Turning from the Dark to the Light

There you are – the unlit candle. You don’t sense even a flicker of light OR of hope. You’re sick and tired of the disappointments – the confusion, rejection, and pain. You’re fed up with it all – whatever that “all” represents. You’ve been let down, broken down, and now you’re down and out. You’d rather not even be in the light. Your darkness has become comfortable. There is no peace found in your mind or your soul. If that’s true of you, then I speak this truth to you today. You’re letting your world revolve around your troubles -- and your thoughts are keeping you in the darkness. The more you keep your focus there, the more you'll be living in darkness like the unlit candle. I know there are those who aren’t on the “merry” side of Merry Christmas. They are aloof from comfort and joy. They are done with the jingle bells and snowmen and jolly Santa AND they are done with the baby in a manger. Even as I type this blog today, I remember those lies that the enemy told me. I remember being curled up in a fetal position because of the unbearable weights I carried. Me, a follower of Christ since I was child, believed the lies of the world-class, father of lies, the devil. And, because I was there, my heart goes out to the people who are carrying enormous weights of hopelessness and doubt and are living in darkness right now. I know this blog doesn’t carry my usual upbeat, joy to the world, peace on earth, goodwill to men optimism. But, because I believe God gives me what to blog about, I’m certain He is wanting me to tell you “Come out of the darkness into the LIGHT!” He offers everything you are longing for. He, the GIVER of life and light, offers you His Light today. And those of us who are in the LIGHT, He is urging us to be messengers of hope and LIGHT to the world around us – our neighbors, the people we work with, or even go to church with. These masks we are wearing are masking those that I speak of today. There are 7.8 billion Christians in the world and it’s time our lights AMP up. Being apathetic to those in the dark is no longer excusable. That unlit candle in this photo is what we look like without the light of Christ in us. But, take a look at that lit large candle. That large candle represents Jesus. When we focus on the ONE who said, "I am the LIGHT of the world, whoever follows ME, will NEVER walk in darkness" (John 8:12), then the darkness will diminish. As we're drawn to spend time with the LIGHT, stay in fellowship with HIM, spending time in His Word, thinking about HIM -- He Who knows everything about everything, will provide the answers we need. The divine set-ups and divine appointments will start providing what we need. And, we'll no longer be living in the darkness. I don’t know what your darkness looks like, but God does. He sees you and knows you and just maybe, He is speaking through me to you today to give you hope. I encourage you to cozy up to Him, THE LIGHT that shines so brightly and desires to dispel the darkness that is in you and around you. I promise you, He is the most reliable Counselor, the most peace-giving Prince of Peace, faithful Friend, and the ultimate source for restoring LIGHT to your soul. And for those of us who are LIGHT-bearers, it’s time for us to LIGHT-UP the Jesus in us so that those who are hopeless and in the dark, will be drawn to His Light which offers freedom, joy, peace, comfort, and everything that proves “We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:37) "I am the LIGHT of the world, whoever follows ME, will NEVER walk in darkness." (John 8:12)