anchor us before the storm comes, staying connected to God not only when we need something, but daily. Surrounding ourselves with people who speak life into us. Paying attention to our mental and emotional state instead of ignoring it.
We can learn our triggers. Recognize the early signs. Notice when we are withdrawing, when our thoughts begin to shift, when hope starts to dim. And maybe most importantly, we can remind ourselves that darkness is not permanent. It feels permanent when you are in it. It feels endless. But it is not.
Light does not fight darkness with noise. It simply shows up, and darkness has no choice but to retreat. So if you find yourself there, in that space that feels heavy and consuming, know this: You are not alone. You are not stuck forever. And even the smallest step toward light… still counts. Sometimes stepping out of darkness is not about finding the way.
It is about trusting that the way is still there, even when you cannot see it yet.
I genuinely want to know your thoughts, and I’m sure others do too. Feel free to comment 👍🏽, but if you’re not comfortable sharing, please reach out to me through any medium. I’d be thrilled if you could share something, anything, and let others know. Your comments help me understand your perspective and often present a completely different view on the topic. They could even inspire another blog. 😉 And you never know how your comment might benefit others. Remember, life is meant to be lived, and you should always strive to live your best life. #lifeisforliving #liveyourbestlife #gratefulforlife #faithgreaterthanfear
See you next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Bogotá time.