By Branden Lee - Take-away thoughts from the sermon preached March 22, 2026
Darkness has a way of unsettling us.
It disorients, confuses, and often brings with it a sense of fear or loss. But perhaps the most unsettling kind of darkness is the kind that doesn’t make sense—the kind that shows up when light should be at its strongest.
That’s exactly what happened at the cross.
According to the Gospel account, darkness fell over the land at noon—the brightest part of the day. This wasn’t natural. It wasn’t expected. It was deeply symbolic. At the very moment when light should have been strongest, darkness took over.And in that moment, it seemed like hope itself had been extinguished.
Jesus was dying. The One many believed to be the Savior hung on a cross. The world grew quiet, heavy, and dark. But what if that darkness wasn’t the end of hope?
What if it was the beginning?
The Paradox of the Cross
The cross turns everything upside down.
What looks like defeat is actually victory.
What feels like loss is actually gain.
What appears to be darkness is actually the birthplace of light.
This is the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith.
The darkness that covered the land was not a sign that God had stepped away—it was a sign that God was doing His deepest work. Sin was being judged. Mercy was being released. Redemption was being accomplished.
What looked like silence was actually sacrifice. What appeared to be the end was, in reality, a beginning. This is why Christians call it Good Friday. Not because it looked good in the moment—but because we know what came from it. Friday is good because Sunday is coming. Sunday is coming!
When Darkness Feels Personal
That moment at the cross isn’t just theological—it’s deeply personal. Personal, because we all experience our own versions of darkness.
Moments when life feels heavy. Seasons when prayers seem unanswered. Times when God feels distant or silent.
And in those moments, we often assume the worst: that God has left us, that something has gone wrong, that the darkness is winning. But the cross tells a different story. It reminds us that what feels like God’s absence may actually be His presence at work in ways we cannot yet see.
The darkness you are walking through is not proof that God has abandoned you—it may be the very place where He is shaping you, refining you, and drawing you closer.
A Cry from the Cross
Do you remember that moment darkness loomed greatest at the cross: it was when Jesus broke the silence as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
At first glance, it sounds like despair. It sounds like abandonment. It sounds like faith is slipping. But it’s actually something much deeper. Jesus is echoing an ancient psalm—a cry that begins in anguish but ends in trust. Even in His suffering, He does not let go of God. He still says, “My God.”
And in that, we see another paradox: What feels like abandonment is actually a profound expression of faith. Jesus enters into the deepest human experience of separation so that we would never have to face it alone.
The cross reshapes our understanding of faith. Faith is not the absence of doubt. It’s not pretending everything is okay. It’s not having all the answers. Faith is holding on—even when everything feels uncertain. It is crying out to God from within the darkness, not waiting until the light returns.
If you’ve ever prayed through tears, wrestled with questions, or whispered, “God, where are You?”—you are not failing in faith - You are walking in it. Real faith doesn’t ignore pain—it brings it to God.
Why We Have Hope through Darkness
Because of the cross, darkness no longer has the final word.
Darkness is not abandonment: Jesus was forsaken so that we never would be.
Darkness is not meaningless: God used the darkest moment in history to accomplish the greatest good.
Darkness is not final: The story didn’t end on Friday—resurrection was coming.
Darkness does not win: What looked like defeat was actually victory over sin and death.
The message of the cross is not that we will avoid darkness—it’s that darkness will not overcome us. Jesus did not escape the darkness. He entered it. He endured it. And He overcame it. And because He did, we can hold on.
When life feels confusing—hold on.
When prayers feel unanswered—hold on.
When faith feels fragile—hold on.
Jesus shows us that genuine faith speaks from pain just as much as it speaks from praise. If you are suffering and still praying, even if your prayers are raw… disorganized… inquisitive… or just a scramble of feelings from your heart. You are not failing in faith. You are following Christ.
So cling to the One who stepped into darkness on your behalf. Call out to “My God,” even when your voice shakes. Trust that even when you cannot see it, God is still working.
The Light Has Already Won
The cross assures us of something we desperately need to remember:
Darkness may linger—but it does not rule.
Silence may press in—but it does not win.
Death may appear to triumph—but it cannot hold what Christ resurrects.
Because of Jesus is The Light, light has already broken through. So whatever darkness you are facing today, take heart. This is not the end of your story. Because of the cross, look to Jesus and to live your lives in obedience to the one who experienced the utmost darkness so we can experience the light of the world. That’s what we see when we look intently to the cross: Hope lives. And because of the resurrection, Hope is more alive than it’s ever been. Look to The Light – He loves you.
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