Darkness.

It's the unknown. It's where we hide when we're ashamed or unwilling to go and obey. It's what surrounds us when we begin to feel hopeless or alone. It tempts us to stay where we are and stay the way we are. It's destructive and full of fear.

But no amount of darkness can stop God from reaching us or loving us. Because to him light and dark are the same, and nothing can separate us from him.

Psalm 139:11-12

"I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night-- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you."

1 John 1:5

"This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all."

In light there is freedom. It exposes our sin and leads us back towards our God-- back to where we belong. It brings us life again.

"Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."