I recently heard a comedian talk about how scary the dark is. He told a story about tucking his kids in at night, giving them a warm smile and the classic “There’s nothing to be afraid of!” speech, shutting their door, and then immediately sprinting down the hallway like a hunted animal and flipping on every single light in the house because he was scared of the dark.
It made me laugh. Because isn’t that so much of parenting? Telling our kids (or ourselves) that everything is fine, while deep down we’re like, “IS it fine?”
We can tell our children all we want that the dark isn’t scary. But if we’re honest, the dark, in its broadest sense, is scary. We all know it. It’s the unknown. The hard things. Death. Evil. Sickness. All the things we can’t control. Most of us live our daily lives surrounded by that kind of dark while longing to rest in the warm safety of the light. Right?
Which is why the first words in the Bible are more than just an origin story.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
—Genesis 1:1,3
And then, we flip to John and read,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
—John 1:1,4
There was a cure for darkness long before Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem. He was in the beginning. Before mangers. Before animals. Before Adam and Eve. Even before any of the brokenness.
At the very beginning, before anything was made, Jesus was already there (John 1:2). Already present. Already powerful. Already light. Jesus is the light we crave as we look at the darkness, and from the beginning, He had a plan to rescue us from the dark and bring us into His “marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9).
Paul wrote in Colossians 1:16–17 about Jesus that “all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”
Jesus was holding galaxies together before He ever took His first breath as a baby. Holding you together before you even existed. And He’s doing the same thing now.
As we enter the Advent season, we’re not just remembering the birth of an extra-special baby. We’re worshipping the King of kings who reigns today and always has. We’re looking to the Light of the World who stepped into the darkness—not to destroy us but to save us.
We don’t have to fake parental peace while quietly panicking. We don’t have to numb ourselves with screens and scrolling and snacks. We can be honest about the dark we see because the Light has already come. Already held. Already won. And He’s coming again.
The Light has come, and the Light is coming again. With the Light we’re safe. Even now.
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275 thoughts on "He Was with God in the Beginning"
Thank you God!!!
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Resting in His sovereignty and keeping my eyes on Him for my joy and purpose! To often I get swept up in the things of the world- distracted with others opinions or being busy. When all that truly matters is worshiping the Lord and resting in His love!
Etching this into the very fiber of my being. In this dark season I’m in… there is light, there has always been light and there will always be light… Jesus.
Amennnn
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He is the only true light in the darkness of this world, our fears and our doubts.
even now♥️
Thank you, sweet Jesus, that you were the light before the world began and you continue to be the light in a dark world. Shine the light in me so that I may shine your light to others. Thank you for your preeminence in all parts of our lives!
I woke up the early, early morning in a rare
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I was praying about a lot of difficult, dark things going on in my life right now that have been causing me to feel paralyzed by fear. Then I read this devotional. What incredible timing! I’m holding onto the promise that I’m safe in the light, even now.
Such a refreshing way to explain this!
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In every dark turn, Jesus is right there shedding light and covering us with His light.
With Jesus there is no darkness.
With the light that always was there’s no reason to fear the darkness that is
Such a comforting reminder ❤️
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Praise Him!
Light of the world who stepped out into darkness ✨
I love this!
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The verse that stood out to me was Colossians 1:16. He has created everything, including kingdoms and rulers. Even when we think there’s war and unrest and division, God has created it all and will use it for His good.
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“We can be honest about the dark we see because the Light has already come. Already held.
Already won. And He’s coming again. The Light has come, and the Light is coming again. With the Light we’re safe. Even now.” ⭐️
I like that part too♥️✨
So beautiful!
Oh gosh! Amen!
Love this!
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Oh, yes! This was just what I needed to hear today! Amen!
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Thank you God for knowing all things and establishing a plan to bring light to our darkness. Jesus, you are my light. ❤️
Wow this is so beautiful. And an echo to all the John I’ve been reading lately and the very verses that stick out to me. The whole light thing didn’t make sense to me as a kid really. But it does now. My dad would turn off all the lights and then light a candle. It was sweet. Broken family is still there and I’m praying that God lights a candle in that darkness
“Jesus was holding galaxies together before He ever took his first breath as a baby”….wow! What an image! Thank you!
As small as a mustard seed is, that is all the faith needed. Same goes for light. A light in a dark room, small as a mustard seed will be so bright. I hope that makes sense. ❤️❤️
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Held me together before I was in need of being held together! ❤️
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Our glorious light has stepped into our darkness- praise the Lord!
“Even before the brokenness…there was a cure for the darkness” – yes, the quote is flipped but reading it originally made me stop reading and get out my journal and think more about this. So many times the answer to so many questions and the solution to many problems has been there the whole time, and this really struck me today
“In Him all things hold together”. Father, help me see you are the One holding me together.
Amen !
Hallelujah, Amen!
Even now! Amen!
We are safe even now!
Even now!!!
Praying for you all during this season! The advent season is my absolute favorite ❤️ I hope it’s a joyful time for you all
Praying for perfect peace during a season that is far from peaceful and far from the family that I miss. God was then, He is now, and He will forever be!
So beautifully said!
“All things created by Him and for Him….” Even the dark is by Him and for Him. He uses even the darkness to bring us to Himself. What a God!
Because of His light, we have hope!
I love the devotional for today so much in there in just one page. Jesus being the light and knowing we as humans would need the light in a dark world. He was the light for us even before being born. That is powerful and pure love. I am learning to love Jesus more and more everyday.
I am sharing my readings with my two teen boys and it’s just day 2 and we are digging into the scriptures and filling our evenings with scripture and preparing our hearts to celebrate His birth.
“We don’t have to fake parental peace while quietly panicking”. Such a timely reminder. I will be carrying this thought with me through this Christmas season. As discussed in Day 1, I do often think of Christmas as separate from my day-to-day struggles but it is in fact the answer, the fulfillment, the hope. “He is before all things and in Him all things hold together” (Col 1:17). He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is everything.
I love this! We don’t have to fake in front of our children. It’s ok for them to know that sometimes we are also afraid of the dark. This gives us an opportunity to teach them to trust the Lord, that He is the light and He will freely give it.
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Love this take on Jesus being the light of the world. Our world today is filled of news that makes you wonder if there is an end to all these darkness. Today’s devotional is a great reminder that Jesus overcame the darkness. Before he was born, he already shown the light and held the universe in His hands he has to come to fulfill providing people salvation as a one for all sacrifice for sin so that we can enjoy Him as light of the world that before there was only darkness an
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Marvel that Jesus came to earth on a rescue mission with YOU on HIS mind! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
I have to be honest. This is really giving me a new perspective of The Light of the World and it’s one that I have needed to see. I love this time of year but lately I have been struggling with thoughts of feeling guilty that I am joyful while knowing others are struggling with loss. This is a darkness that lots of us know, the pain and darkness of loss. But thanks to Jesus I can step back and remember that though those we’ve – my family – lost are not here with us they are somewhere truly better. They are with The Light of the World and they’re most likely, ok definitely, having way better Christmases or any other holiday for that matter than they ever did here because they are no longer experiencing the darknesses that we faces each and everyday. When I think of that, it just blows me away. I’m so glad that I know the Light of the World and am experience only the kind of peace He can give. (P.S. truthfully this all just came to me. Thanks SheReadsTruth for allowing God to use you to speak these things to me and giving me a way to share these thoughts with other like minded individuals.)
Amen
Such a powerful reminder ❤️
i can be honest with the darkness i face because i know Jesus has already defeated it! the light always wins and will always overcome the darkness
Hallelujah!
Jesus is my light no matter what I am facing in life.
Love the idea of being able to be honest about the darkness we face. We don’t have to hide it because it has no dominion over us BECAUSE JESUS
“with the light we are safe”❤️
As I read today all that ran through my head was the song breath of heaven… “ breath of heaven hold me together( col 1:17) be forever near me, breath of heaven. Breath of heaven light in my darkness (John 1:4) pour over me your holiness for you are holy, breath of heaven…”
Loved this simple reminder that Jesus holds together all our brokenness and as we wait for him to return again to make all things new we can wait with hopeful expectation that he will always be faithful to his word!
Beautiful correlation! Love that the HS brought this to you. ❣️
JULIE LEE ❤️ thanks for reminding us of the at song. Such a lovely reflection.
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“Jesus was holding galaxies together before He ever took his first breath as a baby…” I am shooketh! So good!
Amen
Yes!! I liked this too!
I’m so very thankful for His light through my dark season of infertility. It has been a long 7 years in this darkness, but I know He has a plan for me. I am thankful that He is the light guiding me through.
I’m so excited to do my first Advent reading plan. I am learning so much!
Keep clinging to Him as you are doing now. I have been in this season before for 3-1/2 years, and I’m there again for a second time. My hope this time is to keep my eyes on Jesus as he is the only one who sustains us through a season where bitterness and disappointment thrive. God is good. He is faithful even when we can’t see what he is doing in the growth of our families. Praying for you.
I loved reflecting on how He is the only one that can fully provide us light and he has been the light since the beginning! It is so beautiful.
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This season always feels so dark. My family has faced a lot of heavy loss around Christmas. As much as that loss has hurt, remembering Jesus has and will always be the light guides me through this season.
Prayers to you and your family
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Love this! Thank you God for giving us light in the darkness. ❤️
Amen
he who holds the universe holds us too ❤️
I love this! Thank you Jesus for your light. For stepping into our chaos (darkness) and bringing the true light.
So crazy to think that he knew me and what his plan was for me before I was even here. The comfort of knowing I will be okay, there is a plan.
