"She was rather melancholy, but hoped as much as she could, and when she could not hope did not stand still, but walked on in the dark. I think when the sun rises upon them, some people will be astonished to find how far they have got in the dark."
George MacDonald

As Christians we are being conformed more and more into the image of Christ on our spiritual journey or quest. Our Lord Himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

"For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:6

"Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
John 8:12

Living in darkness means living without God. Yet we can still have the light of Christ in our hearts and be in a place where there is darkness around us. To be persecuted for righteousness sake, to hunger and thirst for righteousness in a dry and barren land without water, to be in famine of the Bread of Life, the Word of God will make anyone melancholy. But our hope is in Christ and not in ourselves. We keep walking the walk, talking the talk. We live by faith and not by sight. But sometimes darkness is in our own hearts when we don't trust fully in God and rely on ourselves. It's God working in us to accomplish His will; we just have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The darkness will soon come to an end. It's amazing how far we can go in life with all the darkness of sin in and around us, but they who endure to the end will be saved.

"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them."
Isaiah 9:2