​Facing Our Dark Side

​Facing Our Dark Side

By José Maldonado

We all have a dark side. It’s the part of us that wants to hide sinful desires and actions, the side that whispers lies and leads us astray. Some call it the “assassin” because it sneaks into our lives and tries to sabotage our walk with God. It’s not easy to admit that this dark side exists, but the truth is, we all wrestle with it. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it only allows it to grow.

Here’s the key truth: whatever we feed will grow. If we feed the dark side, it gets stronger. But if we starve it and instead nourish our spirit with the good things of God, the darkness will weaken, and we can walk in freedom. So, how do we deal with the dark side? Let’s break it down step by step:

1. Awareness of the Dark Side
The first step is recognizing that the dark side exists. Pretending it’s not there or thinking we’re above it only gives it more power. The Apostle Paul said, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). Even Paul acknowledged his internal struggle. Being honest about the presence of this struggle in our lives is where the journey begins.

2. Feeding on the Good Stuff
Starving the dark side requires us to feed our spirit with the right things. This means spending time in Scripture, prayer, and worship. God’s Word is the nourishment our soul needs to thrive. Just as our bodies need food to survive, our spirit needs the truth of God to grow stronger. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” The more we immerse ourselves in the Word, the less room for the dark side to thrive.

3. Recognizing the Promises of the Dark Side
The dark side often disguises itself with empty promises. It tries to lure us in by making sin seem appealing or harmless. But those promises are lies. To recognize the counterfeit, we need to know the truth so well that the lies become obvious. This is how the Secret Service trains agents to detect counterfeit money—not by studying fakes, but by becoming intimately familiar with the real thing. In the same way, when we know God’s truth deeply, we can spot the lies of the dark side and resist them.

Walk by the Spirit
In Galatians 5:16, Paul gives us the ultimate solution: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Walking by the Spirit means surrendering to God daily, allowing Him to guide our steps, transform our thoughts, and shape our desires. It’s not something we do once—it’s a daily decision to choose God over the dark side.

Dealing with our dark side isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about choosing to feed our spirit, starve the darkness, and walk by the Spirit, trusting that God is transforming us daily.

So, we can take a moment to reflect. What are we feeding? Are we strengthening the dark side or nurturing the Spirit within you? We need to ask God to help us be aware, to give us a hunger for His Word, and to sharpen our ability to recognize truth from lies.
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We can starve the dark side and walk in the light of God’s truth.