No, that is not a misspelling. And yes, I meant “Son.”

You see, years ago my husband and I made a promise to our now-17 year old son that we would drive to the path of totality to see the solar eclipse this year—a “bucket list” item for him before he left the nest for college.

And so it was. We headed to Kentucky, meeting up with some family in the Midwest along the way. From where we were staying, we drove three hours to stand in a parking lot in Hopkinsville, KY, that afternoon in time to see, through ISO-certified glasses, the eclipse begin and end.

It took some coaxing for my anxious younger son, 11 years old, to trust us that the glasses would do their job to protect his eyes. Once he overcame that obstacle, he was amazed like the rest of us at the show God put in the sky that Monday afternoon. It was worth tolerating 12 hours of gridlock on the way back to the hotel.

As the sun moved behind the moon (from our vantage point, anyway) to where it was safe to remove our glasses for two minutes, we noted so many observations, among them:

• The temperature dropped.
• The sun set around us panoramically 360 degrees.
• The light never went fully out.

Hmmm.

Even with the moon in front of it, a ring of light still haloed from the sun. The light could not be fully turned off. And really, the moon only had just over two minutes of blocking time. The sun then continued its determined glide back into full view.

It was surely magnificent. No doubt about it. But it did not completely darken my world. It did not shut off the lights.

It struck me (as I had 12 hours to reflect on the way home!) how true this is of Jesus.

Part of our trip included visiting the Ark Encounter to see a life-sized Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. That day was naturally focused on Noah. While catastrophic to be the only family spared as God restarted humankind and animal life upon the earth, Noah only experienced a devastating flood.

The sun did not go out. 

God did not back up over the days of creation and un-create. He didn’t take out the heavens and undo what He had formed. He merely took righteous remnants and restored what was good.

But He did not remove the sun from the sky or un-separate light from darkness.

Job is one of my favorite books to read about God’s sovereignty and presence amidst great darkness. Satan suggested to God that Job would stop worshipping God if his life was suddenly messed with. This involved depleting Job of his children, health, and property. And despite some often unhelpful friends along the way, Job did not curse God when much was taken from him. God never left Job and always had control over how much Satan could do to him. In the process, Job discovered some amazing truths about God in the midst of dark times.

1) God brings darkness to light. His light cannot be extinguished because He is the author of light.

Job 12:22, ESV

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.

John the apostle (and evangelist!) later spoke to this in the New Testament:

1 John 1:5, ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

2) Darkness does not control us or keep us from talking to God. He gives us power over it.

Job 23:17, ESV

…yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.

3) God helps us walk through darkness. His light provides our way.

Job 29:3, ESV

…when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness…

The author of 2 Samuel concurred:

2 Samuel 22:29-30, ESV

For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

And more testimony can be found from Micah the prophet:

Micah 7:8, ESV

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

We can find other proof that God’s light will never be extinguished and any darkness is temporary for the people who seek His face.

4) Jesus is our eternal light. When He sacrificed Himself for us, there was great (temporary!) darkness over the land until He rose again, defeating the darkness once and for all.

Joel 2:31, ESV

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Matthew 27:45, ESV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

John 1:5, ESV

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 12:46, ESV

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

5) The same God who separated light from darkness during His creative work now illuminates those who believe with “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” through His Son Jesus!

2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:13, ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…

I write about this frequently. I feel we all need the constant reminder that in a world full of seemingly hopeless and dark situations, the Light of the world, Jesus, is the way out. He holds the power to get out of great darkness. Won’t you trust Him and grab His hand with me?

I think we’ve more than proven that, indeed,

Nothing can block out the Son!

*This blog was first a featured column at Your Tewksbury Today. 

**It has also been shared at any link highlighted here: Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up, Make a Difference Mondays, Pick Your Pin Tuesday, Worshipful Wednesdays, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Grace & Truth, A Little R & R, RaRa Link-Up, Me, Coffee & Jesus, Dance With Jesus, Blessing Counters, Coffee & Conversation, Saturday Soiree, Tell His Story, Find Stability, So Much at Home, Faith-Filled Fridays, Reflect His Love and Glory Link-Up, Bonbon ‘n Coffee Linkup, and Christian Mommy Blogger.

Anecdotal stories about an everyday relationship with God can be found in Not Just on Sundays: Seeking God’s Purpose in Each New Day (includes Book Club Discussion Questions).