I woke early this morning. Wide awake & thoughts fully engaged. In the dim light in our kitchen, I waited for the coffee to finish, poured a cup & headed to my desk. I read some Scriptures, then emails & sat thinking about what I had read.

Life can be so hard at times. We each face circumstances that, to us, are insurmountable. We take strides. We hit setbacks. We keep trudging on. A dear one in my life expressed it well:

Every day seems to bring more and more problems which overshadow the small glimmers of hope.

Small glimmers of hope. Hardly any light at all. Just hanging on looking for the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” (Isaiah 9:2 NLT).

The words I had read earlier echoed in my head. These words, penned long ago, spoke of a hope of a Messiah. The Messiah. The people were in darkness before His birth in that lowly manger. And it was at His birth that a light began to shine.

And it continues to shine centuries later.

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”

It is in the dark night of our situations that He shines His light. We need not live in darkness any longer. He brings light. He brings hope into our situations. He is the light of the world. The light to each of us.

“Your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.” (Isaiah 58:8 NLT).

He is before us & He is behind us. He hems us in. Dawn comes after the darkness & dispels it. Yes, Jesus came that Christmas Day centuries ago. The light dawned & has been shining ever since. May we see the light. A great Light in the midst of our darkness.