This verse is really encouraging to me. It's important to remember that the darkness cannot overcome the light. That tells me, simply, that no matter how dark it gets, the light of God shines brighter. My husband and I were talking the other day about the media, and how it really is getting dark. It's no shock to most believers that persecution in this country is going to reach new levels. (on a side note, thankfully, where we have only experienced intolerance at our worst, in other places they have faced true persecution- exile, rejection even death. To even call it "persecution" in the states almost seems ridiculous) Nevertheless, it's getting darker. Even Christians are masking areas of their faith because of a desire to be socially acceptable. Now, I do not think believers need to go around blasting their beliefs and alienating the lost- not why we're here. Jesus went to seek and save them, as we should, too. BUt we're not meant to blend. Sure, it's getting dark, and it will get darker- but the darkness- even in those countries where the persecution is real and intense- will NEVER overcome the light. It can't. That's awesome. I want that light of God to be bright in me- not penetrable by the darkness around me.

John 1:5