Yesterday, I started scrolling through Facebook, and it wasn’t long before I was seeing a lot of posts with the hashtag “#blacklivesmatter." At that point in the day, I hadn’t yet heard how a police officer had shot a black man. I hadn’t heard that it had been caught on video. But it certainly didn’t take me long to look at the news and begin to understand what had happened; it wasn’t much longer after that when suddenly posts about Dallas began showing up. First, a white man shot a black man, then a black man shot more white men. My heart broke at the realization that racism does still exist. Prejudice still exists. And just because we don’t feel it personally doesn’t make it any less real for someone else. We may have come far as a nation in the last 150 years, but we aren’t there yet; the battle isn’t over yet.

Look back to just a few weeks ago, and there’s the continuing battle against sexual violence, white privilege and terrorism. It seems as if it is one tragedy after another, and it is so easy to believe that it’s hopeless, that we are too far gone as a nation, that darkness has swallowed us and there is no hope. Yet in the midst of so much darkness, one sentence comes to mind again and again: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). The darkness has not overcome.

A day is coming when every tear will be wiped away, the sounds of mourning will be replaced with shouts of rejoicing and we will stand in awe as our King comes to us once more, this time for eternity. Yet until that day comes, we must continue to place one foot in front of the other and find a way to carry on in the midst of darkness without succumbing to it. We must remember to look upwards to our king, rejoicing because his light has ultimately already won. And we must take that truth to heart and strive to live as children of the light within a dark and twisted world.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21

Hate does not conquer hate. Anger and bitterness do not overcome violence. Judgment does not triumph prejudice. And darkness cannot be conquered by more darkness; the only way to overcome darkness is by shining a light into it, and as God’s children, we are called to be a light. Christ is the true light of the world; we are supposed to let him shine through us, we are supposed to be a lamp on a stand, lighting the way for others and bringing hope to a lost and broken world. We are called to mourn with those who mourn. Weep with those who weep. Fight injustice. Risk everything for the sake of our brother. This is our calling as God’s children, as children of light and the only way to overcome darkness is by stepping into that calling with boldness. We should be pointing others right into the open arms of the Savior by lovingly embracing them ourselves.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do nor curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position… If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12: 9-16, 20-21

This is our calling within darkness. This is our mission. It is simple, yet it is so important. May we love without hindrance, embrace without restraint and boldly let Christ shine through us.