A Light in the Dark

December 14, 2017

I like to imagine the wise men seeing the bright star in the sky. A light that caused them to travel hundreds of miles to search for a promised king. A light that caused them to risk the wrath of an evil king to go home another way.

I like to imagine the shepherds seeing the bright light from the angels in the sky. A light that caused them to leave their sheep and run to find the promised king.

In this day and age I believe that we have no idea what true darkness is. Physical darkness, that is.

On our 6-month journey we were able to see great examples of this. We were deep under the earth in Mammoth Cave when our tour guide had us sit on benches and told us to get ready to experience the eeriest thing we would ever experience. I did not believe him until he turned out ALL the lights in the cave. We were in true darkness. It was one of the weirdest things I have ever felt. It was oppressive. It was SO dark. It was almost as if I could not breath. I just remember the kids groping for me in the dark. Like they needed to find something to cling to. Some form of hope.

It dawned on me that that is a picture of the world. Before we have the light of Christ in our lives we are just fumbling around in true darkness groping for anything to cling to so we can be saved.

The skies that we saw at night gave me another picture of what it must have been like for the wise men and shepherds. I remember we were camping in one of my family’s favorite spots, Seminole Canyon in Texas. We drove in at night and the skies were putting on a show. I have never seen so many stars in my life. There was a thunderstorm off in the distance and we watched for several minutes before the bugs threatened to carry us away and we had to run for the refuge of our camper.

Just a few days later we were on top of a mountain at an observatory where some of us got a chance to look at distant stars through high powered telescopes. God’s handiwork in the stars and universe all point to His majesty and glory. And His love for us.

I recall sitting on a beach with two of my children early, early in the morning at Fort Fischer. It was the middle of August and we were dry camping so we had no air conditioning. I could not sleep so walked to the beach. It was during a meteor shower so we were able to watch the stars and sky come alive. We just laid back on the sand and looked up. I t was incredible to watch lights flash across the sky. We were then able to witness the light of the sun come up. Long before we saw the sun, its light was evident in the sky as the stars started to disappear. It is a memory I will hold dear for as long as I live.

All of these memories are.

Last night we made more memories. We had just finished watching a movie and were trying to put the kids to bed. I had just laid down and checked Facebook when I saw a post about someone seeing the meteor shower. I jumped up and grabbed a blanket and headed outside. A few of the kids came with me. We were rewarded with the sky coming alive. We saw many meteors. I thought our neighbors were going to call the cops as we eventually had all 8 kids and both Carl and I on our back porch crying out, “I saw one,” “Look, there goes another one.” It was so fun.

This morning I woke up to do my devotions and one of the things I read just really struck me and caused me to think about all these memories.

“God favors the darkest places so you can see His light the brightest.”

Ann Voskamp

Wow! Think about that for a minute.

All of the memories I just recalled all fit right in with this quote. Last night we were only able to see God’s majesty on display because the moon was waning, and the sky was dark. We live kind of out in the middle of nowhere where the light pollution is less than if we were closer to town. We had to be still and look up and wait. And that is when God put on a show for us to see. Waiting and looking up. Being still.

It is in those times when things around me look there bleakest that I see God show up. When I was in that closet grieving the loss of our sweet Asa, God was there in the darkness. Even though I was angry with Him and could not understand, He was there. I just had to look up and be still. His light was there in the darkness.

When I was floundering because of strained and lost relationships with friends over circumstance out of my control and I went into a deep depression, God was there. I just had to look up and be still. His light was there in the darkness.

When I thought my marriage was going to end. Carl and I were separated, and I again struggled with depression, God was there. I remember being out in my parents back yard crying out to God and I just looked up and became still. His light was there in the darkness.

When I have lain awake many nights praying for a child who seems so lost and my soul was in despair, God was there. I just had to look up and be still. His light was there in the darkness. And still is as I still spend many nights praying for my children.

In all those times God as shown Himself mighty and has wrapped His loving arms around me and given me peace. I would not be where I am today and be the person I am today without the times of darkness in my life. The times when I have seen God move the most and show up in miracles that I never thought possible. Those have come from my darkest days.

Yes, I see Him move every day. We should look for His miracle all around us. Every moment is a gift and miracle to us. He shows Himself mighty in the little things and the big things. We should be grateful and thankful and count all the ways He is good to us.  In the light and the dark. But, it is truly in the dark that He is the brightest and we are able to see Him best.