I think it’s so fitting with this time of year it gets dark early and you hear so many people talking about feeling sad or more depressed because of the darkness. It’s such a relief to remember the light of the world is Jesus and his light never dins and in him we are safe!
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Beautiful insights today ladies. Happy Advent! This will be my 3rd with SRT. Welcome to all the new people! This is a GREAT community of like minded women.
Light of the World by Chris Tomlin matches this reading well.
With the light we are safe. Amen
I have found myself scrolling and eating snacks to numb the pain of the darkness. A lot has changed within this past year and it’s consistently hard. I feel like I’ve lost hope and I’m constantly in despair. A lot of relationships are fractured (coming from a dysfunctional family and choosing boundaries) my relationship with my dad, my mom, uncles, I even lost a relationship with a close friend. In the midst of that I’m struggling with depression and walking through trauma. God meets us where we are and I pray he would meet me where I am. I’m getting married in a few months and life doesn’t look how I expected it too. It feels like everything around me is broken.
My heart goes out to you, Monica! May you feel love and support from prayers in this community. We are here for you! ❤
I will be praying for you, Monica. May God bring His peace and joy into your life.
Praying you will feel God’s perfect peace, sweet sister! ❤️
Praying you will feel God’s perfect peace, sweet sister! ❤️
I find hope in knowing that He was there in the beginning and that all of it was intentional. The words spoken in Genesis were a foreshadowing of the words spoken in John. ❤️
Love this: clarity, peace and hope. ❤️
Holding me before my first breath even…what a comforting feeling
Amen
With the LIGHT we’re safe.
Even now. ❤️❤️❤️!!!!
These passages really reminded me that Jesus is the true Light I need. He alone brings clarity, peace, and hope even in all the chaos
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
His Light Endures Forever!
So comforting in the midst of darkness that tries to pull us down and away from the ever present light and life with our awesome God.
Love this ❤️
hello, She’s! How wonderful to be reminded Jesus is the Light of the World and when the darkness creeps in His light causes the darkness to flee!
This was a great reminder that Jesus is the light of the world and HAS been from the very beginning. I love this! Thank you!
Amen❤️
One of my favorite things about this Christmas/Advent season is all the lights, always drawing us to think of our Savior!
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LIGHT always dispels darkness! Thank you Jesus that you are are Light!
Tidings of comfort and joy— I am looking forward to spending some time receiving comfort and joy each morning this advent! Who wouldn’t want that?!
What a beautiful devotion today! How wonderful that our Savior is ever present!
Happy Advent shes. Last Friday I was so blessed to join our church advent dinner for women. It was formal, lovely and more than I could expect, in which the Lord reminded me to be a Mary and not a Martha during the holiday season. And it was during this dinner that God showed me that He literally prepared a table before me, a 3 course meal with turkey and all, with worship and Christmas caroling. I wanted to cry because of thankfulness. I didn’t have to cook and serve, but just to sit and listen. Oh the heart of God for His children is vast and unsearchable. This morning I was reading my beloved book “My utmost for His highest” by Oswald Chambers and I wanted to share this devo that touched me so much, especially on the topic of despair.
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The Delight Of Despair
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And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. — Revelation 1:17
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It may be that like the apostle John you know Jesus Christ intimately, when suddenly He appears with no familiar characteristic at all, and the only thing you can do is to fall at His feet as dead. There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awfulness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair; if you are ever to be raised up, it must be by the hand of God. “He laid His right hand upon me.” In the midst of the awfulness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. The right hand not of restraint nor of correction nor of chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father.
Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it is ineffable peace and comfort, the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms,” full of sustaining and comfort and strength. When once His touch comes, nothing at all can cast you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, and to say — “Fear not.” His tenderness is ineffably sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Watch some of the things that strike despair. There is despair in which there is no delight, no horizon, no hope of anything brighter; but the delight of despair comes when I know that “in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” I delight to know that there is that in me which must fall prostrate before God when He manifests Himself, and if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I get to the limit of the possible.
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Be blessed dear sisters.
Greetings Mercy
Your description of the Advent Dinner for women brought joy to my heart, as if I had pulled up to the table. His Word is opulent! Feast on it forever!
And I have the classic “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers as well. Thanks for bringing it up & calling us deeper into prayer life.
Best regards this December to you & those you love!
Oh wow, that is powerful, that are flesh must fall prone in front of Him, to be lifted up! That’s why I love jail ministry so much, b/c they cannot save themselves, and they are ready to reach for Him! And they will be lifted up by Him! Oh it is so beautiful! I have fell on my knees in despair and brokenness and he lifted me up!
I am praying my nephew comes to the end of himself to finally need to let it all fall off..like us all, pride, self-sufficiency, stubbornness! Lord, let me surrender it all to you, my Jesus that came to save me!!
