It’s tempting to stick to roads clearly marked and easy to travel, as this provides a measure of comfort and illusion of safety. But the path toward maturity and life is often found along roads that are dark and mysterious. Fear is a natural response. But by faith we must enter to face the unknown.
To be sure, it’s not uncommon for kids to be afraid of the dark, but they tend to settle when a parent is with them. And even as adults we might experience a surge of fear when we’re in the dark in an unfamiliar place, and it helps to have someone to walk with us as well.
For many, exploring the depths of their inner world feels like entering a similar dark unknown that also stirs much angst. And areas of our soul are kept locked away in the fear of opening Pandora’s box. But these deep movements of our soul are never completely repressed – eventually taking their toll on the rest of our life. For some this might lead to anxiety or depression, while for others it might lead to living a double life to manage the secrets we keep even from ourselves.
A better approach is the courage to face the unknown within. But this is not a journey we have to take alone. Our trusted others can walk with us through those dark places. And our faith keeps us grounded as well. We can trust in the basic truths revealed by God regardless of whatever else we discover along the way. As such, we don’t have to live in fear of what we might find once we open Pandora’s box, as our relationship with God remains secure.
Of course, this doesn’t make the dark more comfortable per se. But it does give us greater confidence as we enter.
In the end, it’s a scary thing to face the unknown parts within yourself. But find a trusted other and walk by faith. The freedom and life on the other side are worth the discomfort and angst along the way.
Photo by SaLam Ullah on Pexels
