July 4 Not One Ray of Light
July 4
Not One Ray of Light
“Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”
—Isaiah 50:10
One summer, my family and I traveled to see a gigantic wonder called Carlsbad Caverns in the southwest corner of the United States. I clasped my mother’s hand as the tour guide led our little group down into the cold, dark earth. When we reached the bottom of the pit, our guide turned out the overhead lamps so we could see, just for a moment, how thick the darkness really was below the surface of the earth.
Click! I gasped as oppressive and utter blackness enveloped me. Far beyond the reaches of natural rays of light, I could not even see my hand in front of my face. Panic seized me and I thrust my hand into the darkness to reach for my mother. In an instant, her hand was around mine, washing away my fear and anxiety. “Joni,” she said, “you’re safe. I would never lose you.”
You probably have days that seem like deep, cavernous holes. Days when you can’t find your way because of the darkness and you search for a single ray of light and see absolutely nothing.
Don’t be alarmed. Remember that your walk is not by sight but by faith. And God, according to Isaiah 50:10, agrees with you: There are times when it’s hard to see even a single ray of brightness in your circumstances. But even in the blackness, God promises you will find Him. Close. Near. He says, “You’re safe, I would never lose you.”
Lord of Light, thank You that you are the one who brightens any darkness. You are always close and near. Bless You for being everpresent, no matter how dark the circumstances. You, Lord, are my light!