I am so happy you got to be served and blessed my friend!! I don’t think you realize all you have on you with your full-time work, wife, and mother of three young ones!! YOU deserve to sit at the table and worship our Father, without any distractions!! I have missed you here!
Mercy thank you for sharing this! I remember my mom reading this book constantly, now I want my own copy !
Thanks, Mercy! I have this wonderful book, too, and need to ‘dust it off’ and use it again. That would be a great bedtime devo! ❤
Much love sisters ❤️ how thankful I am for you all.
He holds ALL THINGS. Praise he
Loved the reminder that Jesus has been holding galaxies together before he ever took his first breath. He’s been holding me before I ever existed and he’s still holding me together now. I’m safe with him.
Thank you God for the light of the world
I don’t know if you all use the Youversion Bible app at all, but I really love to highlight scripture or underline passages and then see what others have said about them or see what other commentary in different Bibles are. You can even do Bible plans together. Sometimes I put my pastor’s message in there with the highlighted scriptures that he is focusing on and share that. I really think it is a great app. If you are interested in that my name is Tricia Cavanaugh. I have a camo shirt on in my picture.
❤ good to know! I sometimes share their Scripture posts on FB, but don’t do anything else with them.
I absolutely love that every story in the Bible is connected and this just proof that he loves us beyond comprehension. All of this was planned out without us having to put in a second thought.
Yes, it is so utterly beautiful! There are no words to do it justice
Cannot believe it is already Advent season, but I am so grateful to be here reading with the SRT community. This is my tenth Advent reading as a She and I am so thankful God brought me here.
Jesus is the light of the whole world! No darkness can overtake His light.
Love the tie in from Old to New Testament…….He is the Light of the world!
Such a wonderful reminder for us to start with this advant season♡
I love this so much. Currently in a season of “darkness” with a lot of unknowns in the future but what a beautiful reminder that he is our light to show us we are safe.
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Amen!!
Happy Advent! Just started using this forum and am enjoying it. Love we can celebrate Advent together. Going to work in a paper chain with my Special Needs adult daughter and we are going to write on each chain something for the day, the season or the coming year and then hang it up! Today I am grateful I can spend time in the word and write this message. Everyone have a blessed day!
Love that! ❤
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Thank you Father that you hold all things together even before we know they are falling apart.
May we allow His light to shine through us to the world around us! Let’s not just be consumers but give generously of all that God has given us…grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, light, hope, joy, peace, Patience, gentleness, humility, self-control and whatever we can to a lost world! Give Jesus! It’s easy for me to focus what I need from Jesus but what can I give back to Jesus by giving to others. I think I need to focus more on this.
He brought Light to my life what can I give back to Him by extending it to others?
Praying for all. Have a blessed day!
Thank you for that remainder to “give”.
My word this is so, so good. I need to be reminded of the LIGHT that Jesus brings to my world. That he “was holding galaxies together before He ever took His first breath & holding me together before I even existed. And He’s doing the same thing now.” God is so good. HE is worthy of all worship and praise.
My prayer request is for pain relief due to arthritis. I am recovering from hip replacement surgery but have sciatic pain, shoulder and wrist pain. There are times that I feel like I get 1 thing fixed and something else falls apart. There are others here who deal with chronic pain as well. Thank you❤️
Praying for you that you will feel His healing hand over every joint ,nerve and sinew where pain persists and that you will feel His palpable
presence as the days go by.
Praying, Linda for continued healing from your hip surgery and relief from your arthritis.
Reading those two passages back to back (Genesis 1, 3 and John 1, 4) is powerful. God is omniscient and knew what we needed before we were even formed.
It’s so fun when memory verses pop up again,!
“We don’t have to fake parental peace while quietly panicking” fits into many scenarios. Thank you, Lord for you light and peace.
Does anyone need prayer today? I would love to pray for you!
Light of the World❤️❤️Thanks to God for His indescribable gift!
I love that God gave us light in the world first because He knew we needed it. He also gave us Jesus because He knew we needed Him. Wow! God loves us so much!
So thankful that He is our constant light in the darkness and that He holds it all together.
This verse is among my very favorites and recall it often, reminding my heart that He is in control of all things. Todays passages draw it all together that He is the light as He holds it all together and what an encouragement that is. Thank you Father✝️
‘He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.’ Col 1:17
Great comments and sharing this morning – my reply is only sporadically working to respond but thank you. Welcome once again to so, so many new faces. I will also always give a plug to listen to the podcast. So insightful, beneficial and helpful in bringing further understanding to the weeks readings. :)
Happy advent ❤️
My dependence is “solely” on Him! I trust Him ONLY! He has me and always will. Praying I stay focused on the season and why I exist today and how far I’ve come ONLY because of my Jesus! A little side note funny story. I had to laugh a little when I read the introduction of Scarlet’s story regarding the dad and the darkness. My is totally different but yet I found my self fearful when my daughter and I hopped on a plane bound to Oklahoma assuring her everything is fine and no big deal, yet inside I was SO scared as it had been many years since I had been on a plane, but I needed to be brave for her. That was four years ago and we had a blast! Happy Monday sweeties! So excited to go back to work as I missed those little munchkins and can’t wait to see their sweet faces!
