02 The Dark Is Holy

Did you ever have a secret hiding spot as a kid? A little cupboard in the kitchen you could climb into, a tree fort covered by leaves and branches, blankets draped across couches and chairs? Sometimes these places help us understand the power of refuge, of taking shelter from the anxieties of the world.

Q1:  What were your secret hiding spots as a kid and how did they help you feel safe and protected? Do you have any hiding spots now?

In Isaiah 32:1-2 we hear a vision of rulers providing shelter for their people:

“See, a king will reign in righteousness,
   and princes will rule with justice.
Each will be like a hiding-place from the wind,
   a covert from the tempest,”

In this passage the princes and king are compared to “coverts” or thickets that small animals might hide in.

Q2: Who are the people in your life who have provided you with refuge, comfort, shelter and safety?

In the Motor City Hymns song “The Dark Is Holy” written by Kristina Sinks, the lyrics remind us that dark places of refuge can also be locations that give us new life.  She writes,

“The dark is holy in your eyes,
all seeds are nurtured there,
The joy and love you plant in us
will bloom within your care.”

You can listen to Kristina’s song with the player on this page.

Q3:  When have you found new life after moments of necessary refuge and sheltering?

Throughout the Bible God’s darkness provides God’s people with refuge which allows the people of God to reemerge in power to pursue justice.

ACTION:  Draw it, share it.

In the medium of your choice, create a picture of your favorite hiding place.  Surround it with the words and phrases of the new life such places of refuge make possible.  Now share it with others IRL or online as a way to encourage everyone to see God’s sheltering love as the blessing that it is.