“Hey, an abandoned coal mine,” said Jill eagerly running into the mine. “Wait!” shouted Karie, “There could be old mine shafts!” Jill shook her head in disbelief, “No. I’m sure it’s safe by now.” To prove her point Jill jumped up and down. Suddenly she screamed, “AHHHH!” as the ground gave way beneath her. “Jill! Jill! Are you alright?” Karie frantically shouted into the pit. “Ugghh. Help me, I think I hurt my arm.” “Hold on,” cried Karie, “I am going for help.”
Frightened, Jill sat shrouded in darkness watching the bright light at the top of the pit. After what seemed like an eternity, Karie returned with an old farmer and a ladder. “You will be ok now, just climb up this ladder,” he yelled lowering it into the pit. “I don’t know if I can do it,” replied Jill tearfully. Shining a flashlight on the ladder he encouraged her, “Don’t worry, this ladder may be old, but you can trust it to hold you every step of the way.”
Bolstering her courage, Jill pushed away her fears and stepped on the first rung. The farmer continued to coax her, “Just take one step at a time and follow the light. Before you know it, you will escape the darkness.”
SOMETIMES THE WORLD FEELS LIKE A VERY DARK PLACE.
Violence! Wars!
Hurricanes! Tornados! Flooding!
If none of those have touched us, how about problems piling up faster than we can solve them? It’s overwhelming! It’s like falling into a pit shrouded in dark despair and brokenness wondering if we will ever escape.
HOW DO WE ESCAPE?
FOLLOW THE LIGHT!
No flashlight? No worries! By making similar decisions to Jill’s, we can escape the darkness. Like Jill, we can decide to be courageous, put aside our fears and follow the light. Rather than follow a flashlight, we follow the light of Jesus.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life,”
John 8:12.
LIGHT = HOPE!
Looking down Jill only saw darkness, but by looking up to the light, she found hope. Even though the darkness of the world won’t change, when we look to the light of Jesus, we find hope to escape dark despair.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint,
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
LIGHT = HEALING!
Through His light, we can even find healing for our brokenness.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds,
Psalm 147:3.
FAITH
Although the ladder was Jill’s path to escape, it took faith for her to walk up the old ladder. As she took each step, her faith grew that the ladder was strong enough to hold her. Jesus is our path to escape. When in faith we walk in His path, we will find He is strong enough to hold us every step of the way.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps,
Psalm 40:2
TO THE RESCUE!
Jesus, like the farmer, comes to the rescue! Even without a flashlight, cell phone or electricity, Jesus will direct our way. He encourages and guides us by shinning His light on each step we need to take often through His scriptures.
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple,
Psalm 119:130
When in faith, we take each step He illuminates with His light, we will escape the darkness.
I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye,
Psalm 32:8.
NO MATTER HOW LONG THE JOURNEY
OR WHO WE MEET ALONG THE WAY,
JESUS CAN RESCUE US.
When we call out to Jesus, in His mercy and love, He is there to rescue us anytime, anywhere. No matter how long we have been shrouded in dark despair and brokenness, He can heal us. Jesus in His love and faithfulness will support and guide us up the ladder one step at a time into the light of freedom.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold,
Psalm 18:2
REFLECTION
Have you fallen into a pit of despair and brokenness?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write John 8:12 and say it aloud, help me follow Your light and free me from the pit. Heal my brokenness, give me hope and illuminate the darkness. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH, FOLLOW JESUS’ LIGHT
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo mine, Peter Robbins
Photo ladder, goromir
Photo climbing, stewmanfoo
