For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT)

Complete

Just a few miles from my house is an example of God’s artistry. Long before it was discovered far beneath the earth, not by human hand but drip by drip, a cavern full of stalactites and stalagmites was formed. Once unseen, now the extraordinary beauty can be experienced first hand. Anyone who knows me also knows that I don’t like closed in spaces like a cavern, but there’ve been times I’ve put on my big girl pants, prayed a lot, and taken the tour. I’m always thankful to make it out the other side!

While on the tour the guide explains the different formations, tells fun stories about their names, and warns you of the most feared thing in the cave. Any guesses? It’s complete and total darkness or as they like to call it, TD. There’s a sign at the top of the stairs leading to the opening in the earth. It warns you not to attempt to enter the cave without a guide and it’s advice to be heeded! When the lights go out it’s an eery feeling. While you know your feet are on the rock beneath them, in TD there’s a sensation of floating. Able to see absolutely nothing around you, not even your hand in front of your face, you loose all sense of direction. As you might predict, my breathing quickens and panic begins to set in. 

But then, an amazing thing happens. The guide turns only their flashlight on and in that complete darkness even a small ray of light illuminates the entire cave! I let out a sigh of relief and feel confident (and anxious) to move forward on the path for the rest of the tour.

Navigating through this often dark world can be difficult, too and sometime’s it seems impossible. We feel adrift, can’t see what’s ahead, don’t know what we might be facing, and panic begins to set in. That’s our “sign” that we should not make our way through life without The Guide.

“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)

Following Jesus doesn’t mean that our path will always be easy. We may still find ourselves buried beneath grief, smothered by fear, engulfed in deep troubles, and unable to see our way out. But, we don’t have to stay there. When we stand anchored on the Rock we can be confident that even in our darkest times, no matter how small it seems, His Light will be enough to completely illuminate our way, as He leads us out on the other side.  

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” John 12:46