The last whispers of daylight slowly faded as Jim walked through the forest. He sensed that he was not alone in the darkness. The rustle of fallen leaves and cracking twigs broke the stillness of the night confirming his fears.
Trembling, he struck a match touching it to his torch. When the torch flared, the sounds seemed to move away, but didn’t disappear. Despair weighed him down as he wondered what was lurking just beyond his vision waiting to attack. His fears growing with each step he took.
Suddenly the wind began to blow causing the flame of the torch to fade. As it faded, the noises in the forest seem to draw closer once again. Quickly reaching for another match, Jim struck it reigniting the flame into a brilliant light. In the illumination, the exposed animals scurried back into the darkness.
Recognizing that the light was protecting him, his fears dissipated. The brilliant light filled Jim with the hope that he would safely reach his destination.
Don’t we all feel safer in the dark
when we have at least
a little light?
We may have outgrown the fears of monsters in the closet at night, but a little night lite is always comforting. Besides, when it’s pitch black, how do we find the bathroom in the middle of the night without one?
As we walk through this life, there will be times when it feels like we are surrounded by darkness, even in the daylight. I don’t mean physical darkness, but the darkness of violence, deception, lies, divisiveness and other evil actions.
When that type of darkness surrounds us, it is never alone. Lurking on the edge of the darkness ready to attack us are fear, despair and hopelessness. They know that their attack will only be successful if the light fades.
WHICH LIGHT?
The light of Jesus. We know that when fear, despair and hopelessness are exposed to His light, they will scurry away.
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.
NOTHING CAN HIDE!
Fear, despair and hopelessness may hide from us, but nothing can hide in the darkness from Jesus. His vision is sharper than night vision goggles allowing Him to see everything as if it were daylight.
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You,
Psalm 139:12.
Troubles blow into our lives like the wind bringing darkness with them. Then the fear, despair or hopelessness lurking in the darkness creeps into our mind. The darkness of our troubles can overwhelm us causing the light of Jesus to fade.
HOW DO I REIGNITE IT?
STRIKE THAT MATCH!
Once we have ignited His flame, it will never go completely out, even if we have ignored Jesus. He is still with us.
And I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand,
John 10:28
Like Jim who reached for a match in the forest and reignited the dying flame, we can call out for Jesus to reignite our faith.
Jesus is not there hiding His light and condemning us for our mistakes. He is there patiently waiting for us to reignite His light. In His love for us, He will illuminate our hearts enlightening our darkness again.
For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness,
Psalm 18:28.
Jesus is our refuge and our protector, (Psalm 91). When we have faith in Him, His brilliant light fills us with hope. Through His power, we will overcome the fear, despair and hopelessness that darkness brings.
You are of God, little children,
and have overcome them,
because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,
John 4:4.
REFLECTION
Do you feel fear, despair or hopelessness?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write John 8:12 and say it aloud, help me to reignite Your light in me. Grow my faith to stand against fear, despair and hopelessness as I find peace and hope in You. In Jesus name, Amen.
BY FAITH, IGNITE THE LIGHT OF JESUS*
*If you have never ignited the light of Jesus and want more information, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Comment!
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Photo night goggles, r-louis-mac
Photo match jadgi
