Overwhelming darkness surrounded my soul,
Clouding my mind, smothering me,
I was losing control.
But out of darkness Jesus called me
Into His wonderful light.
Now I do not fear,
When the darkness is here
I know He’s shining on me

The Son of God is shining on me
Even if I cannot see behind this great cloud
I still believe
The Son of God is shining on me
Now I do not fear
I know Jesus is here

© 1996 Mary Etta Mohan

In January 1996, I was driving on a dark, cloudy day. I heard this voice telling me to end my life. Discouragement had gripped my soul. I had lost reason with reality. My life wasn’t as bad as my mind was telling me but I couldn’t get things into perspective. I am a Christian, this couldn’t be happening to me. Looking up into the dark sky I remember thinking, “I can’t do this to my children, they will have to live with the pain of this the rest of their lives. God, are You there? You’ve got to help me.”

In a flash, a tiny rim of sunshine peaked out only for a moment and encircled the clouds. Then God spoke to my broken heart “The sun is shining for you even when you cannot see.” That’s what faith is. Faith is believing even when I cannot see. I started singing, “The Son of God is shining, shining on me.” For the rest of my trip I sang these two lines and the darkness left. The darkness in my mind lifted right then. Things around me didn’t change but I was different. I wrote the rest of the song that day using the scriptures to confirm what I heard.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people: that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” Isaiah 9:2 says, “People living in darkness have seen a great light. In the shadow of death, a new day has dawned overcoming the night.”

I’ve asked God to use me to minister in music to the world. It’s imperative for me to go through trials so I can effectively know how those I’m singing to feel. The Bible says to expect adversity. It also says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” That’s me. I love God. I am called according to His purpose. This song is His message of hope to those in darkness. “He is still shinning through His son, Jesus Christ.”