“Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
being bound in affliction and iron
because they rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High:
therefore he brought down their heart with labor;
they fell down, and there was none to help.”
Psalm 107:10-12

The Word of God is light, and those who reject it cannot help but be in darkness. Many who reject God’s Word live in anger, bound in chains of bitterness.

“And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light
and does not come to the light,
LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE EXPOSED.”
John 3:19-20

The Word of God pierces the heart and sheds light on the evil within man. Because of that, many reject the Word because they can’t stand it exposing their sin. They cling to it and want nothing to do with the light that exposes it. That leads to despair.

Some will finally come to the conclusion that they just can’t stay there, the darkness is too dark. They have a choice: stay as they are and die, or surrender to the Word of God and find salvation.

“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them out of their distresses.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and broke their chains in pieces.”
Psalm 107:13-14

The pride of man is the most difficult thing in life to let go of. Oh if only they could know how surrender brings peace.

Should a man be brought so low that he has no way out, and should he choose surrender, in the light of surrender he will find mercy.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God…”
Romans 10:22

You can’t have one without the other.