This verse reminds our enemies not to gloat when we fail, because our God never deserts us, never forsakes us, never leaves us alone. When we fall, and sit in darkness, He will be a light to us, to show us the way back to Him.

However, this verse isn't just a reminder to our enemies; it is also a reminder to us. Notice that it says when, not if. God worded it that way deliberately. We are all going to fall. There is no "if" about it. No one is perfect, no one is without sin.

Somehow, the world looks at Christians and expects us to be perfect, and any failure on our part justifies all the stereotypes of hypocrisy that they love to throw in our faces. But worse than that, we expect perfection in ourselves. When we fall, we beat ourselves up, even question whether or not we are really saved. Surely if we were truly good Christians we wouldn't keep on falling into sin.

But the Bible says there is none good, except for God himself.

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (Mark 10:18)

Yes, that's right: there is no one who can call himself good, except God. Even Christians fall - every single one of us. But oh, enemy, don't rejoice. Don't gloat when we fall, because our God will not let us stay in darkness. He found us when we were completely dead in our sins, before we ever knew Him, before we ever accepted His son Jesus as our Lord and Savior. How much more diligently will He seek us out now that we belong to Him, through Jesus Christ our Lord?

But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)

I don't know about you, but these verses give me great comfort. They give me hope, and the strength to get back up and try again when I fall, every time. How wonderful that God already knows we're going to fall, and has already planned to pick us back up when we do!