Can Someone Turn on the Light?

They told me we were a mile in. They then turned out the lamps and we were launched into utter darkness. I put my hand directly in front of my face, and I still couldn’t see it. The darkness was complete. I was in the depths of a coal mine.

My job had me going down to verify equipment the company said they had. Since the equipment ran in the millions of dollars, I needed to verify its existence. That’s how I found myself in complete darkness that day. At least in that experience, I was pretty sure they would quickly turn the lights back on. Thankfully they did.

We sometimes aren’t sure in life when light will penetrate our darkness. Darkness can take many different forms for us – a health diagnosis, a lost loved one, a job termination, a wayward child. The list goes on. Whatever form that darkness takes, we have the promise of a light the darkness cannot hide. Jesus assures us that He is the light in John 8:12, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” His comment in the book of John is a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2 promising the Messiah, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”

That day in the coal mine when all the lights were turned off, we could see nothing. But when even one tiny flashlight was turned on, so much was visible. The darkness could not overcome that light. And even in depths of the earth, Jesus was with me. There is no place we can go away from His presence. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Whatever you may be walking through in this season of your life, allow Jesus to penetrate the darkness with His light. Seek His direction and promises from God’s Word. By shining God’s truth on your problem, the darkness can no longer overtake you.

And in this season of Christmas, when we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, the Light of the world, remember that the darkness cannot overtake you. Each time you see a symbol of light, like a candle or star, take a moment to thank your Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son. Merry Christmas!