This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti
Week 8: Human Courage and Divine Sovereignty — When the Story Seems to Be Losing
Read the sections depicting the lowest point for both Marshall and Hank — mounting losses, escalating opposition, apparent failure — before the tide begins to turn. Key Scripture: Psalm 46; Romans 8:28; Habakkuk 3:17-19; 2 Chronicles 20:1-22.
Previewing Week 8 of This Present Darkness
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Before the breakthrough comes the darkness — and how characters respond in the darkness reveals what they actually believe about God.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Both Hank and Marshall reach a point in the novel where the situation appears hopeless — the conspiracy has gained the upper hand, key allies have been neutralized, and the enemy seems to be winning. Have you ever been in a season of life where the spiritual situation around you felt similarly desperate? What was that like?
2.Peretti takes care not to give his protagonists an easy way out — they are not rescued by miraculous interventions that bypass their own courage and faithfulness. Instead, breakthrough comes through persistence, sacrifice, and continued trust in the face of apparent failure. How does this narrative pattern reflect the biblical 'already/not yet' dynamic — where God is sovereignly working, but calls His people to genuinely participate in that work?
3.Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-22 — Jehoshaphat's prayer and the sending out of singers ahead of the army. What is the spiritual logic of worshipping and trusting God before the battle is won? How does this passage illuminate what Peretti is depicting in the prayer meetings at Hank's church?