There’s a Big Difference Between a Puny Flashlight and More Powerful Light

In John 8:12 it says, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.” (TLB)

We all have dark days. There are dark days of disappointment when dreams crumble and plans fall apart. There are dark days when we’re stressed out by finances or relationships, dark days of disease and divorce and losing a loved one.

When we hit those dark days, we need a guiding light.

When I have a problem I can’t control, I don’t typically turn to God. Instead, I decide that I’ll figure it out on my own. I go back in the recesses of my mind to an emotional chest of drawers and pull out all kinds of little flashlights.

I pull out the flashlight that says “Relationships” and start shining it on my life. I think if this <fill in the blank> would just happen, then life would be great.

When that doesn’t work, I pull out another flashlight that says “Job/Career.” If I could just change jobs, then everything would be right again. But that doesn’t work either.

So we try the “Sex” or “Money” or “Seminar/Self-help” flashlights, hoping to make the way clearer.

And when that doesn’t work, I may even pull out another flashlight that says “Location.” If I could just move to another state or wherever, then things would get better. But then I realize that when I move to another location, I take all of my problems with me—because the biggest problem is inside me.

I don’t need a flashlight. I need the Light. In fact, I need the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is not some puny little flashlight. He is a searchlight! He is a giant, powerful light that lets me see five miles down the road.

In my dark days, I shouldn’t put my trust in the flashlights that depend on my own power. Instead, just flip the switch that turns on God’s light in my life—in other words, have faith. When I tell God that I don’t know which way to go and that I’m feeling unsure and confused, but that I’m going to trust him anyway, that’s faith.

Ask Jesus to help me to trust him, and he will.

“I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path” (John 8:12 TLB).

In summary, Jesus called himself the light of the world. The pillar of fire represented God's presence, protection, and guidance. Likewise, Jesus brings God's presence, protection, and guidance. I need to make him the light of my world. As his follower I should follow him as a soldier follows his captain. Just as I follow the laws of our nation, so should I follow the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

What to Do With Life’s Disappointments

In Luke 2:37 I read, “[Anna] did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.” (CSB)

When Anna’s circumstances would have made it easy to do otherwise, she chose to focus on God’s presence and to tell everyone she could about Jesus.

Anna had been a widow for 84 years. The love of her life had died when Anna was still very young. This wasn’t what she had planned for herself. Disappointment could have made her bitter. But the Bible gives us a different picture. Luke 2:37 says, “[Anna] did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers” (CSB).

When Anna’s husband died, she could have chosen to let her love die too. Instead, she wisely redirected her love to God. She spent her days and nights focusing on his presence instead of her disappointment.

If you haven’t yet, one day I may find someone I want to love is no longer there. What do I do with my love in those circumstances? If I’m wise, I’ll focus on God’s presence and redirect my love.

I’ve seen many couples make this decision when they’re longing for a baby but can’t have one. I’ve seen them adopt or become foster parents. They’ve taken their love and redirected it. They’ve focused on God’s presence by giving his love to one of the many children in the world in need of it.

Anna also made a second wise decision when her husband was no longer there for her to love. After spending years in God’s presence at the temple, she finally met Jesus, and immediately began spreading the Good News about him.

When Jesus was eight days old, Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple, and Anna was there. The Bible says: “At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free” (Luke 2:38 CEV).

From the moment she met Jesus, she started telling other people about him. The Bible says, “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV). Anna was wise because she chose to tell other people about the Good News of Jesus’ arrival.

During this Christmas season, I can make that same decision. People around me likely will be more open to spiritual truth than at any other time of the year. No matter what disappointments I’ve faced this year, choose to be like Anna. Refocus my love on God and tell people about Jesus. That’s a wise decision.

In summary, serve God night and day with fasting and prayers. When Anna’s circumstances would have made it easy to do otherwise, she chose to focus on God’s presence and to tell everyone she could about Jesus. Disappointment could have made her bitter, however when Anna’s husband died, she could have chosen to let her love die too. Instead, she wisely redirected her love to God. She spent her days and nights focusing on his presence instead of her disappointment. One day I may find someone I want to love is no longer there. What do I do with my love in that circumstance? If I’m wise, Like Anna, I’ll focus on God’s presence and redirect my love. Anna was wise because she chose to tell other people about the Good News of Jesus’ arrival. I can make that same decision. No matter what disappointments I’ve faced this year, choose to be like her and refocus my love on God and tell people about Jesus. That’s a wise decision.

“Father, in the middle of a strange Christmas season at the end of a long, difficult year, I thank you for the greatest gift of all, your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for sending him to pay for my sins. Thank you for your promise of eternal life to those who accept this gift. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with faith to trust in your promises like the three wise women of Christmas, Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna, have taught me. Help me to choose to trust your plan instead of being bitter. Help me to believe your Word instead of my fears. Help me to focus on your presence, not my disappointment, and talk to everyone about Jesus. Father, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus’ name, amen. 

When I’m Discouraged, Realize That The Lord Is Close

In summary of Psalm 34:18 it says, “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.”

