Light in the Darkness
This life is tough. Satan is the adversary who wants us to feel defeated and weighed down by our struggles and failures. His darkness attempts to blind us to God's love and His perfect plan. Each of us has times of struggle when life gets so dark that we cannot see our way out. A parent dies, we lose our spouse, or our dearly beloved child. We lose our job, become homeless, get locked up in jail or prison, or you may even get cancer. We all have experienced darkness, or if not, we will one day. Darkness comes to us all. What makes the difference in our lives is a glimpse of the light. Light always drives back the darkness and our fears. It gives us hope.
A few years ago, a popular American talent show featured a singer who radiated peace and joy, even though she had problems. Her life story revealed that she had cancer in her lung, spine, and liver. Despite her struggles, she sang. Her smile beamed, her voice was beautiful, and I was moved to tears each time I watched her sing.
Beyond the songs, what touched my heart most were two quotes that she personified in her demeanor. The first said, "I'm so much more than the bad things that happen to me," and the second, "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." She had a two percent chance to survive after fighting cancer, but still she sang out her hope to the world.
Jesus said that He is the light of the world, and that He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He warned us that this life would bring us tribulation, but He has overcome the world. He offers us both hope and peace (John 16:33). When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He lives in us. He is the light that shines in our lives, revealing to us how much He loves us. As the talent show singer said, we can't wait until life isn't hard anymore to be happy. It is a choice we make in response to the light who reveals just how blessed we are. The light lives in us and we shine so that we can give hope to all those living in darkness and despair.
Jesus said that God causes all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Satan comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus has come that you may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Each day we choose. Do I lose myself in darkness or celebrate everything good that the light reveals? I can listen to Satan's lies about how miserable I am or sing praises to God for revealing His goodness. I am blessed, and I thank God for the reminder that came from that singer.
My life should reflect all the joy and peace that God has given me in order to drive back the darkness that may have someone else trapped. I have the light that can brighten someone's day. A small light drives back even the deepest darkness, and Jesus is more than a little light. He is the Son of God and the bright and morning star. With such a light living inside, I cannot help but shine. My life sings - "I was lost but now am found, I was blind but now I see” (John 9:25)!
