Let there Be Light

Maybe it's because I've been in a time of darkness in the last few weeks, fighting that same old battle with depression that likes to spring up from time to time, but I have been feeling very drawn to how God's Word is referred to as "light". There were quite a few verses in my Bible reading time this week that talked about how God's Word is a light (coincidence? I think not) and as I've studied more about this, I've found that there are many ways the Bible acts as a light in our lives. Here are some examples of how that happens.

1. God's Word guides us when we don't know where to go
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

The first thought that came to mind for me was that God's Word sheds light on our path when we feel lost, uncertain of where to go, or "stuck" in life. I tend to be a "planner", and I like to know what is going to happen, when it will occur, and what I can do to best prepare for it. Of course, we all know that's not how life works. There are countless unknowns, and trying to control everything will just lead to frustration and defeat. God's Word has been very reassuring to me as I strive to let go of that need to "know" and control my plans, and has been a wonderful source of wisdom and insight when I have major decisions to make. My mom had some good wisdom for me regarding this very thing. She reminded me that God promises us a lamp to show us the very next step--not a floodlight that illuminates the entire area so that we can see everything that's going to happen. In His wisdom, God knows to give us just enough guidance and direction to help us in the here and now, but not so much that we are overwhelmed thinking about what is to come.

2. God's Word breaks through times of darkness

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)

This summer I was blessed to go on a special trip with my husband to celebrate 10 years of marriage. We had a blast eating awesome food, talking together, and enjoying all kinds of fun adventures. One of the coolest things we got to do together was to explore a lava cave, something neither of us had ever done and were so excited to experience. We rented small headlamps at the mouth of the cave and descended hundreds of stairs down into the gloom. At first it wasn't too terribly dark as we still had some sunlight filtering through to light the way. Eventually, though, the only light available came from those little headlamps. It was an eerie feeling, only being able to see a few feet ahead of us, and feeling the darkness close in behind. At one point we found ourselves without any of the other tourists around, and my husband exclaimed that we should turn off our lights and see how dark it was. I wasn't particularly thrilled with this plan, but I figured a few seconds would be fine. We switched off the lights, and I instantly felt suffocated by the darkness. I've never experienced anything like it; I could physically feel the blackness pressing in around me, and panic starting to surface. "Ok, that's enough of that!" I stated, and switched my little light back on. As light spilled out around us, the oppressive feeling vanished. It was a very powerful image for me, realizing how quickly the light filled in all of the spaces it could reach, and how much better I felt having even that tiny little headlamp

I've battled depression for most of my life, so I'm not a stranger to times of emotional or spiritual darkness. A lot of times it feels much like that blackness in the cave: oppressive, all-consuming, even panic-inducing. But just like turning our little lights on completely chased the dark away, God's Word has the power to break through times of darkness in our lives and provide the hope and encouragement that we need most. 

3. God's Word gives us courage to face the storms

"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Just like a lighthouse can cut through gloom and fog to guide ships safely into harbor, God's Word is a beacon of hope for every stormy trial we face. It's so, so easy to get side-tracked by the giant waves and the rolling thunder of life's storms, but a well-timed verse or passage of Scripture can catch our attention and refocus us on the One who controls the wind and the waves. Remembering Who God is and all He has done as documented in His Word makes even the fiercest storms come back into perspective for us; provides comfort when everything around is chaos; and guides us safely back where we need to be.

4. God's Word reveals the unknown. 

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)

The last thing I thought of that light does for us is to reveal hidden things to us. I wake up really early most days of the week so that I can get a workout in before the rest of my family wakes up; so early that even the sun isn't up yet! Since I want to keep the rest of my family asleep, I always try to maneuver my way through most of the house without having any lights on, and there have been plenty of times I've run into items, stepped on things, or bumped into walls. Anybody who has had to fumble their way through a dark room understands this! Having the lights on reveals any hidden obstacles we might encounter, makes it easier to find things we may be looking for, and protects us from injury. In much the same way, God's Word can act as a light that reveals things we may not otherwise see in ourselves or others. Sometimes it helps us to discover a gift or talent; sometimes it convicts us of sin we didn't even know was there; sometimes it shows us a beautiful new truth about God...The Bible is a constant source of wisdom and insight, and God uses it to reveal things we would otherwise never learn!

I love the thought of God's Word acting as a light in my life. It provides so much comfort and reassurance knowing that I always have a source of guidance, hope, strength, and insight waiting for me to access in the pages of my Bible. God is so good to give us such a priceless tool, isn't He? Let's make sure we take advantage of it and read it as often as we can. Goodness knows we could all use a little more Light in our lives, right?