How to Shine God’s Light in a Season That Glorifies Darkness

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As October fills with ghost stories and images of darkness, it’s easy to forget that the
word spirit once meant something sacred—something living and full of light. While our culture delights in what’s eerie or unseen, Scripture reminds us that the unseen world is not to be feared. God’s Spirit moves within and around us, not as a shadow to escape, but as peace to embrace.

This week, Halloween decorations are everywhere. I can’t even go to the grocery store or medical lab without seeing dancing Jack-O-Lanterns, sinister smiles, witches brewing a boil over a cauldron, or horror films streaming ghosts, spirits, and supernatural thrillers. Our world seems to celebrate and almost praise this darkness. We see a genuine interest not just in entertainment, but in surrounding fear and fascination.

Believe it or not, spirits are mentioned in Scripture. Not only that, but things like witchcraft, fortune tellers, mediums, demons, and astrologers aren’t new. And yet, long before”spirit” became all about evil, it represented something truly sacred. If their generation learned to see the beauty in this term, maybe we should, too.

When the world leans into fear, can we slow down long enough to remember the One whose presence drives out all darkness—whose Spirit makes even the unseen a place of rest and hope?

What We Celebrate and What We Forget

While October is a beautiful season, and I’m all for festive fun, it’s also a time of year when people (and the media) often glorify what’s demonic, creepy, and haunted. Now, more than ever, individuals are curious about things like astrology, horoscopes, and ghost lore, looking for answers and connections in all the wrong places.

Let me be clear: The Bible doesn’t deny the existence of spiritual realities. Remember Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (NIV).  Rather, Scripture provides context and understanding. The Spirit of God and the Spirit of evil are two very different things. What matters is that God’s light, the Holy Spirit, reigns. And unlike ghosts and demons, the Spirit of God isn’t something to fear, but embrace:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV).