Today is the first day of Advent. In recent years, I have grown to love Advent even though I do not adore the holiday of Christmas. So today, as I sat in my chair in the early morning silence, I lit the first candle of the season. Advent means "coming," and John 1:9 says, The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. The light was coming. This light that shines in the darkness. This light in whom is life (John 1:4,5). So Jesus came. We celebrate his birth on Christmas. He brought light. He brought hope. He brought joy and peace and love. Didn't he? Because, if we are honest, sometimes this life still feels very dark. Below is a journal entry I wrote in July 2017, just a few days after bringing Katie home from an 80 day hospital stay. As I remember what it was like to sit in the hospital room recently and really struggle to find God, I had the thought that it really is like sitting in the dark. God was there - present, almost touchable, communicating with me - before the lights went out. I know he was. And he said he wouldn't leave me. And I trust him. But then there was such darkness. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't see to the next day. I would cry out to God and my voice would just echo. Where is he? I thought. I couldn't see or hear or feel him. All I could feel was darkness. So I would talk to myself, Remember what he said. He said he wouldn't leave. He said he would not forsake you. Lean on what you know. He has been faithful this far. No reason to believe he won't be faithful now. And as the room began to slowly lighten, I could barely see him, and then gradually more and more. Still there. He never left. He was there in the darkness and in the light. But, oh, how I hate the darkness. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you (Psalm 139:11-12). I love how this all comes together. Darkness is not darkness to God. Darkness is the same as light to him. Because he doesn't just bring light; He is light. So when the darkness of life becomes so pervasive that I can't see anything, I keep looking for Jesus. And I remember what I learned before the lights went out: The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). This darkness will not overcome him. And it will not overcome me. For I will stand to declare the praises of him who called me out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
Blessings during this season of Advent.
1 Comment
Gypsy
12/6/2018 02:36:35 pm
Blessings to all of you at this Christmas time.
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