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“For You are my lamp O Lord and my God who lightens my darkness.”  2 Samuel 22:29 (ESV)

Waking up in the middle of some good sleep has never been my fave thing. Especially as the season changes and cool temps find us snuggling under the covers. But it happens and lately I’ve noticed one of our stray cats perched outside our bedroom window. Sitting perfectly still in the same spot every night regardless of what time I looked out into the dark.

Curiosity finally got the best of me. Shining my light into the dark revealed my stray cat really wasn’t my stray cat. Sad to admit it but the image in the dark was our yard ladder – yes, you got it. The angle of the rungs and the way it was sitting appeared totally different from blurring eyes straining into the darkest of night.

Dark has a way of convincing us that things are different from reality bursting forth in the light.

Bet we’ve all been there when the darkest moments of our life unveiled a false reality. Conversations flowing through our mind nonstop creating a narrative that doesn’t serve us well. Perceived reasoning convincing us we are moving in the right direction even when we know we’re headed down the wrong road (John 12:35b). Navigating closer and closer to temptations we would have never entertained. Throwing caution out the window because we know exactly what we want, and we can handle the cost.

It doesn’t have to be dark outside for darkness to influence our decisions. When we allow sin to creep in and take up residence, we find ourselves maneuvering further and further away from the light of God’s wisdom.  Truth becomes clouded. Gray sounds enticing. I think we all get the picture….unconfessed sin surrounds us in darkness and separates us from the light of God’s guidance.  Knowledge and understanding simply evaporate in darkness (Psalm 82:5), and the longer we linger there the more we slip away from reality.

Keeping it real here….I’ve really never been a fan of dark, even though I’ve entertained it on many occasions. Just the absence of light fills me with uncertainty. Why? Because I can’t see my way. I don’t know if someone else is there or if I’m alone. Fear slays me in the dark and that’s a good thing if it drives me back to God.

Sweet friends, we don’t have to settle for even a hint of dark. Simple heartfelt confession invites the grace of our God who longs to illuminate our way (Psalm 18:28). Aligning our hearts with His guarantees His protective shield keeps us from the dangers lurking in the dark (Daniel 2:22). By following hard after God, we can enjoy the benefits of His chosen people called out of darkness into His marvelous light (2 Peter 2:9)

“Jesus, You came into this dark world and filled it with Your glorious light.  Those who chose to believe in You and follow after You will no longer be in darkness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life