“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 NIV)
[I found this post from two years ago – to the exact day! – that sounds a lot like our world in 2024. Today’s statistics may be different (an article I read today said that inflation over the last four years has reduced purchasing power by 40%**), but the stress is still there. The names of this year’s hurricanes are different, but the devastation and upheaval they cause are real. We may not have been in a presidential election cycle two years ago, but much of the rest of this post still fits. Thank God the darkness has NOT overcome the Light.]
“Retail egg prices…are 39.8 percent higher than August 2021. … Fresh fruits prices…are 8.3 percent higher than August 2021. Fresh vegetables prices…are 7.6 percent higher than August 2021. … The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI [Consumer Price Index]…was 13.5 percent higher than August 2021.” *
There are times when it’s hard to see the light in the midst of so much darkness. Last night I began to feel the heaviness of darkness after a conversation about our family’s finances. This week has been filled with unexpected and very costly expenses and the comment was made that we would have to “make hard choices.” I know that most families everywhere are, to greater and lesser degrees, making careful and intentional choices about their finances because inflation is rampant, so my family’s story is not unlike most anyone else’s. I know that families in disaster areas like southwest Florida hit by Hurricane Ian are dealing with exponentially more stress and strain. I know that there are current stories of real people experiencing tragedy in many places. Knowing that you are “normal” may help, but it doesn’t totally eliminate the feelings. In any of these situations a real sense of fear can creep in, rush in, or even overwhelm you.
This verse was in my email this morning: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 NIV). I’ve read this verse many times, but the last part caught my attention: THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT.” Has not. I looked it up in other translations, too, and found that darkness does not “overcome” or “extinguish” Light. The darkness “can’t understand” light. Can not. It can’t “absorb” it. Darkness and light are two very separate things. And when Jesus is the Light of your world, you have the light of life and will never walk in darkness. Never. Not. Not gonna happen. Can’t.
This is why the writer of Hebrews calls us to look away from the natural realm and focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. We are to consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls. Then we won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. In this world we will have troubles; Jesus said so. Yet, when we remember the tremendous opposition Jesus faced – even to the point of death on a cross – we are reminded to not cave in to life’s pressures. We are reminded that Jesus has overcome the world.
Darkness has been overcome by the Light of Life.
Jesus,
You said that in this world we would have trouble and, truly, we do. Whether financial, relational, health, economic, political, transportation, weather-related, or a host of other things, we know that there is great darkness in this world. Jehovah Jireh, provide what we need. Holy Spirit, be our comfort, guide, and wisdom. When the darkness seems overwhelming, remind us that you have overcome the world and that darkness can never overcome, extinguish, or overpower your Light. Help us focus our attention on you and let you develop the faith within us into perfection. Help us not to become worn down and cave in to life’s pressures, but to take heart because we have you, our Light of Life. We pray in your name, Amen.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:23 NIV)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:5 NLT)
“The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].” (John 1:5 AMP)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 1:12 NIV)
“We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures.” (Hebrews 12:2-3 TPT)
*https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/
**https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-recession-of-2022-is-still-with-us-5738212