In John 17:18 Jesus prayed for his disciples. He prayed for us because we being SENT into the world in the same way that he was sent into the world. First, he rescues out of the world/out of darkness and then he sends us back into darkness to shine bright and point others to Jesus. Being Sent INTO DARKNESS is not for the faint of heart. We will need his protection and his sanctifying presence in order to shine in the darkness.