Dealing with Darkness

Let Jeremiah Show Us the Light

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash

I’m reading Quarks of Light, What I Saw That Opened My Heart. Rob A. Gentile wrote the memoir about his experience as the parent of a special-needs child, managing his career, and living through massive health issues, including a heart transplant. It’s a phenomenal book and well worth buying and reading.

Rob’s been to the other side and back; his story is one of the best I’ve heard. I read stories like his when I get sick of the suck of life I see around us, and I always feel inspired again, renewed with hope. If you’re dealing with darkness, I pray my article helps you and those you love.

Suffering Is the Gateway

If there is one gate through which all of us will pass, it’s suffering. For me, suffering has become the springboard to courage. Suffering has been the darkness that compels me to search for light. Suffering is the path to finding the light of which we are made. Suffering helped me to surrender and take on the co-pilot role on a day-to-day basis. It turns out none of us are ever alone when we suffer, and Rob’s story is living proof.

The suffering Rob describes enduring is beyond belief. The way his faith in God grows through his trials reinforces my faith and hope for humanity despite the fact we rip at each other, forgetting we’re mostly the same, wanting the same things, and struggling with our suffering without remembering the entire purpose of being here is to love. The book is easy to read because it’s written from a place of complete humility, love, and understanding of the human condition and a God of our understanding.

After describing the circumstances leading up to his admission to the hospital for his heart transplant, Rob shares one of his journal entries about a third of the way into the book. “It seems all human beings suffer from the problem of sustaining faith, sometimes from one moment to the next. Why do we lose our faith so easily when we struggle through challenging times and can’t seem to accept or recognize when God moves in our lives? We give control of our thoughts to the enemy of our soul when negative things happening, allowing fear and anxiety to darken our minds. The darkness dilutes our faith and blinds us to the power of God’s presence. God showed up the night of my heart attack, working through the doctors, Patel, Bajwa, and Carson; it is so easy to forget after a brief period. Maybe what we think we are faltering steps or weakness are really invitations to God’s presence.”

Rob then shares the Bible verse in his daily journal, written by Jeremiah, the “Weeping Prophet.”

Meet the Weeping Prophet

Jeremiah, often called the “Weeping Prophet,” was a seminal figure in the Judeo-Christian tradition whose ministry occurred between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Situated primarily in Jerusalem, he lived through tumultuous times that included the invasion by the Babylonian Empire and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Jeremiah’s central messages focused on repentance and a return to ethical monotheism as he railed against the idolatrous practices and social injustices that had taken hold among the people of Judah. His prophecies, recorded in the Book of Jeremiah in the Hebrew Bible, are filled with vivid imagery and lamentation, often expressing deep personal anguish over the fate of his people and his challenging role as a prophet.

One of the unique features of Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry was the autobiographical tone that underlies much of his work. Unlike other prophets who predominantly spoke the words of God, Jeremiah often inserted his struggles and dialogues with God into his writings. This makes the book of Jeremiah a collection of divine proclamations and an intimate portrait of a man grappling with the existential burden of his vocation (Freedman, David Noel, ed. “The Anchor Bible Dictionary.” New York: Doubleday, 1992).

Jeremiah employed various methods to convey his messages, including symbolic acts like wearing a yoke to represent the impending subjugation by Babylon and poetic oracles that portrayed the divine-human relationship regarding a broken marriage. His use of language and symbolism was masterful, aimed to jolt his audience out of complacency and stir them to spiritual and ethical renewal.

In the theological landscape, Jeremiah’s contributions were manifold. He emphasized the concept of a “new covenant,” predicting a time when God’s laws would be written directly onto the people’s hearts, bypassing the need for external codifications like the Mosaic Law (Jeremiah 31:31–34). This idea significantly influenced later Christian thought and is often cited in the New Testament.

Jeremiah was a complex, multi-dimensional figure whose messages still resonate today, providing deep insights into the human condition and our relationship with the divine. His teachings are relevant to societal reform, ethical responsibility, and spiritual transformation.

The Metaphysics of Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 carries profound metaphysical and psychological significance, even for people who may not identify with the Christian tradition. At its core, the verse embodies the concept of a predestined plan or a grand design. This idea resonates with religious-minded people and those of us who explore the realms of metaphysics and philosophy.

From a metaphysical standpoint, this verse suggests a universal plan governed by a higher intelligence, whether one considers that to be God, the Universe, or a cosmic consciousness. It aligns well with the concept of ‘telos,’ an end or a purpose in philosophy, explored by thinkers like Aristotle. In ‌Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle emphasizes that everything has a purpose or a ‘final cause’ (Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics,” Book I). When humans align with this purpose, we experience personal well-being and contribute to a greater cosmic harmony.

On the psychological level, this verse offers a framework for hope and resilience. Cognitive psychologists like Martin Seligman have shown that a future-oriented positive outlook — termed ‘optimism’ — is linked to better health outcomes and longer life (Seligman, M. E. P. (1991). “Learned Optimism”). The verse encourages individuals to trust the process and the ‘grand plan,’ even when faced with adversity. It aligns closely with the concept of ‘meaning-making,’ a term often used in existential psychology to describe the human tendency to derive patterns and significance from life events.

For life application, this verse serves as a reminder to approach life’s complexities with a sense of purpose and hope, even if the present moment seems bleak. Whether through religion, metaphysics, or psychology, the idea promotes spiritual well-being and mental health. It is akin to the Stoic notion of ‘amor fati,’ or the love of one’s fate, which suggests embracing life in its totality, both its ups and downs (Epictetus, “Enchiridion”).

If you’re dealing with darkness, know there are people around us who carry the love and light of God, and we will share it. You will feel it amid the sea of humanity, fast asleep and unaware of the most extraordinary power of all and the One we share.

In closing, it’s always best to take a holistic perspective in your journey to transcend suffering and find joy. Whether it’s a book about people who have been to the other side and come back to share their love, hope, and faith, an inspiring spiritual verse, or the glance of a stranger who looks you in the eyes, may you transcend your suffering and be the light that transcends and loves all. That’s one way to remember you are never alone.