Remember that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach? You know the one when somehow you found yourself in total darkness and you couldn't see your hand in front of your face? I remember years ago I was watching one of the babies in the nursery at church. This particular little fellow loved to sit at my hip and play with the light switch on the wall. Now while the light was on he was relaxed and happy, however the second his little finger flipped that switch his body tensed up and he clutched me with all his little might. What changed? Had the person holding him changed? No. Had the place he was in changed? No. Yet, his vision, his perspective had changed. What was once visible in the light, was now undiscernable in the darkness. Fear crept in and his security was shaken. You may have felt that feeling at some point in your life. Even as a grown woman I have to say I'm not a fan of total darkness. I like light, bright, rays of sunshine! Light versus darkness is a tale as old as time. Our spiritual lives have a great battle going on daily. Light versus darkness, which is greater in your life? Does it depend on the day, the moment? If so, how do we dispel the darkness? Let's find out...
"For You, O LORD, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness. For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. For who is God but the LORD? And who is a Rock except our God? God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in...His way and sets him free. He makes my feet like the hinds’ [firm and able]; He sets me secure and confident upon the heights." ~2 Samuel 22:29-34
No matter how matter how long you have been in the dark, whenever you turn on a light the same thing always happens -the darkness scatters. The light illuminates what is around you, and you have a whole new perspective of your surroundings. What was slightly visible in the darkness is discernable in the light. Unfortunately, many of us contend to walk around in the darkness as the status quo of our lives. Even as Christians, we have settled to be in these places- Settled to be bound in the darkness because we can’t see our paths clearly. I don’t know about you, but I have been there. Our eyes have grown accustomed to the dimmed reality and accepted darkness as normal. This is not how God would have us live our lives. Yet, day after day this happens. I love this passage of scripture. It is a gentle reminder that the LORD our GOD, ruler of the universe, the Creator and giver of light –is Himself- our Lamp, our light! HE-Himself- lights the dark paths we walk in. HE illuminates our way and makes the path clear.
There is no happy pill of Christianity that we can swallow every day to make things perfect. But God wants to perfect us. He wants to perfect those things that concern us. It takes time. Time in HIS presence and in HIS Word. How else can you get to know someone unless you talk to them, spend time with them? How else can GOD work in our lives unless we are willing to let HIM in? How can we remove the darkness unless we turn the light on? GOD is a gentleman. HE will not push Himself into our lives. Yet, HE waits patiently for us to acknowledge we need HIM. We need HIS light to illuminate our lives, our paths, and even our hearts. Being saved isn’t a reprieve from all the bad things of this life. Being saved gives us a light for the journey. We are all on the same journey in life. From birth to death we all experience joys, pains, happiness and sorrows…yet the HOPE of something better, something eternal, the peace that passes all understanding ONLY comes from the true Light, only comes from the One who sustains all of us, from JESUS. HE is the light of the world, and when we follow HIM, HE promises we will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life. (John 8:12) What a wonderful promise!
Will we walk this road? Yes. Do we have to walk it in darkness? NO! That is the promise of GOD! Do you want to dispel the darkness? Walk in HIS truth, in HIS light. God wants us to be free, to be free of the darkness and the boundaries it places because we do not know where to step. HE wants to set us up in high places and guide us to the mountain top. The journey may be long, but we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. One who will never leave us nor forsake us. One who will drive away the darkness and shine HIS light on our paths. HE desires good for us and not evil. Once we get to know HIM, get to know this person who loves us so, we can trust that HE will do all these things. I read a comment yesterday that said, “How can we trust someone we don’t know”. This spoke volumes to me. If you don’t know GOD, how can you trust HIM? We have to immerse ourselves in HIS word and in HIS presence. IF you don’t know how to do that just thank HIM. Thank HIM for all HE has done, from the little things to the big things. HE inhabits the praises of HIS people. Once you start to offer your praise, HE will be there. That is HIS promise. When HE steps in, the darkness will flee. Don’t settle for the darkness any longer; embrace HIS light, and HIS love. HE is waiting to illuminate your life.
Be Encouraged, Be Blessed, Shine the Light! ♥
Originally written November, 2012
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