Amen ❤️
John 1:4 is such a powerful and underappreciated verse
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God the Creator lives in unapproachable light, lights so brilliant we cannot draw near. So He sent His son, the light of men, to draw us to Himself. So thankful we don’t have to live in darkness.
Looking forward to the podcast. I listen as a drive to work. ❤️
Blessed that Jesus is the light and that we have peace and comfort! He is our guiding light and we can rest in that. He is before all things
Good Morning Shes
You know by now, I’m a SRT podcast devotee. To forecast in a fun & informative way the week ahead in our scripture readings & devotionals. As we begin Advent. The greatest story ever told.
Annie F. Downs is at the mike with Raechel & Amanda. That woman with the infectious laugh & huge heart for Christ & the Bible. One of my main takeaways was to “persevere” in the reading plan over the next five weeks. We need not be “perfect”. That is not a “prize” or the “point”. God meets us smack dap in our messiness. Seasonal & not. A missed day – or days. No problem. Read the “headlines”. The narrative will come later.
Not everyone “gets” the podcast. Time or interest wise. No shame, my sister She. It is over an hour.
I might sit still & take notes in the Monday morning quiet. Someone else might listen with headphones or air pods during the commute, or while doing chores, or finishing up the day. Some might even listen at the weekend to review, reflect, rest. Whatever works! Again, no pressure. Just one of myriad ways we might enter into the beauty, goodness & truth of this season.
Yes, I anticipate the SRT podcast.
But the real anticipation is for His arrival.
Have a wonderful week,
whatever you do,
wherever life takes you!
With LOVE.
We’re safe! Amen
Jesus is the light of the world and in Him we have peace and comfort! He is our guiding light through life and we can rest in His presence!
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Jesus is the light of the world. I’m tired of being in the dark and am so thankful that Jesus has come to be light. My light.
“Jesus was holding galaxies together before He ever took His first breath. Holding you together before you ever existed. And He’s doing the same now.” Whew! I needed that. This holiday season looks different due to loss of loved ones and He truly is holding it all together. The Light in the darkness, the joy amongst the grief. ❤️
Light brings so much warmth, joy and alertness. I think of this winter season where gray days are prevalent and so grateful the light is there even if we cant see it! ☀️
God has been our true source of light since the very beginning. May these scriptures and the SRT faith community be reminders of his light in an often a crazy, dark world.
Wow, the first two days! They seem to say it all for Advent! The light that is, was, and is to come! The light that we have in us!! Lord, help us to understand that he is in us, and we are overcomers to the darkness! We have won! It is unstealable light! Nothing can take it from us because it is the light of Salvation!
The light is our HOPE! Without it we fall into dread, fear, anxiousness, despair, bitterness…or lighter forms of scrolling, avoidance, and business. People of Jesus need to be the ones that have the understanding that we know hope! We know the answer in a anti-God, sinful, scary world- that with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit living in us, we have blessed assurance! He is with us, guiding, infilling, comforting, strengthening us…everyday through the light!!
This Christmas season, as you see the lights everywhere, see Jesus in them!! Even non believers love the lights! They are beautiful, the stars given in the dark sky from the beginning twinkling. Millions! The lights in my house every light of my soul and make me happy! I’m always sad to take them down come January! I think it is so revealing of the same of seeing joy of Jesus revealed in his people, and it is great when we see it, and sad when people have no light! I get so happy spending Sunday mornings at church with lots of light!! And they hug, and pray and comfort the ones that have been dimmed, or Searching for light that first time!!
Yesterday God gave me some personal joys! He gave me a special hug/prayer from a friend that felt just like a special hug from my mom in heaven on her birthday. He gave me a special moment with a 7 yr old. I took him in to sing a song in worship with me, and it was just as Amazing Grace was being sung, and he just leaned in to me and hugged me and said I love you! It was special b/c as an empty nesters you start missing the days gone by of your children being young! So this was a special gift bc he reminds me of my only son, now 25, missing him.
AND the biggest joy, my butterfly surprised us scooting in the chairs next to us with her 3 yr old daughter!! I remember months ago, her missing her daughter, praying to get out and to be with her. What a blessing to get to meet her, and more importantly, my butterfly wanting to come to church! God and his many sparks of light!! Thank you Jesus! Another one was a friend telling me how much a little, dollar magnet I gave her, was so impactful! It was the life verse getting her through the devastating divorce she has gone through the last 4 years and then the suicide of her adult son a couple of months ago. Thank you Jesus- That I was able to provide a needed light/reminder for her that he is still seeing her and comforting her!!
