“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” Ephesians 5:8 (NLT) / Pixabay
Complete Darkness
Living in a place where others come to vacation is a gift! I love hearing tourists’ comments about the beauty of my little corner of the world! I live in the shadow of the highest point in the state which offers views that take your breath away. Not far from me are rocks that draw climbers from all over and just down the road are amazing caverns formed millions of years ago by water dissolving the limestone that is plentiful in our area. Drip by drip, magnificent formations grew in to what is now a popular destination.
Taking the caverns tour has been a favorite of our guests and each time we go through I’m still awed by the artistry buried below the earth’s surface; created not by man, but by God’s hand. Once we’ve descended deep into the cave, the tour guide warns that we are about to experience the most feared part of the cavern. It’s not bats (although they’re there). It’s not rocks falling from above (even though some have). No, the scariest part of being in the cavern? Complete darkness!
Once the lights are turned off… You. See. Nothing. Your hand in front of your face? Not there! The person standing next to you? Gone! The longer you are engulfed in the blackness the more uncomfortable it becomes. Your eyes don’t adjust, moving is impossible, and all sense of your surroundings is lost. As your heart rate increases, panic begins to set in!
Doesn’t life sometimes cause us to feel exactly like we’re stranded in complete darkness? The answer we long for? Not there! Hope we’ve been searching for? Gone! The blackness of fear, grief, frustration, and so much more becomes unbearable. In panic, we look in all directions but are still unable see where to go. We. Can’t. Move.
Back in the cave, just when you wished you were anywhere else, the guide’s flashlight turns on. Here’s the amazing thing: the small glow from that one flashlight illuminates the beauty of the place you’d just felt helpless in! Even more amazing, is that we have a Guide in life who leads us to find beauty in the dark places, too!
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””
John 8:12 (NLT)
In our darkest hours, God offers The Light. On the gloomiest days, He shines The Light. When we’re wishing to be anywhere other than where we are, His Light is waiting right there to guide our way. It may be just a tiny glimmer, but when we look toward It, we’re able to see the next step where we hadn’t before.
When on the tour, it’s easy while standing in the abyss of complete darkness to forget the beauty that surrounds you, even though it’s right within your reach. It takes a light to remind you of the majesty you’re in the midst of. The same is true for us; feeling as if we’re in complete darkness steals joy, hope, and beauty from our lives. It’s when we remember to turn to His Majesty: The Light of the World, that we are reminded that Jesus has overcome the darkness completely: not just for today or tomorrow but for all eternity! Feeling lost in the dark? Just follow The Light and then BE the light for others!
Today’s prompt at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com is “darkness” so pulled this post from the archives to share. Click on over to see what enlightening things the other talented writers have to say about darkness.