Light in the Darkness

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 “Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you. Though darkness covers the earth and gloom the nations, the Lord will shine upon you; God’s glory will appear over you.”

- Isaiah 60:1-2 CEB -


Darkness is a real thing. Not only as we get to the winter months where it might be dark before you get home from your afternoon or evening activities, but we know darkness on a personal level sometimes.  Darkness is that voice in us that makes us doubt ourselves. Darkness is that feeling that no one else knows what you’re going through. Darkness is cold isolation and separation.  Yet we know through the birth of Christ that God’s light breaks in upon us. The love of God that comes in Jesus finds us just as we are, just where we are. God’s love warms up the coldest isolation and lets us see ourselves for the beautiful creation God made us to be.

One of my favorite images is the sharing of the Christ candle we do at our Christmas Eve services.  Something about how it starts as one small light and then echoes to be a beautiful room filled with a loving glow just feels great.  Christ comes as this little infant in the darkest part of the year to remind us that darkness will never have the last word. God’s love and light will always be there ready to ignite in us and fill our lives. Let God’s light do the same in us and everyone we meet this new year! 

To Read More: John 1:1-14

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