In Sacred Darkness: Encountering Divine Love in Life's Darkest Places, Paul Coutinho, SJ, examines how many Christians are fearful of dark times and struggles, yet it is often darkness that sheds light on our world and helps us live more effectively and more fully in the painful situations of our lives. Throughout the book, Coutinho shares powerful stories of how darkness can empower others—for example, how an abused woman comes to terms with her painful past and reemerges as an apostle to others who have been victimized. Coutinho also relates his own personal experiences of darkness, including a face-to-face experience with God during the black of night when he was feeling most bleak.