Eclipse of the Soul

Have you ever seen a solar eclipse?  A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. People located in the center of the Moon’s shadow when it hits earth will experience a total eclipse.  Also, the sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.

A person may experience an eclipse of the soul when sorrow, pain, and discouragement steals their hope.  Peter had denied his Lord, the rooster crowed, the Savior looked, and then Peter wept bitterly.  He followed the Savior afar off.  He watched the proceedings.  Jesus is tried, beaten, and taken to the cross where He is crucified and then dies.  I can only imagine the darkness in Peter’s soul. He weeps until he can’t shed another tear.  He loses his appetite, guilt weighs heavy on him, his sleep is interrupted by tormented nightmares.  Ashamed to show his face in public, Peter faces 3 days of an eclipse of his soul.  Then Sunday morning dawns and the unbelievable happens.  Jesus has risen from the tomb.  The fact of the resurrection of Christ changes everything for Peter.  The Son is shining again.

Peter is not the only believer to experience a dark night of the soul.  Loss of a loved one, a terminal illness, getting fired, a disabled child, or a financial crisis are all things that creep over us like a dark shadow.  Our circumstances can even cause us to slip into depression.  During these times of eclipse we may lose hope, lose our joy, and lose our sense of purpose.  However, we like Peter can have our joyful hope restored.  The eclipse of Peter’s soul was broken by truth.  Acts 1:3 reminds us: “…He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God”. 

We must remember that above those dark skies of our eclipse the Son is there, shining brightly.  Jesus is alive and dispels for us any clouds of doubt.  His resurrection clarifies for us our vital mission to be His witnesses to the whole world.