Lord, help me to see the big light this season and all the little bulbs that string them all together!!
Always good to see so many comments, knowing that God is using SRT to bring more people light this time of year!
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Love your ❤️ Rhonda J.
I’ve always been afraid of the dark, except in the mornings. There is something about meeting Jesus in the morning, while it’s still dark outside, that brings stillness and comfort to me, especially when it is restless. And the thing is that this time with God in the dark, especially during Advent, helps me to live Christmas as it shows up in the middle of our daily lives, as Amanda mentioned. My prayer for all of us is that, as we meet Christmas in the middle of life— mess and all— that we still embrace the true meaning of the season and find comfort as we wait for the arrival of baby Jesus.
Thank you for being the Light always from the beginning of time and forever! Help me hold onto you today in this season and help me reflect your light and glorify you.
Help us all to remember the Hope we have in You.
I can get so discouraged when I see so much darkness around me. But when there is darkness, the Light shines even brighter. What a wonderful truth to hold onto today and throughout this Advent season. We know the Light, and even when darkness surrounds us, when can walk confidently knowing that He, the Light, holds all things together.
Time to put my Christmas lights up so I can be reminded of that Truth all season long!
The words to Here I Am To Worship also came to my mind this morning as it did to Tina’s and others.
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Light of the world you stepped down into darkness…
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I pause to ponder those words. Jesus Christ The Light, living in the light of heaven along with God the Father and everything good and beautiful – stepped out of heaven, leaving the splendor and wonder of it behind and stepped into this world of darkness. But as He did, He brought His light with Him.
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I sometimes wonder how hard it must have been for Jesus to leave His place in heaven, and for God to say goodbye to Him, knowing what lay before Him.
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I am so forever grateful.
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Thank you Jesus for coming to shed your light.
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Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes
Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
Oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor
And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me…
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Welcome to all of the new She’s and to those returning!
Have a blessed Monday. ❤️
❤️
Sitting on John 1:4 this morning about life + light. The reminder I needed that only Jesus can provide that.
My first advent. I am currently in the darkness but I know that Jesus’ light will guide me through it. I have been leaning on him in my SRT, hoping that this plan will give me the rest energy and strength I need to face everything. I am in pain and tired so I am praying for rest and rejuvenation to get done what needs to be done to get my babies home
Dear Kirstie— praying with you that, as you lean on God during this season, He restores and refreshes your body and soul. Not sure of the situation with your babies, but also praying that God gives you clarity of what His will is, as you deal with this situation. Lean on Him. We are also here for you, sister.
Praying for you!
Praying for you, sweet sister!
❤️
Amen. O come Emanuel
A nice hope in this season
The need for light is very strong. However to counter is the fact that we need the dark or we will not know the love and warmth of the light
Dayleighn, such an important point.
“By Him all things hold together” including us. In the middle of the dark, He is the light that keeps us going and upright to make it through ❤️ very much needed this today.
❤️
Amen!
Praying the Light will shine through me today to my patients in the midst of their dark.
My first She Reads Truth study in a long time. But wow – what a powerful truth – “At the beginning Jesus was already there, already present, already powerful, already light.” Amen.
Amen
“The thing about Christmas is that it always shows up right in the middle of real life.” I love how Amanda pointed this out to us in the opening of this study. I feel this exactly! My prayer is that I can keep Jesus at the center of a chaotic Season and remember that he is right there with me during it all! “Jesus was holding galaxies together before he ever took his first breath as a baby.”❤️
Amen!
Welcome to all the new She’s!!! Glad to have you here!!
Amen. I love the last words of the devotion…. With the Light, we’re safe. Even now.
Same!
Jesus,
You were with God in the very beginning,
and You’ve always been the true light of the world.
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Thank You for bringing light into places
that feel dark or confusing in my life.
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As I move through this Advent season,
help me slow down and notice Your presence.
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Let Your light guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions today.
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Draw me closer to You, and help me trust
that You are holding all things together.
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Shine in me, Lord,
and help me reflect Your light to others.
Amen.
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“The true light that gives light to veryobe was coming into the world” John 1:9
Amen
Amen❤️
Thank you, Jesus, that you have always been there and always will be. And that we can rest in knowing you hold all of it together, in every season.❤️
BIBLEGATEWAY VERSE IF THE DAY!
“John 1:1-2; 14 (NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.”
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“We’re looking to the Light of the World who stepped into the darkness—not to destroy us but to save us.”- (Scarlet Hiltibidal)
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“Words have become cheap in our time, and we have so many of our own lights that we can hardly see the stars. This Advent, what would it look like for us to set aside our own words and wait for the Word who addresses us? What if we dimmed our own sources of light and looked for the light who came into the world? What if we set aside our own projects for ordering the world and received the Word-become-flesh with joy?” (Written by Elliot Ritzema – He Reads Truth)
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Excerpt from notes in John MacArthur Study Bible:Colossians 1:15 –
image of the invisible God.
