Frank Peretti Says ‘This Present Darkness’ Is Just as Relevant 40 Years Later: ‘Prayer Works’
Four decades after This Present Darkness soared to the top of bestseller lists and reshaped the conversation about spiritual warfare, author Frank Peretti remains surprised by its success.
For a full year after its publication in 1986, he recalls, the supernatural thriller sat on shelves with few sales and little fanfare. Then it “took off like a rocket,” fueled in part by endorsements from Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith – then young stars at the forefront of the contemporary Christian music movement – who plugged it at their concerts.
“All it took was a nice big snowball to get it rolling, and the Lord did the rest,” Peretti told Crosswalk Headlines.
This Present Darkness follows the story of a newspaper reporter and pastor who uncover a secret plot to control their small town. The book set itself apart from other novels by revealing the unseen battles between angels and demons unfolding alongside the human drama.
Incredibly, 14 publishers rejected Peretti’s manuscript before one – Crossway – gave him a shot.
David C. Cook is releasing a special 40th-anniversary edition of the book in November.
Peretti, 75, says his goals for the story were simple: to help readers recognize the reality of the supernatural world and to discover the power of prayer.
“Back in the '80s, it was the encroachment of New Age paganism and neo-occultism coming into our culture, and so that was really easy to write about,” he said. “But it's appropriate now all the more. That stuff has become mainstream, and folks are still susceptible to that. They need to understand there's a spiritual side to that. There's a spiritual evil behind it and a deception. And so the book of 40 years ago is still appropriate today. It still says the same thing about the same thing.”
He wants readers to understand that prayer gives them an active role in spiritual warfare.
“Prayer works. That really sounds simple, so let's go a little more [deep]. Prayer is, in some way, some fashion, our communion with God. That's how we talk to Him, and He has given us that role to play in spiritual warfare. And I don't know exactly how it works, but I know God hears our prayers, and that He responds. … The Lord hears our prayers and He responds. The gist of the book is when there is spiritual warfare going on, you don't just sit there watching. You get involved. You pray about it. You speak the truth. You talk to God. You let Him lead. It's this huge dynamic that just keeps going, and we're a part of it.”
Christians, he said, need not fear evil.
“The Lord Jesus conquered it all,” he said. “Walk with the Lord. Let Him lead you, and I guarantee you, you're going to have trials. I guarantee you're going to have worries and troubles. But learn to trust God, and He'll get you through it.”
Photo courtesy of David C. Cook
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published October 27, 2026.
