When Darkness Moves In: What to Do With the Pain You Didn’t Invite

Darkness doesn’t always knock before it enters.

Sometimes it slips in quietly like a shadow in the hallway, uninvited but stubbornly lingering. Other times it barges in like an intruder—bold and oppressive—taking up space in our thoughts, our emotions, and even our physical bodies. And though we never asked it to come, we don’t always know how to make it leave either.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of emotional or spiritual darkness, you know this truth well: it rarely leaves on its own. Ignoring it doesn’t make it vanish. Pretending doesn’t make it powerless. So what do we do when darkness moves in?

Let’s look to Scripture and discover how God met others in their own dark seasons—and how He still meets us today.

The Bible and the Darkness We Face

Abraham’s God-Ordained Darkness

In Genesis 15:12, we read: “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”

This wasn’t a punishment. It wasn’t the result of sin. It was the threshold of covenant. God allowed Abraham to pass through the “dark night of the soul” so that what followed would be a divine promise. The darkness was the container that carried the glory.

Elijah’s Cave and the Still Small Voice

Elijah—bold prophet, miracle worker, giant of the faith—found himself curled up under a juniper tree, weary, depressed, and asking to die. Later, he hid in a cave. (1 Kings 19). He had outrun God’s purpose in fear and exhaustion, and yet God pursued him—not with thunder or fire, but with a still small voice. It was a whisper of mercy, not judgment.

There’s a quote by Dr. Diane Langberg, a Christian psychologist and trauma counselor, that always touches my heart:

“God is not afraid of your darkness. He enters into it—not to shame you, but to bring healing and light.” Isn’t that exactly what God did with Elijah?-Dr. Diane Langberg

Joseph’s Pit and Prison

Joseph’s darkness came not from himself, but from the hands of others—jealous brothers, a lying employer’s wife, a forgotten promise in prison. (Genesis 37 & 39). His was a journey of injustice, betrayal, and delay. But still, Scripture repeats one precious phrase: “But the Lord was with Joseph…”

That phrase is often our only lifeline in the night. But it’s enough. Because He is enough.

My Own Darkness

In my own life, I’ve faced the shadowy weight of internal struggles—unresolved pain, unhealed wounds, spiritual warfare, and seasons where I felt pressed down by the burdens of ministry, grief, and life itself.

Sometimes, I was the one who invited the storm by pushing too hard or refusing to pause. Other times, I was standing in a spiritual battle, bearing the brunt of things far beyond my own doing.

But in each of those moments, I’ve come back to this anchor truth: God is with me in my moment.

As David K. Bernard, General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International, so wisely said:

“God doesn’t waste pain. What He allows, He redeems. What is dark to us is light to Him.”-Rev. David K. Bernard

Understanding Your Spiritual Season

It’s important to understand the season you’re in. Are you like Job, walking through a divinely permitted trial? Or are you like Elijah, recovering from your own exhaustion? Either way, God doesn’t abandon you to figure it out alone. He’s already there. Already working. Already redeeming.

Psalm 139:12 says:

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

What a comforting truth—that our seasons of confusion or despair do not confuse our God.

God Lights the Darkness

Daniel 2:22 says:

“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”

When we feel hidden, overlooked, or burdened, God sees it all. He is not only present in the dark, He is light itself. John 1:5 reminds us, “The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

And in those moments where I’m tempted to let darkness settle like a heavy fog, I shake myself. I stand on God’s promises. One of my life scriptures is Isaiah 61:1–3:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me… to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”

He trades. He exchanges. He redeems.

Hold Onto Hope

Maybe today, you feel like you’re sitting in darkness. Maybe it’s depression, burnout, grief, betrayal, or the silent ache of feeling unseen.

Micah 7:8 gives us this promise:

“When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

Don’t be afraid of the night season. Don’t assume darkness means failure or absence. Sometimes it’s the sacred space where God speaks clearest.

Friend, the final word over your life belongs to the Healer—not the hurt.

You are never too far, too broken, or too weary for God to restore. He is pursuing your wholeness—one light-filled moment at a time.

When You Need Help Finding the Light

Sometimes we need more than prayer and promises—we need someone to walk alongside us as we process, heal, and rebuild.

A mental health coach offers Christ-centered support for those navigating burnout, spiritual confusion, grief, or emotional overwhelm. Coaching is not therapy, but it is powerful. It focuses on growth, clarity, and next steps forward.

However, if you’re facing trauma, addiction, or mental illness that significantly affects your daily functioning, please consider reaching out to a licensed Christian counselor. Both coaching and counseling have value—just in different ways. For Apostolic-aligned counselors, visit:

www.apostoliccounseling.org

If you are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please don’t wait. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988—you are not alone, and your life deeply matters.

If you’re in a dark season and not sure what to do next, I’d love to invite you to schedule a free 30-minute discovery call. It’s a gentle, no-pressure way to explore whether faith-based mental health coaching is the next step for you.

Book your session here:

www.pursuingwholeness.net/connect

Let’s walk toward the light—together.