The Gr. word for “image” is eikon, from which the Eng. word “icon” derives. It means, “copy” or “likeness.” Jesus Christ is the perfect image—the exact likeness—of God and is in the very form of God (Phil. 2:6; cf. John 1:14; 14:9), and has been so from all eternity. By describing Jesus in this manner, Paul emphasizes that He is both the representation and manifestation of God. Thus, He is fully God in every way (cf. 2:9; John 8:58; 10:30–33; Heb. 1:8). …
Jesus is the firstborn in the sense that He has the preeminence (v. 18) and possesses the right of inheritance “over all creation” (cf. Heb. 1:2; Rev. 5:1–7, 13). He existed before the creation and is exalted in rank above it. See notes on Ps. 2:7; Rom. 8:29.”
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SONG SHARE: Great Are You Lord
Song by All Sons & Daughters-
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only …
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BIG WELCOME to first timers and welcome back to all others! ❤ Still not able to reply individually more than once or twice at a time, but I have read your comments!
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Love, hugs,and prayers! ❤
I should have said “I am reading your comments” – planning to check in throughout the day!
That song share was one that I sang A LOT the last time we hosted some orphans from Malawi. The song was so popular then. And while I was SO tired (feeling like a seaport village after the Vikings had left), I was incredibly broken hearted. He strengthened and comforted me through that song. Thank you, CeeGee, for reminding me of His power through song. ❤️
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P.S…. When I do a ‘force quit” on this SRT page, it allows me to reply. It might be a good thing that we can’t reply as often as we usually do. So many good comments… we could spend all day replying, couldn’t we? Well… I know I could!
Adrienne, that blesses my heart! So glad you were blessed! Thanks for the tip! I do that, refresh, all the usual. Sometimes it works and that’s good enough☺. Agreeing about replying to everyone – as much as we want to do that. ❤
What a great reminder today that our hope is in the light that has overcome darkness. The darkness of the world seems to be closing in but we know that God has overcome the world. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. Col.1:17
Yes! For me too!
Wow. To remember that the one who was ever present, and knows me on a cellular/knit together type of way; wants to be near me and love me. What a peace and comfort in knowing that is my Jesus; my savior; the one who came for me; and everyone.
Praying, Brandi!
There has been so much darkness in my life over the past year. I’m clinging to this… that Jesus in the light. The only light that I need in this time that feels so heavy and dark. His light is already there waiting for me to look towards it. To turn from the darkness and keep facing the light. This day was exactly the truth I needed.
❤️
I’m praying for you today. – Lord please be with Karmin through this season in life that is dark and hard. Show her your light and love and goodness today so that she can know and trust that you are with her through these trials. Bring joy to this season of celebration of the gift of your son Jesus who came and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for your blessings in Karin’s life. Help her to see and feel you throughout heee day today. Amen.
Thank you!
“Darkness=the unknown”. But the Light knows all of my days, the future unknown to me but not unknown to the Light. Yes! I am safe! Praise God.”
Jesus is, was, and forever will be. How amazing is that?!? Praise His holy name.
I can stop striving to hold it all together. Jesus does that. He’s God and I’m not. I can just be held. Praise him!
Girl yes! I can relate.
Colossians 1:17 – “He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.”
I don’t know about y’all but I need some holding together! He is the light.
This really hit home today. I am so often searching for the next something – never content with just “being.” I pray during this study my eyes will be open to the true Light once again – and that I can find my peace in Him and not my surroundings.
Yes, Meagan! I feel the same–always “busy” but never content. Praying for the peace of quiet moments–within and without.
Yes Meagan! Praying along with you. Let it be so.
Amen.
Perfect. This was just perfect. Life is still chaotic during Christmas but Jesus is still there. He has always has been and always will be.
In the beginning … the Great I AM. Thank you, Lord, for Your perfect plan for our imperfect selves.
What a great reminder that Jesus is the Light with all the darkness in the world He is still in control.
“We don’t have to numb ourselves with screens and scrolling and snacks. We can be honest about the dark we see because the light has already come.” Man that hit home. I’ve been really struggling in my daily encounters lately. I always have a plan but it seemed boring and I couldn’t figure it out. Still haven’t if I’m honest. All I know is I need to fall in love with Him all over again. Pray for me would ya? For that new hunger and thirst for Him. Where the first thing I wanna do is see what His word says! I’m ready to be really consecrated! Thanks Sisters! Let’s have a good day in Him
amen, girl! I am right there with you! May God stir our hearts toward Him.
Everyday is a glorious invitation to fall in love with jesus. Praying for you
Praying for you Brandi!❤️
I am looking forward to spending time with each of you this Advent. I always read your comments but remain silent. I commit to fully joining you in this study
Great! Looking forward to seeing you here
Hi Pat!! It IS good to see your name!!
Praying this study sinks in and renews and deepens my heart, mind, and soul in the reality that is living between two Advents. Thank you God for redemption and life with Jesus.
Jesus is the Light that holds us all together!
“We don’t have to fake parental peace while quietly panicking. We don’t have to numb ourselves with screens and scrolling and snacks. We can be honest about the dark we see because the Light has already come.
Already held. Already won. And He’s coming again.” Amen!
This hit home!
Screens, scrolling and snacks. How often do I run to these to numb myself instead of finding peace and joy in His presence.
Marya, this really struck a cord with me too, and I have a feeling that we are not the only ones either. May those of us who try to numb ourselves seek the True Light instead, and live life as He intended!
Amen ❤️
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9).
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Like lightning
Emmanuel split the sky
Entering time
Taking on flesh —
And its limitations —
So that the chains of darkness
Binding the human heart
Could be broken and cast off.
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Hallelujah and amen.
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Welcome to all you first timers! May this be the first of many studies with this community.
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Welcome back to those who join the community every Advent!
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KRISTIN C – congratulations on the soon-coming little bundle of joy. Praying for a safe and healthy delivery.
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WENDY B – thankful your surgery went well and you were able to enjoy the family celebration.
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THERESE – continuing to pray for Joann’s recovery.
Amen, and to know that He made those choices for you and me, wow.
Joining you in prayer for Joann’s healing and for Kristin’s upcoming delivery.
❤️
Jesus was, is, and will always be the LIGHT in the darkness!
Thank you Jesus for being the light of the world and my life. Thank you for SRT and this community to share my Advent walk with. Thank you for being my Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I look forward to celebrating your birth and wait in faith for the day you will come again!
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
This verse is what came to my mind during today’s reading. So thankful for the light God has shone into our hearts through Christ. ❤️
“The Light has come, and the Light is coming again. With the Light we’re safe. Even now.” I have always loved Christmas lights, and over the last few years, I try to remember that they reflect the true Light. So I pray to find hope in the true Light as I pass all the Christmas lights this season.
Dear Beloved Lord Jesus, Let Your All Consuming Fire Fall Fresh on US. LIGHT US UP! Let your GLORY Saturate us! LET US SHINE SO BRIGHT WITH YOUR LOVE JESUS! Lead us today to those who Need you. Show us how to be a Blessing. We Give you Our Hearts! Fill us with Your Peace! In Jesus name Amen!
Amen! ❤
Amen!❤️
He is life and that life is light to all men! Thank you, Jesus, for opening our eyes and drawing us to You. I pray others are attracted to your light that shines through us and that they will choose to follow you!
The light is our hope and peace. He holds all things together.❤️
What an awesome read to start such a busy season. I came to the reading today with my mind racing on 101 different things I needed to to do today and stressed I won’t get it all done. But this made me stop, pause, and think about why I’m stressed when God has the whole world in His hands. Why am I stressed when the King of Kings has been providing light, peace, and understanding all this time?
I’m reminded how ‘light’ and ‘life’ are interconnected in today’s verses. Jesus is the “true light” and unless we stay closely connected to Him, we are prone to follow the counterfeit light of this world.
Father, keep us close to You today so we can walk in the Light and share it with others. Amen
Light of the world, you stepped down into our darkness, opened our eyes, let us see.. HOPE of a life spent with you..
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The light has come, and the Light is coming again. With the light we are safe..
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Even now..
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Tell me again the story of the One with the Lord, Most High.
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The Word at the beginning.
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The One with the most Beautiful, Wonderful, Powerful, name there ever was.
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Tell me about JESUS..
I’m here.
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Ready.
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Listening..
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BUT GOD.
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AMEN.
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Happy Monday, most definitely covered in hugs and love and wrapped in prayers for all..❤️❤️❤️
Tina, I just wrote the same lyrics in my workbook before I opened the app. So “here we are to worship, here we are to bow down, here we are to say that you’re our God. “ Open our eyes to see clearly in your light.
One of my favorite worship songs, TINA and DELORES!! ❤
Amen, all our Hope is in Jesus!
The very song that came to my mind when I read Scarlet’s words! ❤️
In the midst of the heaviness of our sin, the brokenness of our world, what a joy that we can cling to and have hope that the Light has already come, and already won the victory over sin and death. Encouraged to keep clinging to Him, and hopefully look to the day He will come again! He is the Light we so desperately need! Praise our glorious God!
Powerful imagery Mindy! And this reading has brought so much more meaning to the word “light”. Lots to reflect on today
The thought of the One who holds galaxies together holding ME together, just wow. Why do I ever worry about falling apart?
Inspirational quote of the year, it’s all truth.
Amen!
Yes and amen!