Most children are afraid of the dark. So, many years ago, I was surprised to discover that my 3-year-old son was not only unafraid, but could see through the darkness. One Super Bowl Sunday we had a few guests over for a party. It was snowing heavily, and during the game we had a power outage. In the darkness, our guests were shocked and virtually frozen in place. Yet my son, was undaunted. He made his way through the crowd with ease. When the power returned and the lights came on, he was on his way up the steps. He was determined to find the path to the light.
Being afraid of the dark is not just for children. According to clinical psychologist John Mayer Ph.D, “Fear of the dark is ‘very common’ among adults. It is estimated that 11 percent of the U.S. population is afraid of the dark, he says, noting that it’s even more common than fear of heights.”[1]
So the cure for fear of the dark is to find the light.
Lately our world has become very dark. Our lives have been disrupted by chaos and seemingly all our norms have vanished due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This virulent respiratory virus has killed and infected people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds around the globe. Singlehandedly, COVID-19 has changed our world in almost every way. We are all afraid of a dismal reality that there will be more death, because there is no cure in sight.
During an April 23 press briefing, President Donald Trump suggested that he was interested in exploring new potential novel coronavirus treatments, saying “Suppose we hit the body with a tremendous—whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light.” As unbelievable as this may have sounded, there is research being explored using light therapy. Cedars-Sinai Hospital is performing research on Healight, a UV light therapy for respiratory infections. “Aytu BioScience, Inc. has partnered with Cedars-Sinai to develop and commercialize its Healight Platform Technology, commonly known as Healight. The Healight technology delivers intermittent ultraviolet (UV) A light through an endotracheal catheter and according to the company, it is being studied as a potential treatment for coronavirus and other respiratory infections.”[2]
Light therapy can dispel the darkness of disease.
Today, despite our difficulties, we still have a light that shines through the darkness. This light can be used as therapy to help us overcome our hurt, grief, despair, disappointment and fear of sin and death. King David declared, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Ps.119:105. The Bible shines a light on our fears and assures us that there is hope and a future (Jer.29:11). God’s word is our guide that reminds us we should not be troubled (Jn.14:1). Jesus walks with us in the overwhelming waters disillusionment and despair. He is there through our fiery trials of job loss, social distancing and financial uncertainty (Is. 43:2). He even shares our grief in the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4). God’s word is the light that will dispel eternal darkness. So when you feel crowded by chaos, be undaunted. Remain determined to look up and find your therapeutic path to the light.
[1] Korin Miller, Glamour. “It’s Not Jut You: Lots of Adults Are Afraid of the Dark,” Feb. 15, 2017 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.glamour.com/story/its-not-just-you-lots-of-adults-are-afraid-of-the-dark/amp. Retrieved on May 13, 2020.
[2] Chaunie, Brusie, “UV Light Therapy is Being Studied as COVID-19 treatment at Cedars Sinai Hospital, News, nurse.org. April 27, 2020 https://nurse.org/articles/uv-light-therapy-coronavirus-covid19/. Retrieved on May 13, 2020.