Darkness Then Light: Stories of Illumination for the Season of Advent

by Christianity Today, Ronnie Martin (Editor), Jill De Haan (Illustrator)

Darkness, Then Light is a 4-week devotional to help individuals, small groups, and families journey through the 2025 Advent season.

This Advent devotional features 25 readings with weekly reflections, making group discussion and individual meditation a rich, thoughtful experience.

Genres: Nonfiction

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some really amazing insights and personal reflections about the advent season to be found in this book. A friend gave me a copy and I’ve been reading a few entries each day, savoring each one.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of these stories were deeply touching to me. Some of the days were just okay, or they spoke abstractly without really contributing much to the devotional overall. I don’t know if I would use this devotional again in the near future, but I would definitely share it with a friend (esp those who may find longer devos challenging).

I had two wishes while reading this book:
1) more scriptural content. Most of the daily devotionals had Scripture incorporated at least somewhat, but I recall more than once that there was not even a reference to a passage for further study/encouragement. I would have really appreciated that! I took a break from my usual devotional (New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp) for Advent, and found myself wanting for more from Darkness Then Light.
2) more variety in authors, in two senses. First, for there to have been more women contributors. There are so many women in the church whose giftings and wisdom have been overlooked on account of their sex. The inclusion of more of these women would have strengthened the devotional, I’m certain. Second, ecumenically: the majority of the authors were Baptist, Southern Baptist, maybe Presbyterian, or nondenominational. We had at least one Anglican and another Reformed, but I would have liked to hear from our brothers and sisters across more denominations.

My complaints may seem lengthy, but I meant the 4 stars. I did appreciate that the authors served in a variety of ministerial positions: professors or lecturers, pastors, directors in other kinds of ministry, authors, and more.

P.S. I have the privilege of knowing two authors from this book personally! They are wonderful pastors and a true blessing to my community.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Advent devotional, Darkness Then Light, a variety of Christian authors’ devotions (“stories of illumination”) are presented to lead up to Christmas Day. What starts as rather heavy and dark with just a pinprick of light gradually illuminates the reader as the Light of the World bursts forth in glorious splendor. This is a devotional to read and ponder again and again.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot more out of this book than I expected. Published by Christianity Today, it was offered in an email I received from them, so I bought a copy for my Advent devotions. I was most definitely not disappointed. Of course, not all of the readings moved me, but many of them did, and some of them to tears.

There are 25 devotions in this book, each written by a different author, with a sort of recap/reflection at the end of each week. It worked perfectly for 2025, with the number of days between the first Sunday of Advent and Christmas Day, but it wouldn't always be that way. That makes me wonder if they will publsih a new one next year, based on the calendar.

The theme of the readings is described by the title. Each author describes a bit of darkness from their life, followed by a way that the light shined into it. The first devotion is written by Chad Bird, so we got off to a good start. in it, he wrote, "No matter how fierce the growl of midnight grief, it whimpers in defeat when dawn begins to laugh." The lyrical nature of that quote reminds me greatly of a favorite author of mine, Eugene H. Peterson.

One reading reminded us to do whatever it takes to "bend toward the light." Then on Friday of the last full week of advent, Ronni Kurtz wrote this bombshell. "For many of us, a darkness lingers in the crevasses of our souls, showing itself as a crippling feedback loop of self-degradation." I felt utterly seen! This was me, for the past decade or so, believing that the Gospel was true, but that the love of God was for other people more than it was for me. "Often, I can believe these realities for you, but the darkness inside makes it difficult to see how any of them can be true for me." Then a few paragraphs later, he wrote, "The illuminating work of God can be like fireworks that light up the sky and give light to all who look up. But for each of us with a dreadful inner voice, at times the illuminating gospel is more importantly a surgeon, taking the scalpel of Christ's life, death, and victorious resurrection to the inward darkness, the crevasses of the soul."

That night, the light of Christ shined into the crevasses of my soul and chased that darkness away!

I know . . . this is supposed to be a book review, not a testimony. I'm not sorry. Because Christ used this beautiful book to work another transformation in my soul.

I don't know if it is still available, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling with any kind of darkness in their soul.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all collections like this, some of the reflections are far better than others. At least one of the authors (who is also the editor), Ronnie Martin, is a superior storyteller.

I echo the reviewer who noted that it would have been nice to include more women’s voices, as only four of the 25 reflections came from women.

I enjoyed the reflection questions at the end of each week, as they were good prompts for further thinking.

[Emma Hughes]

we read CT's advent devotional pretty much every year since we get it for free with our magazine subscription. really enjoyed this year's, featuring stories of the light of advent entering real darkness in peoples' lives.

[Madelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written so well. These stories of illumination for the season of advent tell how Jesus sits with us in the darkness and grief of our lives and then in his person of the baby brings light into the world.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I have read better, more meaningful Advent devotionals.

[Jamie Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little devotional. I wish there were more diversity in its authors.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the advent season. Each reading was short enough to get through in a small amount of time, yet each also pointed to the reason for the Christmas season.

[Chrissy Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this for advent season!