On Demons and Darkness

What the onlookers notice most in today’s Gospel is Jesus’ authority over unclean spirits. In His presence, they flee.

Christ is our Light. Our demons thrive in darkness.

We like to keep our struggles a secret, don’t we? We want to keep them hidden from everyone. We’re embarrassed, or scared, or confused. We’re afraid of how our brokenness or depression or addiction or heartbreak or mistakes might alter others’ opinions of us. So we lock the door to our hearts. We close the windows and dress them with thick drapes. We sit in the corner, motionless and cold. We resign ourselves to paralyzation in the dark.

Jesus is there. He’s outside our door, knocking. The knocking is ceaseless. He’s calling our name, inviting us to turn on the light. We hear Him, but will we answer?

Let’s not miss an important detail in today’s Gospel. (Mark 1:21-28) The man with an unclean spirit was in the synagogue. Something in him must have known that healing comes from the house of God. He must have accepted that the only way his demons would be destroyed is by bringing them out of the darkness and into the light. This man understood that those who sit in darkness have seen a great light; on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen. (Matthew 4:16).

He knew God is this Light who brings life. He was only able to be healed because he was willing to be healed. This man didn’t get in his own way by stubbornly staying at home. He must have grown weary with trying to fix himself. He was willing to bring himself and all his mess before the mercy of God.

Sisters, if we emerge from the dark, hidden corners of our hearts—if we turn the doorknob and open the windows—the light of Christ will illuminate that which thrives in darkness. Every nook and cranny will be saturated with grace. Sadness and shame will be soaked in the light of Jesus’ love.

We hear Him, but will we answer?Click to tweet

Today, let’s do what it takes to get ourselves to the synagogue, to the presence of Jesus. Let’s open our windows and breathe fresh air. Let’s offer the dust, cobwebs, and debris in our hearts to the mercifully healing light of Christ. Death dwells in darkness, but we are made for life in the Light.

Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky where the sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She is the Blog Manager for Blessed is She and works from home as an editor and social media manager. She likes to binge novels and Netflix while raising her children and laughing with her husband. You can find out more about her here.