Many years ago, we had a dear friend who became like a grandmother to our young children, since our own families were many miles away and she had no children of her own.

Edna told us of her husband, who had long since passed away, and the faith he had. As he neared death, he recalled a dog he’d had as a boy. One time, he’d been in a dark shed. He called to his dog. Without hesitation, the dog entered the shed, even though he couldn’t see his young master. The dog knew his master’s voice and was unafraid to follow.

“That’s how I feel now,” he told Edna. “I know my master’s voice, and He’s calling me. I’m not afraid to die because I know Jesus is waiting for me.”

What a powerful testimony of how God reaches out to us, not just in death but throughout life. As Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, “God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves. His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven” (Colossians 1:13-14, GW).

Whatever darkness you may be facing today, you can know that He will be with you as you go through it, whether it be sickness or death, physical storms or relational turmoil, emotional trauma or worldly temptations. God wants to rescue you and bring you into the light of the Son.