I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.

John 12:46

Have you ever experienced darkness at midday? The cold winter months seem devoid of sun in the north. The daylight never comes, though it taunts that it might. It can make one weary, make one despair of ever seeing the bright light again.

This stark setting is the backbone of Andrew Peterson’s song “All Shall Be Well”, from the Album “The Far Country”. But far from a dismal sulk, this song is hopeful - reminding us that the light does eventually come. The day returns. The rushing river - frozen solid under the darkness - breaks apart under the warming light in a crashing fury that can take your breath away.

And the night can be so long, so long / You think you’ll never get up again / But listen now, it’s a mighty cloud of / Witnesses around you -  they say / “Hold on, just hold on” / Hold on to the end / And all shall be well

Hope is hard to come by these days. The economy has many wondering - wondering how they will make it another day. Many loved ones struggle under the weight of terminal illnesses, struggling to see light at the end of the tunnel. There are children longing for affection they never receive - leading them into making choices that will darken their future - furthering their darkness rather than restoring the light. There are marriages struggling to find that glimmer of love that bore them. Friendships torn apart and little hope of restoration. All these things can seem to engulf us in a shadow. It is like that long, dark night of winter. We ask for the end. When will it come? Will it come? Or is this all there is?

The difference is “life”. Living without hope is more like survival. It is getting from one day to the next. But we have a hope that gives us strength - that allows us to endure. It is not a flippant hope - “It’ll be alright someday…” It is a certain hope - “All shall be well!”; a hope that even in the midst of dark is illuminated by the light and warmth of the Savior’s love. Will we focus on the night, or recognize that day is coming?

Andrew Peterson’s song shares even this with immense power. For even in the midst of the darkness, there is the encouragement to watch, to be ready for that lost sheep on the edge of camp. The image of a thawing river in the first verse - so awesome - is a reminder that God’s power can melt the hardest heart, frozen by the darkest night. But that means that we have to be holding out the light, offering a place by the fire, looking for the day. The power to do this is the hope within us - a hope given by God himself.

All shall be well, all shall be well / Break the chains of the gates of hell / All shall be well, all shall be well / The Word of God will never fail / And all manner of things will be well

We are not only filled with hope so that we can be happy or well-adjusted. We are filled with hope so that we can take the gates of hell by storm, releasing people from the darkness that blinds them and intimidates them - keeping them from the life that God offers. We can be certain that God is with us - and certain that he will live up to his word to hold us fast. He is coming for us - all who will respond to his invitation. He is preparing a place for us where we will no longer have the threat of night or cold; a place illuminated by God himself and warmed by his presence.

There’s a light in the darkness / There’s an end to the night

for further study
The imagery of light and darkness is all throughout scripture. But you might review a couple of things Jesus had to say about light and darkness. Some examples are Luke 11:33-36 and John 3:18-21.