Absence of Light

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
(Psalm 112:4 NIV)

This week seems dark to me.

The days are shorter, and Sunday’s time change will make the nights seem to come more quickly.
The upcoming civic election hangs over the nation as a dark cloud.
And today is a day for celebration of the demonic and evil.

No wonder the week seems dark.

Thank goodness that God doesn’t see it that way. Thank God that his ways are higher than ours; his plans and purposes are so much beyond what we can completely grasp. Thank God that the old adage “It’s always darkest before the dawn” is still true. Thank God that even in the midst of the darkness, there is still great Light.

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 8:12 NIV)

“Darkness” is the absence of Light, just as cold is the absence of heat, and despair is the absence of Hope. When we are missing something, we feel it. But God is the antidote to whatever we are missing. Jesus is the Light of the World; in him there is no darkness at all. Jesus is the Hope of the world; in him there is no despair. The love and fellowship of other believers is a “warmth” we need.

Today, let us focus not on the absence of something, but on the God that fills the void with his Presence. Let us fill the darkness with Light.

God of Light,

Thank you for your Presence that meets us in places of void. Thank you for your grace, compassion, and truth that you offer to your children. In times of great darkness, trial, strife, and ungodliness, help us to seek the Light of Life so that we can know healing and righteousness. May your glory be our guard, we pray in Jesus’s name. AMEN.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2 NIV)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:8 NIV)

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