December 16: From Darkness to Light
Liz Lucarini, Local Outreach Coordinator
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”
Isaiah 9:2, NASB
When my girls were only a few months old, Anthony and I took a trip with them and stayed at the rental house. Our middle-of-the-night wake-up to feed the girls was robotic at this point: prepare bottles in the kitchen, get all three girls up, change diapers, feed all three girls, burp, swaddle, and place them back in bed. In the familiarity of our own home, we could do this with no lights at all, yet in this new place, I tripped and stumbled as I made my way to the kitchen and dropped formula as I made bottles. Amidst my frustration and mess, I thought, “Why am I choosing to struggle in the dark with this when I have easy access to a light?”
Isaiah 9 is the beginning of a prophecy about Israel’s future when the nation will be free from war, and the darkness over them would be lifted by the coming Messiah. Israel was enduring a time of great suffering—under harsh Assyrian rule and rejection of God’s word. In the midst of this darkness, God promises a light, a hope that would one day shine through the shadows.
I wonder how many of us are stumbling through the darkness in an area of our life today? While we may resonate deeply with the darkness that Israel felt, yet may I remind you that we have easy access to the light? We do not have to wait for the coming Messiah because He is already here. Whether you’re someone who has never given your life to Christ or you’re a long-time believer who’s wrestling with a difficult season, the light is always available to you. Jesus, the all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful Creator, offers Himself as a guiding light. The same light that shone through the darkness of Israel's despair is available to shine in your life, your season, your problem, your hurt.
Ask yourself today, “Why am I choosing to struggle in the dark with this, when I have easy access to a light?”. There is freedom and peace in choosing to walk in the light. May you embrace that light today, knowing that you don’t have to navigate the challenges of life alone. May you find hope, peace, and clarity as you walk in the freedom that comes from knowing the Light is already here, and He is with you.