Proper Darkness

Have you been watching the BBC programme Stargazing Live? I have missed the first 2 evenings, but hope to catch some of it this evening. Tonight, they plan to discuss the effects of light pollution. Apparently, we have so much artificial light around that it makes seeing the stars (and planets) difficult. To see the sky properly at night, we need proper darkness.
But most of us don't like proper darkness, so we switch the lights on.
More seriously, for many, life itself can be a time of proper darkness. Switching on the lights is much more difficult when the darkness is spiritual or psychological.
It is quite surprising that the Psalms speak of the darkness which is everywhere.
'You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
      Darkness is my closest friend.' (Psalm 88.18)
This, the bleakest of all the Psalms, has barely any glimmer of light to bring hope. But this is how it is for many, at times of deep despair.
Jesus himself, while hanging on the cross, quoted from Psalm 22, which starts, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?' (Psalm 22.1) This psalm turns from darkness to light, so that later we can read, 'The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. ' (Psalm 22.26)
It is quite startling that many people of faith, particularly some notable great saints, have written about 'the dark night of the soul', when God seems distant, and prayer is difficult.
What do we do when the darkness seems to be winning?
Sometimes, there may be obvious causes, which we can address - such as bad lifestyle choices, and deliberate disobedience to the will of God. But often, the darkness may have no human cause that we can identify. The experience of those far wiser than me is that these are times of testing in which we can deliberately draw close to the God we cannot see, and cast ourselves on his mercy again. At the end of all things, only God can save us.
Mark's Gospel tells us, 'The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.' (Mark 1.12-13)
Best wishes,
Richard