This morning, I’ve been contemplating my love of sunshine. As I write these words near a cafe window, the light pools through the glass onto my table and nearby books. I can feel the warmth on my skin, awakening my drowsy eyes. This past year, while road-tripping through Yellowstone National Park, I also learned the term thermophile, which is an organism that thrives in warm temperatures. I jokingly began referring to myself as a thermophile because of a shared love for environments like sunny beaches, saunas, and any place where I can feel the sun or heat directly on my skin.
Something happens when you’re in the light. There’s a transformation that takes place; under the sun’s rays, warmth and flexibility replace cold, stiff muscles. Similarly, understanding replaces fear, as there’s no monster in the closet when the lights are on. Light and gentle warmth are therapeutic techniques to put our nervous systems at ease. I imagine this is why it’s often easier to nap while lying in a hammock than in a bedroom at night!
Of course, there are always exceptions—I also have a friend who gets depressed in summer and would rather spend her days in the gray, drizzly climate of Oregon. My landlord is a 72-year-old woman with a rare skin sensitivity to light and laundry products. While not everyone loves the sun with equal measure, every follower of Jesus needs His light because it is a light that exposes sin, setting us free. It is our hope in the darkness.
From a spiritual perspective, Christ transfers love and salvation through the light of His presence. Scripture tells us God’s light is our life, splendor, and righteousness. His light is the new morning dawning, enduring and withstanding all that sets itself against it (Isaiah 60:19–22, Matthew 4:16). Like a pothos plant on the windowsill, we want to turn toward this light. We crave what the light transfers to our souls through the steady warmth and revelation it brings.
Before Jesus came to earth, this powerful, saving light was a prophetic promise that was given to God’s people through stories like the ones in our reading plan today. It was spoken of as a brightness to come. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world,” says John 1:9. But now Christ, the true Light, illuminates a hope available to all. Its “shining brightness” permeates our daily life and is here to stay (Isaiah 60:3).
Take a moment to ponder this the next time you light a candle or cozy up near the fireplace this Advent season, remembering that we are no longer bound to darkness and old thoughts or habits but, instead, become exposed to the beauty and saving grace of Christ, the light of the world.
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223 thoughts on "Hope in the Darkness"
Letting the light permeate me ✨ Thank you Jesus!
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I often have mom guilt about what i do or don’t do but I always feel accomplished, calm, and content with a day or any time I spend out in the sun!
Praying for y’all
I can understand this statement 100% mom guilt gets me all the time
That’s one of my favorite things about this time of year. Is getting cozy and drawing to the light during this season. A good reminder to draw to Jesus.
Amen!
Thankful for exposure to my sinful ways. God help me become unstuck from the cycle of depression and shame. Amen!
I am a thermophile.
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He is the light that exposes my sin to turn to Him in repentance. Thank you Lord!
i always say i’m like a flower. i blossom in the sun
Deborah
Thank you Lord for you Light ✨
Love the light!
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There truly is nothing like the sun on your skin
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Beautiful
So good!
I love love love the sunlight. It feeds my soul.
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Thank you Lord for your illuminating light ❤️
A month and a half ago, the husband of my best friend ( he was my husband’s best too) went home to be with the Lord. My friend has been in “total darkness” since. It has been so painful, but Jesus is the light. In Him there is no darkness at all. Even in pain.
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Amen❤️
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I’m so thankful he is my focal point in both the Day and Night.
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Thankful for Gods shining light. In times of darkness He has been a beacon of light for me! I pray that we continue to look for and see Gods light in all things!
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Thank the word for our beautiful sun that rises every morning as a steady reminder of your faithful love and enduring presence.
Thank you Lord that you illuminate even the darkest night. You bring hope and restore my soul with your light!
Thank you God for being my light
I love John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
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How blessed are we that in the days and moments where life seems so dark and bleak, we have someone as special as Jesus to meet us where we are and shine his light on us when we need it most. ❤️
Grateful that Jesus not only brings hope in darkness but ushers in light to illuminate the darkness. Reading “those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned” was such a beautiful picture of the hope we have in Jesus. ✨
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I love the warmth & sunshine and am so grateful I can feel that in my heart year round from knowing Jesus & inviting him into my heart! ❤️
Grateful that Jesus is the light that will be with us through these next few cold dark months! May we all feel the warmth of his love in our souls, and may it warm the rest of our bodies! ❤️
Grateful to God that the sun still rises every morning a new for us. His mercies are new every morning.
I am so thankful for the light that Jesus gave. Growing up I lived in darkness. As a kid I wanted to take my life because of how my life was but then I meet Jesus and everything changed for me. While outward circumstances did not change for long the inside part of me did which is what I have control over. To this day He is my light. 29 years and counting. Thank you Jesus for choosing to walk with me now and thank you that I get to make heaven my home.
Praise the Lord you are here to live out the life the Lord has planned for you
Thankful for his light and life that brings hope in the darkeness!!
I have had a dark few months and am looking forward to diving back into God’s word this Advent with you all. I need the light of Christ to guide my feet.
No matter how dark things may seem, the light of God’s grace is always present, guiding us toward His glory and peace ✨
Lord thank you for the warm glow of light in winter, welcoming and comforting. ✨ amen
Just getting back to today’s reading, I paused this morning 1/2 way through to toss a few balls to my dog & ended up in the ER for a bad sprain. So thankful it’s not broken!
Oh no! So glad too for you! I hurt mine with the dog last year, and broke my little toe in the middle of my foot It was a horrible pain and I had to wear a boot for 6 weeks. Thank you Lord for no break for Gayle!
Feel better Gayle❤️❤️
Amen Amen!!
Hello she’s, I am glad to be back for Advent study. I have missed you all. The surgery recovery was so tough and I was so overwhelmed. It is just strange that when we go through something physical, it affects so much the mental state. The darkness of depression drew in and I was fighting it (would appreciate your prayers for the light of joy to come). I was reading the Bible and these wonderful verses came up, and I love to share :” Through the tender next of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1: 78-79). Holiday seasons are hard for so many, including me but God. Lord guide our feet into the way of peace. Joining you in prayers. So glad to be back. Be blessed dear sisters ❤️
Edit: Through the tender mercy of our God (excuse my phone auto correct)
Praying you continue to heal and recover in Jesus’s name. Glad you are with us, Mercy. ❤️
So glad you are back with us friend, I’m sorry it was a more difficult recovery than expected. I know Joy will come, even as I pray it for you in Jesus name right now!!
Blessings in return, Mercy. Praying you not fall prey to the darkness of depression.
“Come thy dayspring, come and cheer, thy people by thy advent here”.
Good to see you back. So sorry you have had such a struggle with surgery and recovery. There is such a direct corelation between our physical struggles/challenges and our emotional well-being. May the hope of our Lord and this Advent season encourage your heart, His presence and touch bring healing in body, mind and soul.❤️
I have had a similar much-tougher-than-expected recovery from surgery, and I’m still walking through it. Will keep you in my prayers.
Thank you she’s for your love and prayers. You touched my heart and so so thankful for you.❤️❤️❤️
John 1:1-9 makes my heart leap ❤️
I loved this part…. every follower of Jesus needs His light because it is a light that exposes sin, setting us free. Wow. That’s so true. I started Freedom Ministries back in June and have found ao much freedom from past sins and now, because of Jesus’ light, I’m able to see sins more clearly and avoid committing as many as possible, if that makes sense ♡
Oh yes, that is good, I need to highlight that! We need the light..even believers, in a way that exposes! I think the more we are in the word, the more things that might “seem okay” or feel right, the Lord takes the blinders off and reveals the truth. We grow in wisdom, sanctification- becoming more holy. But it takes action on our point to also meditate, pray, grow with other Christians!
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This was such a great reminder of the fact that I am a new creation in Christ. I don’t have to follow after my old way of thinking and sinful patterns in my life. I’m just praying that I would continue to grow in Christ and continue to change the patterns.❤️
Amen Jennifer! We are made new! Reborn!! The old is gone. Praise God!
Amy, thank you for sharing! I love how thankful you here for another day. None of us are promised tomorrow, and I think that you’re more aware of it than others around you.
Happy Advent She’s!
I loved this snippet from He Reads Truth:” Light is funny like that: once it’s out, it can’t be contained or exclusively claimed by any single person or group of people. True Light, which is to say Jesus Himself, is not static or stationary; it dawned about 2,000 years ago, and His light is still dawning on our horizon too.”
I like it!
Yes! I meant to post for people to hop over there! I left a comment there that it was really insightful- and it went to the moderator. (so weird!)
Such a beautiful reminder of His role in our lives to bring light to the darkness, with hope and healing and new life.
Praying that we take time this season to slow down and soak up his light!
Much needed reminder as we enter this Advent season. Even in the darkest of times, Jesus is the light always.
A much needed reminder today. When all feels dark, there is joy and light in Jesus’ coming!
The thought of not being bound to darkness or old habits, but exposed to Christ’s light and redemption… a breath of fresh air! It’s so easy to feel trapped in everything we are, and what a relief to be reminded that we are set free!
Welcome all new sisters!❤️ I believe as Christians you all shine His light each day, in many different ways. May His ️ light burn brightly through me today.
From a scientific standpoint the relationship between Jesus and light has always excited me. Light is so interesting and hard to understand in science. It’s energy but also a particle. Our eyes are only equipped to see a small portion of all light ( I wonder if we will get more visual receptors in heaven). We measure the universe by light speed. In the same way god is both a spirit and a human. We are unable to view all of him with our tiny human minds and the universe is measured by his hands (is 40:12). God knew all this when these verses were written even if we didn’t. Hehe I love when science shows us gods presence.
I love this!
It always seems to be in the darkness of the night when depression or discouragement hits me the hardest. I praise God that Jesus gives me the hope to say, “I’ll feel better in the morning.” I thank all of you for your prayers for prodigals and unite my prayers to yours. While my youngest daughter, in prison, has been heavy on my heart lately, God mercifully reunited us with our eldest estranged daughter over Thanksgiving week. Our eternal hope in Jesus is not misplaced!
Oh praise God for the reuniting! I have such a new found grace for those in prison, and am seeing God move in there!!
I wrote about it earlier this morning how the light is shining there in the dark place!!
As a “crazy plant lady” I love the part where you talked about Pothos turning to the light because they need the light to survive. We too crave the light because we need the light to be alive in Christ! Going through the study today, my heart and prayers went out to the people who experience a lot of darkness and anxiety during the holidays. My husband being one of them. I just pray that they would come to bask in the light that Jesus is and that this holiday season would be a renewed source of hope for them!
How wonderful is our savior! The light of the world! I was awakened this AM about 2:15-wide awake (boo) so I said to God you must want something from me. I lay there for several minutes waiting for a prayer direction but nothing. I decided to shower (thank God for warm showers) climbed back into bed and there it was..my prompting. I began to thank God for His Majesty and Sovereignty. Exclamations of a wonderful Father and Savior. Who is like Him?! I went on for a while and then prayed for my family and finally fell asleep. I’m so grateful to this group and study. I pray for you ladies! ♥️♥️
Great move, Kimberly! Good insights!
Spoken as one who suffers stress induced insomnia, far too often.
My soul has been needing a consistent glow of Christ’s light as I’ve been so bad about keeping up with my devotional. I’m so excited to step back and focus on what really matters this holiday season! Beautiful day 2 devotion!
I was just reminded of a time when I was a child with my father- we were walking in the woods on a trail and it was getting dark. We had lost track of time and I am assuming my father noticed but I was starting to worry. He pointed out that the trail (no leaves just trodden earth) reflected the moonlight and that we couldn’t possibly get lost. Thus I focused on the “lighter” trail- not my fear of darkness. We made it home, my fears diminished and I was quite confident that I had learned a new skill that would always keep me safe. 35 years ago the Lord was calling me to the light, teaching me the path home is always lit. Thank you Lord for your goodness!!!
Love that! ❤❤❤
The day is just starting over here and reading this with a warm beverage next to a twinkling Christmas tree was the way to begin the week!
I love Advent season! A reminder that our Savior came to bring hope, freedom and light to our dark, dark world! One day soon He is coming AGAIN!
So good to see new sisters joining us. May we be a light to you and those around us.
Thank you for your prayers lifted up for us. Gene’s procedure went well. His recovery somewhat slow. As always any stress, good or bad, causes more cognitive decline. We take things one day at time, sometimes one hour!
This Thanksgiving we were blessed to have our daughter/son-in-law, oldest granddaughter and her family join us and our son’s family. Overjoyed with her announcement that child #5 will join her family on 5-5-25❤ hahaha.
My hemoglobin has gone back up to 9.5 where it was a month ago. Headed in the right direction,yea!! Still have tests and procedures and doctor visits. Thankful for any positive news!!
Praise God he is sustaining you all through this affliction, and giving you sparks of joy (with family) & (positive numbers) in the midst!
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And may my life reflect his light to the world ❤️
I am definitely a light person! I love feeling the warmth on my face! Just think as believers how we can shine God’s light to a dark, cold world! May I be sensitive to your leading Lord as I go about my day! May I seize the opportunities to shed your light and the warmth of your love to all I encounter!
Blessings and prayers to all of you today! Praying for those of you who are going through dark times that you will still lift your face to Jesus, the light of the world and allow the warmth of His love to envelope you! You never walk alone!
Yes, amen, that’s a joyful thought…and to think, God uses his disciples to be a light to others!!Nothing better!!
My precious 88-year old brother is near the end of his life and will probably see the glorious city described in revelation yet today. He loved Jesus and taught the book of Revelation many times. He knew it well. May the Lord take him by the hand and lead him through the valley of shadow of death into His glorious light and loving arms.
Hugs and prayers, Elaine! ❤
It’s such a comfort to believers!
A beautiful picture!
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The Word gave life to everyone that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:4-5
Isaiah 60:19 THE LORD will be your everlasting light, and your GOD will be your splendor. vs 20 For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will be over.
SO SO GOOD.
John 1:3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
This made me think of unbelievers or the lost. They are all God’s children. I need to remember this when I get an attitude on bad behavior. Which I can often do..
I purchased the Alabaster book on Proverbs. I’m going out on a limb and giving it to Tom’s daughter for Christmas. When she so blatantly poo poo’ed God and faith, I mentioned the book of Proverbs. That it should be taught in school on how to live in a better way. It will be a way to enter into the Bible that is easy to understand. Let’s pray I don’t turn her farther off..
I’m so looking forward to the Advent study with you all! You have become like family.
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All wonderful reminders in this season ❤️
I kept looking at the twinkling lights on our Christmas tree while reading today’s devotion and couldn’t help but think how the light feels like a sparkle of joy amid a dark setting. Light fills us with wonder and hope; something we have been commissioned as lights of the world to offer to a hurting world. What a blessed reminder. Thank you, Lord, for the light of life you are, bringing hope to all!
Beautifully put
Good morning, and welcome to all the new comers – so many new names yesterday and today – praise the Lord! It’s good to share this study with you all!!
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“The Lord will be your everlasting light…” Isaiah 60:19
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Praise God for the light of the world – Jesus, the true light that gives light to every man!…
Reminds me of this chorus from the song Resurrection Power by Chris Tomlin…
Now I have resurrection power
Living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
No longer bound by sin and darkness
Living in the light of Your goodness
You have given us freedom
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Living in the light of His goodness!
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I am forever grateful that God loved the (whole) world and sent His Son to die for our sins. Grateful that Jesus gives light to every man. A light has dawned for us all – yet it is up to each and every one of us to either receive or reject the light of Christ.
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Praying that this Christmas season the light of Jesus will shine brightly through each one of us. That the world will see Jesus in us. That many will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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Have a blessed Monday sisters – may each of us walk in the light of Jesus today & shine brightly for Him! ❤️
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Amen, Sharon! ❤
Something that was said in the podcast really hit home for me. Ann Voskamp said that if we have lost hope then we’ve placed it in something other than Jesus. If our hope is in Him then we can’t loose that hope because He’s not going anywhere. I was listening on my way to school and had to turn off my radio and just think about what she said. The last few weeks I have had some feelings of hopelessness and I realized it’s because I have misplaced my hope. Many of my prayers were not being answered and I felt like God wasn’t listening. But I realized this morning that I have been putting my hope in what God could do for me rather than hoping in God. Not to be too corny but it was like the light dawned. My prayers are being heard because of who God is. He will answer them in His timing and His answer will be the best possible outcome. I can rest in the truth of who He is. He is gracious and kind, steadfast and true.
On a different note. The reading today reminded me of one of my favorite quotes. It’s from Madeline L’Engel, who wrote “A Wrinkle in Time”. She said, “We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”
I pray that we will all be lovely lights today.
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Thank you for the quote by Madeline L’Engel. My step daughter wrote in my birthday card that I’m an amazingly strong woman. I pray that I can let her know that my strength comes from God. She is an unbeliever.
I love that quote! And your insights!
Yes, Kathy!!
I too was struck by Voskamp’s depiction of hope mis-placed & mis-guided. In this season of senseless shopping, am I putting my hope in dollars & nonsense?
Yes, again, Kathy!!
One of my most favorite L’engle quotes too. You & others may wish to read her Advent poem, “First Coming”. Opening line: “He did not wait till the world was ready…”.
Yes, again & again, Kathy!!
Your impressions & insights most appreciated.
Man… He is just that Good! He is the light! I thought about what she said about light exposing sin… That is exactly one of the reasons Jesus upset the Pharisees so much. He exposed the sin in their hearts. Another thing I thought about was how Jesus exposing us doesn’t hurt us! It always helps! Pain is an indication of WHERE a problem is! And the chance to fix it.
Great insight!
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“There’s no monster in the closet when the lights are on.” So so good.
So thankful Jesus is light and that no darkness shall overcome and that the darkness is not darkness to Him!
Amen.
We live in such a dark, lost world and it is easy yo get overwhelmed and discouraged. So often we struggle to feel hope, to see the light and yet, it is always there. It doesn’t take a lot of darkness (theoretical or actual) to halt us and feel lost, afraid or hopeless. Just the other day I stepped into a windowless room to set something down and it fell over. In order to pick it up I had to move a step ahead and my foot that was holding the door open, let it close. It was a mere second or 2 till I could reach the door knob to open the door again, but immediately my thoughts went to how scared I would feel if I was trapped in a room with no light. The darkness, however it comes just feels scary, hard, overwhelming, anxiety inducing. These verses redirect our thoughts and hearts and give a renewed sense of hope and reminder that in the darkness, Jesus is always our hope and the One that lights the way.
Beautifully put
❤ thinking of those who ARE trapped in darkness.
We are no longer bound. Such a good illustration of how this mornings reading made me feel. As though I had walked out into the sunlight
Lord, give me opportunities to share the hope of Your light that is not overcome by darkness today and during this advent season. Give me eyes that see these moments, words to share in these moments, and the willingness to step out boldly in faith when these moments arise.
I love sunshine, heat,(yep, even 100 degree weather) and I love when its “nature light,” not artificial lights from the house! I am SO thankful and can wait for Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22 to become “real” as I love the SUN and HEAT. There is something about the the SUN that makes me feel “safe.” Most of you know my story and won’t get into into it, but will say during those dark times, I couldn’t wait for the “actual” sun to come up as that’s when I felt “safe” and a sign of relief that a new day had come and here with HOPE of a new day to try again! THANKFUL and I love my JESUS SO much that HE came to my rescue not only on that particular summer day, BUT on the most important day of life May 5, 1984 when my JESUS became the Lord of my LIFE!! I can not and will not do life with out HIM! HE is my EVERYTHING!
XO
I thought of you instantly with the bright sunlight and warmth.
Just last night I sat in my son’s nursery rocking him back to sleep in the middle of the night and felt overwhelmed by the darkness in the room. Darkness brings uncertainty— I am reminded of this when I struggle to find his crib that I have found hundreds of times. Light brings order and hope — I am reminded of this when I dim his sound machine and the smallest amount of light makes my fears and uncertainty disappear. God I pray that each time I sit in darkness in the middle of the night that it would be a reminder for me of you as light of the world and the hope we have in the darkness.
Lots of time spent in the darkness with baby girl last night. Great insight. I’m going to join you in this prayer !
Oh those days…I loved sitting in the rocker feeding in the night, albeit sleepy and tired, it is such a quite, peaceful time.
There is a beautiful hymn written by Kathleen Thomerson, called “I want to walk as a child of the Light”. The refrain is:
In Him there is no darkness at all, the night and day are both alike. The Lamb is the Light of the city of God, Shine in my heart Lord Jesus!”
May He shine in your hearts today and always!
How lovely, Nebraska Girl. Humming that tune now. Thanks for stirring the memory.
Hope in the darkness! So many things come to mind, but mainly that we go to the jail every week, and show them light in the darkness. There is nothing more fulfilling than being blessed by God to then want to share that light! I will never forget when I hit my knees myself when my world turned upside down and I felt I was loosing all my hopes and dreams in one person’s choice. I know the feeling of the dark trying to steal my light, my joy, my happiness, my future. But God- I finally hit my knees in despair and told him I needed him, come help me Lord. Looking back it wasn’t anything compared to what others face, but in my world it was pretty devastating. But those times give us our testimonies, to then be the light for others.
When we go to jail and they are in their darkness and have chosen to come to our class to see about this Jesus thing, or being drawn back to the light. It is the most beautiful thing to see the light hit them and that cold, bleak room. When we sing I see all kinds of reactions. When we pray I see tears, hope, and submission. Over the weeks I see torn, sad, tough, blank faces soften and see the light gently restore, and transform, and make new. We call them our butterflies, because in the cocoon, in the dark is a change and resurrection of a new beautiful creation. And yet, aren’t we all butterflies, resurrected to a new life, working through the challenges, letting the light give us strength, and working our muscles to make our wings strong enough to fly! Through God’s mercy and grace, He gave us His Son, we lay down our life, and our reborn just like that worm, to something beautiful! So don’t forget you are a butterfly also, She’s. Fluttering in the beautiful sunshine, sharing your beauty and light now so others will smile when they see you!
If you are in a season of darkness or know someone who is, the light is there, hold on. Remember it is a season for transformation. Make the choice to hang on and get in the word in that cocoon and grow and change. Knowing strength is forming when you don’t even know it. Jesus is your strength. He is the light! He is the Hope!!
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Amen
I remember being on my sunroom floor in the fetal position crying out to God. That was back 30 years ago.
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Most days, I wake before dawn and get up to have my quiet time in the dark. I love sitting where I slowly see our backyard come to life as the sun rises. It’s a beautiful reminder of the light of Jesus and how sweet of God to design it that way.
I too love the light, and sunny days. The passage in Isaiah is breathtaking as a picture of heaven where we won’t need the sun because Jesus will be our light. “The Lord will be your everlasting light, and you God will be your splendor!” Praising Him and so thankful He is our light right here and now too. Praying all of us can shine brightly for Him to our dark world that needs Him so.
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So thankful we don’t have to wallow in the past or in darkness. With God there is always light !
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” Key word being EVERYONE. We are ALL God’s people destined to be saved ❤️
I am finding it a little more difficult driving at night with the blue LED headlights that can be blinding and glare-y. I moan as I’m driving wishing the drivers would turn them down.
But here I’m reminded that the light of Jesus is perfect light. And wonderfully, that same light shines in us! Thank you Father that Jesus’ perfect light has overcome the darkness and you made that light shine in our hearts. May I reflect the light of your glory in all I say and do. May I always hold fast to the hope in you whatever may come my way.
Grateful for these words of hope and truth. Thank you, Jesus, that even darkness is light to you.
“2 Corinthians 4:6 (CSB)
6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Dear Friends…. Especially those praying for their Prodigals! This verse is my prayer for my son Scott, my daughter in law Deb, their daughters, Greta, Audrey and Susanna… and all who have mentioned precious loved ones on this site!
Today… may Your Light shine out of the darkness they are living in… Thank You for Your Word that they have been exposed to, memorized, sung many times, etc.., Shine Your Light, Dear Jesus… The LIGHT OF THE WORLD!! May our loads be lifted, as we lay this burden at your feet, once again, so that we may allow more room for Your Light and Hope to fill us to overflowing this Advent season!! Roman’s 15:13 “May the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as you Trust in Him. So that you may Overflow with Hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit”! ♥️
I am going to have to jot that verse down as well to say over my prodigals in my family, thank you friend!
Continued prayers for Scott, Deb and their family…so many prodigals, including my two sons.
Carol, I had copied that verse in NKT to share! I will just share it here instead .
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2 Co. 4:6 NLT-
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.
Beautiful!
The Lord’s Word for me in 2024 was “Walk toward the light”. This study confirms what I have been hearing in my spirit.
Yes, Tanya. Proven true.
May you enter 2025 as attentive!
Jesus brings so much hope.
As I sit watching the sunrise, I think of how the light of Christ broke in on the horizon at Christmas so many years ago. The world is dark but Christ has come and He is coming again. The dawn of his redeeming grace brings hope. Do we believe it?
Amen
As I sit here in the dark, I am comforted by His words about light!
Now I will be calling myself a thermophile too, Bailey!
Rephrase with the same meaning but in a more gentle way “That statement made me realize that whether we realize it or not, at some level, even in this country, Christian faith is being persecuted. So we must be bold in our declaration of faith that Jesus is the light. And so as we go through this season, my prayer is that, as we light each candle (physically or spiritually), we boldly lean into the fact that we are defiantly declaring that hope, peace, and salvation are breaking through, and the victory of God’s kingdom is certain.
Yes, Amen, in full agreement. It’s time to be strong and bold to share the Light!
I love the warmth of the sun and how it makes me feel. using this example for my spiritual life is encouraging knowing Jesus is the light that warms the soul and brings healing. Light overpowers darkness every time because darkness is the absence of light. Once LIGHT hits the scene darkness is gone. Thank you Jesus!
It’s only day 2 and this study has already filled me with so much hope. Reading how Christ is our light in our dark, broken world encourages me to share this with everyone- especially the many who feel hopeless and weary because they don’t know Him ❤️
In the Light understanding replaces fear. In the Light sin is exposed, setting us free.
(Yes Bailey!)
Thank you, EVERLASTING LIGHT, for the revelation and freedom that You bring.
So good! ❤️
Amen!
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Loved seeing the first timers, old timers, not in a while timers in the comments yesterday ❤️ Praying for all who are going through difficult times to be encouraged as we study God’s word and focus on our hope in Christ.
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I love to read of God’s love and inclusion of us Gentiles, as in Isaiah 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light.
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Verse 22 reminded me of the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 (for the first time in 2000 years I think), how small the nation is in size and yet how feared they are.
“A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”
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Same God (Elevation Worship) came to mind when reading the 1 Corinthians 4:6, the same God who commanded Let there be light, loved us enough to send us true Light, praise His holy name! I am so very blessed to know Him.
I thought the same when reading Searching about how Isarel became a nation again. And just amazing the focus has all been drawn back there again, it’s good to know our Bibles!
And of course I love that song!! ;)
Love this, Searching! Thank you for sharing!
Great notes as always, sister! ❤
Everytime I read the passage in Revelation 21, I am overwhelmed with joy and hope! How glorious it will be to not need any light because Jesus is the Light. Hallelujah!
Hope in the darkness is a perfect title for my experiences with my prodigal daughter the last several years. I just kept holding onto the hope of Jesus for her to come out of the darkness that she was living under. Some days and nights, I prayed it so fervently. It’s hard to hold onto hope for years and years without seeing anything change. Really hard. But now, 7 years later, we are starting to see glimpses of how God was fulfilling the hope that we had in Him, to protect and draw our daughter back to us. Slowly we are starting to hear more about her life away from us. I truly believe that some of those nights when I was led to pray for God to send angels to protect her, that is exactly what happened. She endured some terrible things. Her life was in danger. And the spiritual attack against her was real. But God was there. His Holy Spirit remained with her, even though we were not. He was fulfilling the hope we were barely clinging to in His timing, and I truly believe that our daughter will one day completely turn from the darkness to the Light.
Believing with you, LAURA.
Hallelujah! Believing with you Laura!❤️
What a testimony to the power of prayer and how He is working all the time even though we often cannot see it. Praise that you are seeing those glimpses of hope and I will continue to pray for her. Our sermon yesterday was all about Hope in the waiting (Elizabeth and Zechariah). He is there with you and He is faithful!
Praying, and believing with you Laura…it is such a heartbreaking thing to watch… BUT GOD!!! So very thankful for His Light and Hope this Advent season! And to think, The Word…Jesus! Was there in the Beginning!! My ♥️is full this morning! Be Blessed, dear Sisters!
This is so raw and real, but gives us all hope for our prodigals. I know your anguish you have shared over the years, and your strength and courage to hang on and trust in God to bring her home! We are so thankful you let us in to share with you!
Praying with you Laura for your prodigal daughter. I too have hope that one day my two sons will return to the Jesus they once loved.
Continued prayers, Laura! ❤
Laura, joining you in praying for your daughter’s complete surrender to Jesus.
Thank you Lord for your light which always shines through all darkness.
Welcome to all the new Sisters. What a special time of year, our world sure needs His light and Hope! May I reflect His love with all those I come in contact with. I appreciate all of you and your comments, thanks so much for sharing. Praying for your requests. Blessings to all❤️
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Praise Him
I love sunlight. I thrive in the daylight. This time of year when the darkness comes so early it makes me so sad. Thankful for our true light. The light eternal. The one who never ends. Thankful for this reminder today and the reminder that our weary and dark world needs this light in and through us.
Jesus, let me look to Your light through the darkness of this world. Let Your light shine through me to others. Holy Spirit help me. In Jesus name, Amen
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Amen
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper , light in the darkness. My God , that is who you are . That’s what song just keep echoing in my head after reading this
Now it is playing on repeat in mine. ❤️
My word for 2024 has been ‘light’ and I’m so thankful God has brought me back to it as I end the year. Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about where I am ‘seeing’ the light…and possibly missing it. Now considering Jesus as the only true light and a future without darkness gives me hope! I won’t have to search for it any longer!
I love that! Maybe I’ll borrow “light” going into 2025
Me too!!
I am reminded of these lyrics from a song “You gotta, You gotta, let your light shine.”
Thank you Lord for your light, and using us to shine that light to others.
“They are the branch I planted,
the work of my hands,
so that I may be glorified.”
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This stuck out to me today. The beauty of God’s specific and purposeful planning for His people.
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Welcome to all first timers.
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Praying for your requests.
That stood out to me, too, Kelly, especially thinking of us (Gentiles) being grafted into the Branch. ❤
As a nature lover, I loved today’s reading with the comparisons to Christ’s light to sunlight and our transformation in the light of Christ like photosynthesis for plants. How amazingly creative is our God who lays out His plan for His people even in the details of the Earth’s habitat and patterns??
Yes, that’s good!
Jesus is our light through the darkness ✨️ Thank you, Jesus, for showing us the way!
Having just finished a study on Heaven, my thoughts immediately turn to the Revelation passages as I read Isaiah 60, that tell us when the earth is restored and God lives with us again, there will be no sun or moon because the Lamb will be our lamp! The God of creation that spoke light into existence shines the Light into our world at the incarnation that nothing can extinguish. Praising Him for Light in the darkness this very early morning before the sun is up!:)
Blessings on your Monday, Ladies.
I would love to know the name of the study
Advent 2024 – The dawn of redeeming grace
I agree! I would love to know as well.
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Sally, same with me since I just finished a study on Revelation (Jen Wilkin). I see it all over the place now!
Back in the days when I didn’t have a fireplace, but had an electric thingy, my family came to visit. We all cosily fitted into my small living room, and I sat on the lip of the area that housed the electric thingy! A while into our games, laughs and funny stories, my brother asked me why I shone so..
“Do I” I asked.
All eyes on me, gasps and with words like “wow”, and “goodness”, and “what is going on” filling the air, I suddenly realised my newly knitted mohair jumper was alight behind me!
I love heat, and though I had felt that ‘extra’ warmth on my back, I had certainly not put it down to my beautiful hand knitted jumper catching fire!
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Now, I look at the fire from the front, staring into its beauty and the myriads of colours it produces as it crackles and pops, whilst producing a warmth that certainly, soothes the soul enough to feel fuzzy and no burny!!!
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BUT GOD..
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His light, the Light He sent to remove the darkness from us, Jesus, He, shows us beauty in our ‘cracked and popped’ selves. He covers us in grace, (The free and un-merited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings) and through this, we can see for ourselves, Jesus, the true Light of the world, who stepped into our darkness, to bring and give us the Hope.. of life everlasting, life in step with the Father.
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AMEN..
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Happy Monday, my loves..❤
LOL!So glad you were not hurt.
You still glow from the fire within❤️
Oh goodness! Thankful you weren’t hurt, sister. Agreeing with KELLY that you glow from within – we can feel it way over here across the pond!
Good morning, Tina! So thankful He spared you! I agree with Kelly, you still glow with His love bringing me/us hope and love from your many life experiences which you willingly share. Thank you so much, sending love across the pond on this dark Advent morning ❤️
Absolutely ❤️
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Eeek! ❤️ (I wanted the crazy, googly-eyed emoji, but this works too! Much love to you!)
Agreeing with sisters here about your ‘Golden JOY’ glow! I am impressed, too, that you knitted a Mohair sweater! I can knit a dish cloth or scarf! Lol
(huge smile emoji) I always tell people I’ve been knitting since age 6 and can make any square or rectangle you desire :D
In my 30s, I finally followed a pattern and made an ugly hat… several years later, still no one wants to wear it LoL….So YES, mohair sweater is amazing ❤️❤️
We have a responsibility as Christ followers to let the light of Jesus shine through us. We will not be overcome by darkness but instead will shine bright for all to see and feel.
Yes! Amen!
Amen, we indeed, have a responsibility!