Bottom Line:

When you feel discouraged, The Lord is close by.  He will save those who have lost hope.

What this means to me:

God is closer than I think.  He is especially close when I’m discouraged or have some type of heartbreak.  He will save those who have lost hope.  This is very comforting, because everybody has had their heart broken in some way — maybe by disappointment, fear, shame, rejection, or ridicule. God cares about it. He’s hurt with me. While I’m weeping, He is weeping, too.  It is in my pain that God is closest to you, whether I realize it or not.  God saves us by giving us a heart transplant. God says, “For the heart that’s guilty, I’ll give you a heart that’s forgiven. For the heart that’s resentful, I’ll give you a heart that’s full of peace. For the heart that’s anxious, I’ll give you heart that’s confident. For the heart that’s lonely, I’ll give you a heart full of love. That heart that has been bitter and angry? I’ll give you a heart that is forgiving and loving and generous instead. I just need to let him do a heart transplant in me. When I do, he sets me free.  I need freedom, because I allow myself to be a slave to the expectations of other people. I’m a slave to past memories. I’m a slave to future fears. I’m a slave to current pressure. I’m a slave to the opinions of society, and on and on and on.  All I need to do is open my heart to Jesus Christ.  In summary, I will open my heart to him, and let him transplant it for his own.

Combating Discouragement

In summary of Nehemiah 4:10 it says, “Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.””

Bottom Line:

The people began to complain; the work is tiring and so much to do still.  Completion of the wall looks insurmountable.

What this means to me:

There are situations in my life that are similar to what the People of Judah experienced.  They were in the process of a great task of rebuilding the walls of the city to protect themselves.  

They had enemies threatening them from all sides and the rubble that needed to be cleared along will the building the wall left them discouraged.  So they began to complain.  This chapter illustrates four reasons for discouragement.  

• Fatigue - we are only human and naturally we get tired.  It is difficult to ‘burn the candle on both ends.’  When discouragement comes, it may be time for a break or vacation.
• Frustration - in this passage there is the mention of so much rubble all around and it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall.  I can equate rubble with the trivial things that tend to waste my time and energy, they are the things the prevent me from accomplishing what God has called me to do.  When I’m discouraged I may need to clear away some of the rubble (trivial things) in my life.
• Thoughts of failure - In this chapter Nehemiah's people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned and so their confidence collapsed.  I need to be careful to not fall into the realm of self-pity or blaming others for not getting ahead in a task.  Instead of thinking or complaining about the task as being impossible, I should refocus on God’s intentions and start moving forward again.
• Fear - giving into fear will destroy my life if I let it.  I can instead choose to resist the discouragement that comes from fear.

Overall the key is to take my eyes off of the problem or circumstances and turn to God, keeping my eyes on Him and His goals for me.

God's Shield of Faith Provides Protection

In summary of Ephesians 6:16 it says,

“At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.”

Bottom Line:

Use the shield of faith, it can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.

What this means to me

The enemy will do all he can to distract me, cast doubts, and cast burning arrows my way.  This verse reminds me to always carry with me and use the shield of faith, as it can extinguish and stop what the enemy casts my way.  Because I have decided to be a follower of Jesus, I have fiery darts coming at me all the time (I’m a target.). His fiery darts are items Satan implants into the thoughts of my mind such as:

• Doubt. asking myself, “Did God really say? Can I really trust God? Isn’t that just your interpretation?”
• Discouragement. Satan tells me, “I’m never going to get any better. My life won’t change. I shouldn’t even try.
• Delay. I start asking myself, “Why is this taking so long?”
• Difficulty. I ask myself, “Why is this so hard? Why is it so hard to make _______ work? Why is it so hard to do ______?”
• Depression. I tell myself, “It’s not worth it.”
• All these darts can come my way on a regular basis. They create uncertainty in my life. In times of great uncertainty these fiery darts will fly even faster. My best action is to just be ready for them.

Paul provides me with a proper antidote to these fiery darts: the Shield of Faith. The Bible says, “At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One” (Ephesians 6:16 GNT). The Shield of Faith is my only protection against doubt, discouragement, delay, difficulty, and depression. I need to Trust God, no matter what I see, hear, or feel about the world around me. I need the certainty of God when I face the uncertainty of Satan’s fiery darts.  In short, I’ll need to learn how to doubt my doubts and believe my beliefs. Most other normally do the opposite. They doubt their beliefs and believe their doubts. The truth I need to hold onto is, “God said it, and that settles it.” God’s truth isn’t based on whether I believe it or not. It’s still true even if when I don’t believe it, because God can’t lie.  It is the certainty that God’s promises are true even when they don’t appear to currently be true in my life.  Whenever I start believing my doubts and doubting my beliefs, Satan cracks a door open in my life, and he’ll use that door to attack me on many levels.  I can’t ever take off the Shield of Faith, either. Paul tells me to wear it “at all times.” Satan will never stop throwing his fiery darts at me. I am to stay on my guard. Trust God and his Word, no matter what’s going on in life.