Those Walking in Darkness Need the Light

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. (Isaiah 9:2) 

Darkness pressed down like a heavy coat, swallowing everyone in the cave. For one minute we stood in complete darkness and silence. Even though my husband was standing right beside me, within seconds the first fearful thought popped into my head.  

I am alone. 

Of course, I wasn’t. I was surrounded on every side by members of our group as we toured Mammoth Cave.  

But in the darkness, I felt alone. Trapped. 

Within seconds scenes from every murder-mystery I’d ever seen or read came to mind. I thought about the others in the group. Who are these people? I don’t even know them. I tightened my grip on my backpack straps and distrust rose in my heart. 

Thankfully the minute passed, our tour guides turned their lanterns back on, everyone laughed, breathed a sigh of relief, and we went on with the remainder of our 14-mile tour.  

It took less than a minute for fear to surface when I was standing in literal darkness. And that makes me wonder: 

Does fear surface in any type of darkness? 

What about the people all around us who are walking in figurative darkness? Searching for fulfilment, purpose, peace, and happiness without any light. Surrounded by fear and distrust without hope of rescue. Or so they believe.

But we know that light shines in the darkness. And we know the Light of the World who came to rescue us, the One who came to be our hope. 

Light broke through deepest darkness when God put on flesh and stepped into our world. He came as a tiny light, wrapped in the most vulnerable package. 

He came in a way that we could receive Him.  

If He had come like He did on Mount Sinai; we might have turned away in fear. In Exodus, the people were told to get ready, get clean, and not to touch the mountain or they would die.  In contrast, Jesus came on a dark night, in a dirty stable, and only a few knew the Light had come. 

Jesus came to show us what God is like, how deeply He loves us, and how we can follow Him. 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. As the Word, He brought thoughts from the innermost recesses of people’s hearts out into the light. He was gentle with those who were struggling, patient with those who didn’t even know they needed Him until He spoke to them. He challenged those who thought they had Him all figured out. 

Jesus saw people living in figurative darkness and it moved him. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)  

Maybe they were tossed around by fear, suspicion, and distrust. Maybe they were seeking fulfilment, purpose, and peace in things that could never deliver. Maybe they felt trapped, like they would never be free from the darkness. 

And He told them Whoever follows me will have the light of life. (John 8:12) 

The light of life He offers shines brighter than a tour guide’s lantern and points us to the answer our hearts were made to search for – One who loves us beyond all measure. One who is always with us. One who shines light in the darkest places of our lives. 

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We celebrate the coming of the Light of the world at Christmas, but we need this truth every day of the year. Discover the themes of Christmas in everyday life through my newly released book of short devotions In Unexpected Ways: Christmas in Everyday Life.  

In Unexpected Ways: How God Answers the Questions of Life

I am not sure if we, as a collective body living on planet Earth, have ever entered the Christmas season this worn down, weary, and filled with questions. 

The events and months of 2020 have highlighted the truth that life is fragile, and we have precious little control over the things that matter most to us. And by highlighted, I mean surrounded by harsh flashing bulbs that light up the sky. 

In the final months of a year filled with too many unprecedented events are you wondering if you can even trust God anymore? 

We need the wonder of Christmas, the joy, and the peace more than ever. And, in some ways, we have never been more prepared to see it.  

Could the disappointments, the grief, the uncertainty of this calendar year have us searching for something that will last? 

As we sit in shadows of uncertainty, a warm glow fills the air. 

Light breaks through darkness, allowing things to be clearly seen. And on that first Christmas, God stepped into history in an unexpected way to show us that He is the answer to our deepest needs. 

 He still answers the questions we ask in the quiet of the night:  

Am I alone?   Does God love me   Does God have a plan for me   Can I trust Him? 

And He responds:  

His Name answers Am I alone?  

His Presence answers Does God love me? 

His Purpose answers Does God have a plan for me? 

And these provide the answer to the question that lies at the center of it all: 

Can I trust Him? 

The Christmas story is part of a larger story, a story that began before God said, “Let there be light.” A story that includes the Garden of Eden, the Cross and Resurrection. A story that is still unfolding. 

We celebrate Christmas with an eye on the climax of the entire story. We celebrate the sweet baby in the manger because He is the suffering Savior on the cross, and the risen Savior who defeated the enemy of our soul out of love for us. 

If you have thought This is not the way it should be, 

If you’ve worried about health, finances, or the future, 

If you’ve secretly wondered if you’ve missed out on the good in life, 

If you feel like you are stuck in survival mode, 

This book was written with you in mind. 

In Unexpected Ways: Christmas in Everyday Life is a compilation of devotions written during moments when my heart held more questions than answers, when I wondered if God loved me, and when I felt like nothing would ever change. 

God answered the questions I was really asking by whispering truth to my heart, truth from his Word that revealed His Presence, His love, and His purpose. Truth whispered from his Word changes us more deeply than the shouts of the world ever will. 

God stepped into history in an unexpected way to show us that He is the answer to our deepest needs.  

He has not changed. He still works through the unexpected to draw us to Him. 

 
And drawing us to Himself is always the purpose for the unexpected. 

In Unexpected Ways: Christmas in Everyday Life is available on Amazon.