God Speaking

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” – Psalms 36:9

When my two granddaughters were little girls they often had sleepovers at our house. We had long ago bought a night light to plug into the socket of the bedroom they slept in, but one night one of them was reluctant to go to sleep (perhaps a scary movie or some hidden fear). She finally blurted out, “I need another light in the hall. What if I need you during the night and there is no light to show me how to get to your bedroom?”

Light

Dark

These words pervade our minds with a myriad of images, conjuring powerful emotions that can stir up physical reactions. When darkness in any form descends upon our lives our first reaction may be like that of my little granddaughter, one of fear and anxiety, a feeling of being lost, a need to find guidance to one who can dispel the darkness with light.

The words “light” and “dark” are often associated, respectively, with “good” and “evil”. We talk about the darkness of despair, dark moods, the terror of the dark and we depict the evil character of children’s stories dressed in black to distinguish just how bad he is, distinct from the good character that is easily noticeable by white and luminous clothes.

Any of us who have grappled with depression can readily agree that the feeling can evoke one of such blackness that the very darkness surrounding one seems to be impenetrable. The wonderful news is that there is no darkness however thick that cannot be penetrated by God‘s light. Over and over again we are reassured that God’s love for us is so great that when we walk in his light we will see light.

Just as my little granddaughter knew that having a light to guide her was essential, we need to actively seek that light that we need.

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” – Psalms 18:28

Where do we start to find this light? God’s word is a good place to begin.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalms 119:105

Few of us escape periods of darkness in our lives. It may be a scary health diagnosis, a job loss, a broken relationship, problems with a child, a real fear of what the future holds, or any number of diverse reasons can cloud our lives with worry. Some worries can paralyze us into doing nothing. The best solution is to take God’s promises to be true. It is amazing that after seeking the Lord through prayer and reading his word and honestly presenting the problem to him, that light pierces the darkness and we are surprised to see our way through what we thought was an unsolvable. This beautiful old hymn puts it into all perspective.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full on his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace”

Related Articles

• Where’s God When I Need Him? (relentlessgrace.com)
• Light as a Biblical Metaphor Pt. 1 (www.jesusdust.com)
• Light as a Biblical Metaphor Pt. 2 (www.jesusdust.com)
• “Take heed then how your hear” (worryisuseless.wordpress.com)
• Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, and a Light unto my Path (idkh.org)
• Whispering In The Dark To A God Who Loves You (pastorpaulvbsblog.blogspot.com)
• Darkness is not the End of the Story (thoughtsonscripture.com)
• Today’s word for June 4, 2011 (hopeforallmin.wordpress.com)
• When You Walk through Times of Spiritual Darkness (trinitytuscaloosa.wordpress.com)