Have you ever walked in a dark place and wondered if you would ever see light again? There are times when all of us experience darkness of spirit, times when the Lord is not answering, when we wonder if we will ever hear him again. Yes, you are his child, you love him and you are committed to obey him. You've searched your heart and haven't found any unconfessed sin. Why then is it so dark?
These verses describe the situation of someone like you. You love God but you are walking in darkness with no light. The Lord is giving a word of comfort and a word of warning. He is giving you direction even in the darkness in these two short verses. Trust in the Lord and rely on him even when you can't see. Darkness and light are both the same for him. He is with you in every instance, whether you experience it or not.
The warning is not to "light your own fire," not to try to get out of the darkness by your own strength and ability. The temptation can be great but if you give into it, the light you produce for yourself will bring you into a place of pain.
The simple message of these verses is that the Lord is present in times of darkness with those who love and obey him. These words are a reminder to trust and depend on him when you can't see or feel him.
Our lives are made up of day and night, light and darkness. There are times when God's presence is very close and you can clearly see your way forward. Other times are dark and you can't see the path to follow. God is in both day and night, darkness and light. We need the reminder that he can still be trusted and we can lean on him in every season and situation. His darkness is better and it is safer than any light we can produce in our own strength.
Thank you Lord that you are always with me, in times of darkness when I don't sense your presence and in times of light when I feel you very near. Help me, Lord, to trust when I can't see. Help me not to try to light my own fire but to wait with you, leaning on you in the dark times.
- 25 DECEMBER -