Turn the Light On

How do you handle the dark? When I walk into a dark room I search quickly for the light switch so that I can see. It is always better to see than to imagine what could be there in the dark.

Last night Josiah came into the bedroom with Monica and I because he said he was scared. I told him there was no reason to be scared. Umm, that didn’t help. In his dark room, there were plenty of reasons to believe that there could be something to be scared. He said he kept hearing noises. The noises that he heard were coming from the new humidifier for his room that we set up for him last night to help with his coughing. But without the light on, we could not convince him that is was not something to fear.

Two nights ago Monica was exercising with the Wii Fit Plus. She surprised me by saying that she almost went running outside at the church building instead. That would be great if she started really running. This could be something that could do together. So I asked why she didn’t go run outdoors. Her reply was that it had gotten dark outside. She knows the way around in the church building parking lot. In fact there are a few lights to light the way. But the fear of the unknown danger hiding in the dark was enough to keep her running-in-place in the living room with the Wii Fit.

Life in the dark is full of unknowns, terrible pitfalls, and fears. If we only had more light, then we could live with more confidence, joy, and peace. Consider these words:

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

The first gleam of dawn is hope that even more light is coming in time. The path of the righteous leads to more and more light, away from unknowns, pitfalls, and fear. Light leads to much joy, confidence, and peace as the path gets brighter.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Rightousness and light come as a gift from God to those who will receive it. This light brings joy, peace, and confidence replacing the dread and fear of darkness.

Are fear and dread gripping your heart? Allow God to turn the light on. Although the light may come in slowly like the first gleam of dawn, as you daily walk toward the light you will experience more and more freedom as you see by the light of truth and love.