In the Dark

Recently I watched a moving Under Armor commercial featuring the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps.

I might have even cried a tear (one that I could not even manufacture when my youngest went to kindergarten.)

Can you imagine your own commercial? I tried:

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Slightly less inspiring than the Under Armor commercial starring Michael Phelps.

Between competitions, and facing the pressures of worldwide celebrity, Michael Phelps has struggled emotionally and physically. Speaking about his struggle in an interview, Phelps said, “I was in a really dark place.”

The commercial capitalized on that quote and attributed his comeback to rigorous and disciplined training. They summarized his return to swimming with this inspiring tagline:

“It’s what you do in the dark that puts you back in the light.”

And that was the part that made the screen blurry for me. Because it’s not just true for Michael Phelps, or athletes, or swimmers. It’s true for humans.

What we choose in our dark days determines whether or not we get to a place where we can see clearly again.

Perhaps you’ve been there?

Even without the pressures of worldwide celebrity, regular folks like you and me are not immune to dark places and feelings. Any degree of discouragement, despair, or depression makes for a dark place.

For Michael Phelps, sobriety and rigorous training put him back in the spotlight.

For believers in Christ, the journey is far less burdensome than two-a-day lifting sessions and miles of swimming.

For those who walk with Christ we can know that even darkness is like light to Him. Our great privilege is to turn our face toward Him, even in the dark, listen to His Word, take His hand and trust that He will eventually lead us out.

Another world renowned hero put it like this, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me.”

If it’s too dark to read His word, have someone read it to you. (Even if it’s only Siri).

If you have no idea what to pray, He has the words for you.

If you can’t pray, know that He’s praying for you.

With Jesus, the dark place isn’t the end.

His resurrection is proof.