Power in the Light

This morning as we were getting ready for worship, our electricity went off.  A few weeks ago there was a bad wreck in our neighborhood that took out a light pole and our power was out for about 5 hours.  Normally, this morning wouldn't have bothered me except that I hadn't finished with my hair... which requires electricity.  :-)  We have room darkening shades and black out curtains in our bedroom because we like to sleep with it totally dark. So when the electricity went off it was amazing how DARK it was in there!  It's also funny how trained we are to turn on the lights.  Knowing that there was no electricity, the first thing you do is still reach for the light switch.  It's like instinct; second nature.

Fortunately, this time the lights were only off for about 2 minutes and then they came back on.  So we don't know what happened but we were glad it was short lived.  But while the lights were off, I raised up one of the shades in the bedroom to let the light in from outside.  Our house faces the east so there was lots of light to come in and dispel the darkness.  But what was most interesting to me is what happened when the lights came back on.

Since we were getting ready for church I went ahead and let the shade back down and when I did I noticed something.  Remember we have room darkening shades... but the light coming in from outside was so bright I could still see the the outlines, shadows and distinct images of the trees outside of our window.  It was very clear that the light was shining through a tree.

It made me think about our lives as Christians.  As Christians, if you are walking in the light, walking with Jesus, you can never really totally pull the shade down and cover your life.  If you are walking with Jesus, even when you think things are at their darkest, He is right there with you.  Keep treasures of His word in your heart and even if life is trying to pull the shade down on you, His light will shine through you just like it shined through that darkening shade in my room.  It may not be as bright as you want it to be, but it's there. It's there enough to let you know that you are not alone.  He shines through your darkness and provides you with a light filled with warmth.  And no matter how dark it may seem at the time on the outside, God's light shines through you and out of you from the inside.  It shines so brightly that the darkening shade that might be your life cannot block it out and it's very clear who you are and Whose you are.

So no matter what may be going on in your life, remember that someone around you may be watching and noticing the light that shines forth through you. Just as we instinctively
reach for the light switch when the electricity goes off, we can instinctively reach for Him when we feel like our spiritual light is going out.  Because when you walk with God, even when you feel like you are in the dark, you still have His light shining through you.  So let your light shine... it just might shine brightly enough to break through someone's darkening shade!

 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4,5

In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Blessings!