The Light in the midst of Darkness: Inspired by Matthew Perry and Psalm 139

The Light in the Midst of Darkness: Inspired by Matthew Perry and Psalm 139

Psalm 139:12 says, "Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you."

Have you ever been in a cave, surrounded by an all-encompassing darkness? When you turn off your headlamp, you can't even sense your hand in front of your face. This is the kind of darkness that this verse speaks to.

Have you felt this darkness in your own life? The recent news of Matthew Perry's struggles and untimely death reminds me of this darkness. It reminds me of the hidden pain that many people carry within the walls of the church. Often, individuals suffer alone, hiding from the added shame of not living up to the church's standards. But this verse reminds us that God's presence and understanding extend even to the darkest corners of our lives. The walls of church buildings and religiosity cannot keep out His light. But here's the thing in the church, we often find ourselves surrounded by people who appear to have it all together. This can create an environment where individuals feel compelled to hide their struggles, sins, and shame. Vulnerability becomes scarce. However, this is not the way God intended His church to be. Matthew Perry's courageous act of writing his book serves as a powerful reminder that vulnerability has the power to support and love one another. Instead of continuing to hide his shame, he took a step forward by sharing his pain.

Psalm 139 beautifully portrays God's omniscience and omnipresence. It reminds us that God sees and understands everything, even the darkest parts of our lives. Matthew Perry's decision to share his story demonstrates the transformative power of allowing God's light to shine through our brokenness. In his own words:

"I started to cry. I mean, I really started to cry - that shoulder-shaking kind of uncontrollable weeping. I wasn't crying because I was sad. I was crying because, for the first time in my life, I felt okay. I felt safe, taken care of. Decades of struggling with God and wrestling with life and sadness were being washed away, like a river of pain gone into oblivion. I had been in the presence of God. I was certain of it."

When we hide our shame, we inadvertently isolate ourselves from love and support. Unfortunately, this isolation is often more prevalent within the Christian community. This hurts us. This needs to change. Matthew Perry shared his struggles with addiction and mental health, and it opened the door for others to do the same. Can't we learn from this too? When we choose vulnerability within the church, we create an environment where others feel safe to share their own shame and struggles. This is desperately needed.

As Christ followers, it is our responsibility to foster an environment where people feel safe to share their shame and struggles. We must encourage grace, understanding, and acceptance, recognizing that we are all imperfect and in need of God's mercy. By doing this, we can help break the cycle of shame and create a community that reflects the living God, rather than a mere church organization.

Finally, Matthew Perry's journey reminds us of our own need to take responsibility for our hiding and shame, so that we can extend hope to others. By sharing our own broken stories and the grace and redemption we have received, we can support those who are struggling. We can help others find healing and freedom from shame.

In conclusion, let's remember two things. First, the joy and laughter that Matthew Perry brought to our hearts through his iconic role in Friends. Our God created a talented young actor in Matthew, and our hearts surely love and heal from good, solid laughter. Second, God's light is not hindered by our darkness. He sees you in the cave. Your hand is not dark to Him. Your story can become His story of healing and restoration, reflecting God's light to those who desperately need it.

Surely, darkness is as light to You.