Light in the Darkness

Isaiah 9:2 - The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them the light has shined. 

 

Darkness. Just the mention of the word brings up feelings of heaviness, sadness, isolation, and despair. Memories of lost loved ones, reminders of broken relationships, and the pain of sheer loss may come to us when we sit alone in the dark. Our world is confused, perplexed, divided, and polarized. It is in a state of darkness, which is separating us from the light and warmth of family and friends. Even those who may not be separated and alone are still, quite often, lonely.

I once heard that loneliness might be the longing of one’s heart crying out for relationship. It might be the soul calling out to be noticed. If that is true, then the sense of aloneness and solitude can be an opportunity to listen for the Voice that is whispering your name. Even though our world may be a dark place, a place without hope, a place without guidance, without purpose, yet there is a light that shines in the darkness. When the night comes, as it does to all of us, we must remember that the light has not stopped shining. It has not changed. The light remains undiminished. It is we that have changed. Just as the Earth revolves and reorients itself to the Sun, so we too, must again turn our eyes to the light.

Religion is man’s attempt to bring light to the world, but sadly, that light is no more than a flashlight and the batteries are dying. Religion preaches right and wrong, good and bad, worthy and unworthy. God’s light does neither, it simply shines. It unveils with intense clarity things as they are. Light never needs to boast or trumpet its entrance, it is silent yet poised and powerful. It diffuses its rays effortlessly and darkness must always give way to its influential presence.

The verse above relates to the time of the very first Christmas, indeed the birth of Jesus marked the arrival of a very great light. The world had always walked in darkness, only darkness, heavy darkness, and like a night-time creature, all eyes had adjusted to it. The hope of light had diminished, and it seemed like darkness had won…but a Child was born. And this Child was like no other. He shone a bright and illuminating light, He dispelled the night wherever He went, and He still does today.

I want to encourage you, friends, when you think of this season, when you think of your life and the changes you hope for, do not think of religion and who is right and who is wrong. Do not think of governments and who is good and who is bad. Do not think of all that is chaotic or depressing. No! Simply think of Jesus who is light. Think of the power of light and the warmth and life that it brings. Remove the barriers that are blocking the light. Open the shutters of your heart and mind and let the light in. That light will inspire you and illuminate your path. What clarity, what hope, what joy, what a future light creates! Truly and undeniably, ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light!’

He Gives Power to the Faint

 

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. 

    The God we serve is not far off, distant, or disengaged from our lives; in fact, He is the exact opposite of that. He is the up close and personal God; the greatest and most caring Father one could ever know, and this is the One of whom Isaiah says that He gives power to the faint. It is always His will and desire to give, and that is because giving is His very nature.

    What is it that the Lord wants to give? Power. Nothing in this life will be of any use without power. Mankind has always looked for ways to harness a greater power to produce maximum results. In the days before electrical power was dominant, there were other forms of power which were utilized by men. It might have been the power of the long branch operated to leverage a heavy object, or the power of the horse pulling a plow, or that of the rushing river turning a wheel to grind flour. Likewise, our bodies need an outside power which is greater than ourselves, and our gracious Father is in the power business.

    He gives power; we do not earn it. It is freely given, but just like electricity must be conducted, so the laws surrounding God’s power must be followed for it to flow unhindered. As was stated previously, it is always God’s will to give, but there is no giving without one to receive the gift, and the way that we receive from Him is by faith. Faith is conducive to the flow of power.

   When something is referred to as being faint, then that means it is feeble and weak. A faint signal would be one that is extremely hard to hear and barely perceptible; a faint light would be a dim bulb that is on the verge of burning out; and a faint body would be one that is very fragile and without strength or vitality. God gives power to the faint; He strengthens the weak bodies of people and places them on a path of recovery. He strengthens their resolve and fills them anew with hope. Power from God does not always remove the sickness instantaneously, although it can, it often simply strengthens the body and promotes a healing process. If we are struggling with a sickness or, a chronic weakness of any kind, based on this verse, we can confidently ask and expect God to give us His power and strength to overcome the difficulty.

    Who is it that God desires to give His power to? The faint and those who have no strength. The heart of our Father God seems to be attracted to the underdog and to those who have no one to help them. Indeed, He says elsewhere that He will not extinguish a dimly burning wick. This is good news for all who find themselves in a dark and depressed place, without hope, for when we are at the end of our self, we find the beginning of God. The end of our rope is the place where we can let go and let God catch us in His loving arms, and once those arms surround and embrace us, His power is simultaneously transferred through those arms into us. He is so faithful; without a doubt; He gives power to the faint.