--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet why all this resistance? Why this…" description: "\"“Yet why all this resistance? Why this powerful attraction to the darkness? Jesus says, “Everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_darkness_yet-why-all-this-resistance-why-this-pow_1864913.jpg" --- # Yet why all this resistance? Why this powerful attraction… ![“Yet why all this resistance? Why this powerful attraction to the darkness? Jesus says, “Everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up; but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in…” quote by Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_darkness_yet-why-all-this-resistance-why-this-pow_1864913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_darkness_yet-why-all-this-resistance-why-this-pow_1864913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/henri-j-m-nouwen-4122_darkness_yet-why-all-this-resistance-why-this-pow_1864913.jpg) > ““Yet why all this resistance? Why this powerful attraction to the darkness? Jesus says, “Everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up; but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God” (John 3:20–21). That is an answer to my question. I do often prefer my darkness to God’s light. I prefer to hang on to my sinful ways because they give me some satisfaction, some sense of self, some feeling of importance. I know quite well that moving into God’s light requires me to let go of all these limited pleasures and no longer to see my life as made by me, but as given by God. Living in the light means acknowledging joyfully the truth that all that is good, beautiful, and worthy of praise belongs to God. It is only a truly God-centered life that will pull me out of my depressions and give me hope. It is a clear path, but a very hard path as well.”” [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True transformation requires leaving darkness, embracing God's light, and surrendering self‑centered pleasures. **In simple terms:** Leave sin, follow God’s light. Key Takeaway Seek truth and humility over selfish satisfaction. Themes spirituality redemption humility hope faith Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual counseling - prayer groups - mental health support Key Concepts sin light self‑sacrifice divine truth Questions to Reflect On - What comforts keep you in darkness? - How can you cultivate joy in divine truth? A Different Perspective The path is hard; human nature resists change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sense of self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-self/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Jesus says to Nicodemus, “though the light has come into the world, people have preferred darkness to the light” (John 3:19). In me I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/jesus-says-to-nicodemus-though-the-light-has-come-into-the-world/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [I prefer the darkness. It makes it harder for me to look around and see just how alone I really am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-prefer-the-darkness-it-makes-it-harder-for-me-to-look-around-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate to say it, but I am not used to travelling light. I always prefer being ready for any situation! So, a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-dutta/i-hate-to-say-it-but-i-am-not-used-to-travelling-light-i-always/) [Nikita Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-dutta/) > [But God's love is big enough to touch any life, to make light out of any darkness. Jesus came that we might have life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/but-god-s-love-is-big-enough-to-touch-any-life-to-make-light-out-of/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [Don’t be impressed by darkness. Jesus didn’t do the opposite of whatever the devil did. He did what He saw the Father doing… The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/don-t-be-impressed-by-darkness-jesus-didn-t-do-the-opposite-of/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [“Prayer helps us overcome the fear that is related to building our life just on the interpersonal—“What does he or she think of me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/prayer-helps-us-overcome-the-fear-that-is-related-to-building-our/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Addiction" might be the best word to explain the lostness that so deeply permeates society. Our addiction make us cling to what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/addiction-might-be-the-best-word-to-explain-the-lostness-that-so/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [It may seem dark at the moment, but don't lose hope. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, move and you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/it-may-seem-dark-at-the-moment-but-don-t-lose-hope-there-s-always-a/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Who is beyond me? Who cries at the other end of the day? God, where is the light? What have I done with it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/who-is-beyond-me-who-cries-at-the-other-end-of-the-day-god-where-is/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [From that high mount of God whence light and shade Spring both, the face of brightest heaven had changed To grateful twilight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/from-that-high-mount-of-god-whence-light-and-shade-spring-both-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [I want to be remembered as a man who was positive, who made a difference, and who walked in God's light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-b-sure/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-man-who-was-positive-who-made-a/) [Al B. Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-b-sure/) > [“God is the light bulb, to where faith is the light switch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/god-is-the-light-bulb-to-where-faith-is-the-light-switch/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Conversion will not be a single event or something that will last for just one season of life but will be a continuing process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/conversion-will-not-be-a-single-event-or-something-that-will-last-for/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [I'd rather walk in the dark with God than go alone in the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-walk-in-the-dark-with-god-than-go-alone-in-the-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When my mood was high, I seemed normal, even buoyant. I felt smarter. I had secrets. I could see God in a light bulb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/when-my-mood-was-high-i-seemed-normal-even-buoyant-i-felt-smarter-i/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) ## More by Henri J.M. Nouwen > [“Spiritual reading, therefore, is slow, deliberate, meditative reading in which we allow the words to penetrate our heart and question our spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/spiritual-reading-therefore-is-slow-deliberate-meditative-reading-in/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/the-mystery-of-ministry-is-that-we-have-been-chosen-to-make-our-own/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Jesus changes our history from a random series of sad incidents and accidents into a constant opportunity for a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/jesus-changes-our-history-from-a-random-series-of-sad-incidents-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Why should a man marry and have children, study and build a career; why should he invent new techniques, build new institutions, and develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/why-should-a-man-marry-and-have-children-study-and-build-a-career-why/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“It wasn't that the Gospel proved useful for my many worries but that the Gospel proved the uselessness of my worries and so refocused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/it-wasn-t-that-the-gospel-proved-useful-for-my-many-worries-but-that/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“But mortification - literally, "making death" - is what life is all about, a slow discovery of the mortality of all that is created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/but-mortification-literally-making-death-is-what-life-is-all-about-a/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Christians should put survival of the planet ahead of national security...Here is the mystery of our global responsibility: that we are in communion with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/christians-should-put-survival-of-the-planet-ahead-of-national/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“We want to live as people chosen, blessed, and broken, and thus become food for the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/we-want-to-live-as-people-chosen-blessed-and-broken-and-thus-become/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude, can feed many without even realizing it. Those who can sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/those-who-really-can-receive-bread-from-a-stranger-and-smile-in/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Whereas discipline without discipleship leads to rigid formalism, discipleship without discipline ends in sentimental romanticism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/whereas-discipline-without-discipleship-leads-to-rigid-formalism/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“When God makes a covenant with us, God says: 'I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/when-god-makes-a-covenant-with-us-god-says-i-will-love-you-with-an/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Am I afraid to die? I am every time I let myself be seduced by the noisy voices of my world telling me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/am-i-afraid-to-die-i-am-every-time-i-let-myself-be-seduced-by-the/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Our life is a short time in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/our-life-is-a-short-time-in-expectation-a-time-in-which-sadness-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Here the mystery of drinking the cup becomes clear. The coming and leaving of friends, the experiences of love and betrayal, of care and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/here-the-mystery-of-drinking-the-cup-becomes-clear-the-coming-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Thus, our brokenness can become a gateway to new life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/thus-our-brokenness-can-become-a-gateway-to-new-life/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) [Explore all 115 Henri J.M. Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Yet why all this resistance? Why this powerful attraction to the darkness? Jesus says, “Everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up; but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God” (John 3:20–21). That is an answer to my question. I do often prefer my darkness to God’s light. I prefer to hang on to my sinful ways because they give me some satisfaction, some sense of self, some feeling of importance. I know quite well that moving into God’s light requires me to let go of all these limited pleasures and no longer to see my life as made by me, but as given by God. Living in the light means acknowledging joyfully the truth that all that is good, beautiful, and worthy of praise belongs to God. It is only a truly God-centered life that will pull me out of my depressions and give me hope. It is a clear path, but a very hard path as well.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri J.M. 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