A step in the dark

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
                                                Psalm 119:105

After a recent weekend of violent storms from Illinois to Virginia and parts of the Carolinas, millions were left without power. For a very short time our home was part of that number too.

It was two o'clock in the morning and I was still awake, nothing unusual for me as I have struggled with insomnia for many years. For an insomniac like me, one of the most boring things that can happen is for the lights go out in the middle of the night because there is really nothing to do, it's too quiet. That night however was amazing! I went to the sunroom and looked out the window which faces a narrow country road surrounded by trees. The lightning was such that it seemed to give a constant light to the back yard making it quite possible to see every detail of the storm. The wind forcing each branch to the ground, the rain coming in sideways from the north, the sky looked like a gray blanket overhead. It was a beautiful sight indeed.

Only problem was finding my way inside the house. One would think it would be easy since I live here, I should know where everything is. But every time I took a step in the dark I would end up hitting myself in some piece of furniture or almost 'walking into the wall'. It seems like it took forever to find the bathroom and my way back to the kitchen to try and find some flashlight or candles. Eventually I gave up and woke my husband up. He got me a couple of flashlights and then I found two yankee candles. So then I had light and a beautiful aroma throughout the house.

I sat back in the sofa and settled with a blanket, a candle in the coffee table and a little booklight to read. It's amazing how much light a little flame gives in the middle of the dark. A soft, mellow glow that seemed to pull everything towards its center. As I sat there my mind began to fill with thoughts of God. How we are to be light in the world, to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. I picked up my bible and started to read and time just went by, ever so peacefully. By now all I could hear was the rolling thunders and a gentle rain passing through. It was beautiful indeed.

I like how God uses everything, anything, any moment, any situation, to communicate His thoughts to us. Truly He is everywhere and if we allow ourselves to experience life through a 'spiritual filter' we can most definitely sense Him. No matter how strong the storm we can still have peace in the midst of it, if we focus on Him. Just like Jesus sleeping on the boat in the middle of a storm while everyone else was losing their minds. No matter how dark our days we can still find our way. In Him we can have light in the dark and be light in the dark.

It's not easy walking in the dark. It doesn't matter how opened our eyes are if there is no light we just can't find our way. It doesn't even matter if we are familiar with the area, if there is no light we just can't make it through. That's how it is when we try to live our lives without God. We try, we think we know know the way, we take a few steps and stumble but we keep at it because we are stubborn and want to do things our way. That night it took getting my toes smacked on the coffee table and my shoulder hit on the wall a few times before I finally gave up and went to get help. It was frustrating and it was getting me nowhere fast. And all it took was a little flame to get me going again. With that little flame I could see enough of everything around me, enough to find my way from one room to another.
There is so much darkness around us and so many lives stumbling because of it. Too many people are trying to live in the dark. They think they have everything under control when in reality they have no idea what they're doing. Proverbs 4:19 says "the way of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what they stumble" No wonder God called us to be light in this world that we may help others find their way. Everything is manifested in the light. But, as the bible says, everyone that does evil hates light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:19)

 And only abiding in His word can we shine brighter than the stars in heaven! "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" Proverbs 4:17

Truly we can not hide the light that has been given to us. Like the candle that can't be hidden under a bushel but rather placed on a candlestick so that others can benefit from it, we must stand tall as witnesses of Christ, as His ambassadors here on earth, sharing the flame, the glow through His word and His testimony and through our service to Him.

Isaiah 58:6-10 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
⁸ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
⁹ Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
¹⁰ And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day"

Oh that I may seek thee as diligently as you desire me to, that my life reflect your light, as Moses' face shined after spending time with you...In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen