Light a Candle in Darkness
I was talking with a friend the other day. She’s been struggling with some things in her life and is having a bit of a hard time. Darkness might be a good word to describe what she’s feeling or what she’s going through. I thought I’d write this week about an analogy that I shared with her about lighting a candle in darkness.
The smallest light
In dark situations, we need to find the light. Sometimes all it takes in order to brighten the dark is just the smallest light…like lighting a candle in a dark room. Candlelight is a very tiny light. Nevertheless, eventually that candle will light the room, and we can see other things. Our eyes will adjust, and the room will get brighter even though previously it was all darkness. Then that light will open our eyes to see that things maybe really aren’t as dark as they seem, and there is hope.
Things also become clearer in the light. In the light we can have a more realistic or different perspective. The light might grant us ability to quit seeing things from a negative point of view in order to see things for what they truly are. In a sense we are not “blinded” anymore.
Light in darkness…
Light dispels, disperses and scatters the darkness. Evil is exposed in the light.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 (NLT)
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15 (NLT)
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”” Ephesians 5:8-14 (NLT)
“All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” John 3:20 (NLT)
In darkness we are deceived.
Think haunted house. Things are worse than they seem in the dark.
“You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:6 (NIV)
“But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.” Proverbs 4:19 (NLT)
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
“To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:18 (ESV)
“But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.” 1 John 2:11 (NLT)
“Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.” John 12:35 (NLT)
“…the fool walks in the darkness…” Ecclesiastes 2:14 (NIV)
A biblical example of “lighting a candle in darkness”
When talking to my friend about this idea of lighting a candle in darkness I reminded her about a story in the bible. In 1 Samuel 30, David faced a dark situation. David and his men had been away, and when they returned home they discovered that their hometown had been burned. Their wives, children, and possessions had all been taken as well. David and all his men were completely distraught, to the point that his men wanted to kill him.
However, David lit a candle, so to speak. The bible said that “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). He found a light in the darkness to give him hope and to help him (and his men) to persevere and press on. That little bit of light, whatever it was, was enough to shift their outlook. They successfully pursued the Amalekites and recovered all that had been taken.
On the other hand, if David had continued to wallow in sorrow, his men might have killed him, and they may have never seen a restoration of all that was lost.
David encouraged himself in the Lord
“Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.
When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (NLT)
“…but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
“David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.” 1 Samuel 30:18-20 (NLT)
So how can we find a way to light that candle in darkness?
Take Some Practical Steps to Light a Candle in Darkness:
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Practice gratitude.
Gratitude IS a light in darkness. It’s a flame that, when lit in a dark place, will start to brighten the room and help you to start to see everything else around you in a better light. It will help you to realize that things aren’t really as dark as they seem—you just needed that initial light to be able to see things more clearly. Little bits of gratitude will snowball and help to remove the blindness to all the things that are good in your life. It will give you the boost of hope you need to press on and persevere. Read these posts for some tips to practice gratitude:
6 Simple Ways to Stay Thankful Year Round
Be Thankful–Remember What God Has Done
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Do like David, and encourage yourself in the Lord.
Find ways to encourage yourself. Surround yourself with encouraging people. Listen to praise music. Read these posts to get some more tips on encouraging yourself when you’re experiencing darkness:
Getting Through a Tough Time and Coming Out Better On the Other Side
10 Ways to Get Through a Hard Time
Praise Music is a Spiritual Anti-Depressant
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Look to God. Look to Jesus. THEY are light!
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NIV)
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 (NIV)
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5 (NIV)
“You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.” Psalm 18:28 (NLT)
“Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” Micah 7:8 (NLT)
What are some ways you light a candle in darkness? Share with us some ways that you find the light by leaving a comment below.
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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
