Shine Brighter

Taking Back Autumn

Autumn has always felt special to me.

The air begins to cool. The leaves change. We pull out the sweaters, make warm drinks, open the windows, and spend a little more time outside. It is one of my favorite times of the year. I especially love walking through my neighborhood during this season and praying.

But somewhere along the way, October became almost synonymous with darkness.

Death. Fear. Horror. Demons. Skeletons. Haunted houses. Images of darkness seem to grow more prominent every year as October approaches.

And I’ve been thinking: Why have we surrendered an entire season to darkness?

Autumn does not belong to the enemy. God created it.

In fact, long before our modern celebrations existed, God had already marked this season with His own appointed times. The biblical fall feasts—Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles—were woven into Israel's calendar by God Himself.

They spoke of remembrance, repentance, God's presence, gathering, thanksgiving and, particularly with Tabernacles, rejoicing before the Lord.

Autumn was never inherently a season of death and fear.

It was a season marked by God.

Maybe instead of allowing darkness to define October, the people of God should remember who we are.

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Notice what the light doesn't do.

It doesn't cower because darkness appears. It doesn't retreat. It doesn't surrender territory.

It shines.

I think sometimes Christians can become so focused on avoiding darkness that we forget we carry Light. We were never called to be afraid of darkness. Jesus called us the light of the world.

So what if we approached autumn differently?

What if October became a month in which we intentionally released life instead of death, peace instead of fear, blessing instead of cursing, and joy instead of dread?

When I walk through my neighborhood during this season, I love to pray over the homes and families around me. I release blessings over my territory. I pray for peace, joy, reconciliation, healing, restored relationships, and encounters with the goodness of God.

I don't have to be afraid of what anyone else may be celebrating.

I know what I'm celebrating.

I am celebrating the goodness of God, His creation, changing leaves, cool mornings, and beautiful sunsets. I'm celebrating warm drinks, comfortable clothes, long walks, conversations around tables, and the simple joy of being alive. And everywhere I go, I have an opportunity to carry His presence with me.

Perhaps taking back October doesn't require us to become louder about what we're against.

Perhaps it means becoming much more intentional about what we're for.

Life. Joy. Peace. Beauty. Reconciliation. The presence of God. The Kingdom of Heaven.

We don't need to surrender a beautiful season because darkness has tried to put its name on it. So this autumn, don't cower. Don't surrender the season.

Go for the walk. Drink the coffee. Enjoy the cool air. Admire the changing leaves. Gather around the table. Pray over your neighborhood. Bless your community. Fill your home with joy. Worship. Give thanks.

And wherever darkness seems to grow louder—

shine brighter.

Because the light still shines in the darkness.

And the darkness has not overcome it.