Finding Hope in the Midst of Darkness - Your Nightly Prayer - October 30

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Finding Hope in the Midst of Darkness

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I spent many summers at our local Christian summer camp. One summer, my role was to help with the Leadership Training program. We would take a group of teenagers and lead them in devotions and discipleship. One evening, we were set to have some evening worship at a place called Pride Rock. Pride Rock was a clearing in the woods. I was finishing a task, and so the group went on ahead of me. By the time I started my trek to Pride Rock, the sun had long since set, which meant that a pathway through the forest was nearly impossible to see. But I was confident I could find my way. Everything was fine until the path I had found zigged where I thought it zagged, and I found myself tumbling down a hill, landing in a bed of thorn bushes. I did not hurt myself, beyond a few scrapes on my legs, but now I had a new problem; I was deep in the forest, unable to see, and unsure which way I should go. I called out to the group, yet no reply came; I tried to walk back up the hill, but each way I moved brought me deeper into bushes, thorns, and scrapes. Panic started to set in.

Then I saw it. The light from the main Lodge. In the darkness of the forest, the light of the house cuts through the trees. I still could not see a defined trail or the house itself, but I could see the light, and that seemed to orient me. I knew which way I was walking.

There are times in our lives when life seems to zig when we want it to zag; where all of a sudden life goes haywire, and we find ourselves tumbling down a steep bank of struggle. We might experience a loss or hardship at school or at work. Life can be hard, and at times, we can feel lost in the darkness, unsure how we will get out.

But the truth we hear in John’s gospel is that in those times, Jesus came. Jesus is the light of the world, and his light will never be overcome, no matter how hard the struggle is or how thick the darkness may appear. When we follow Jesus, his light orients us and paves the way for us to walk through whatever we need to. True, we may get scrapes along the way – and if we look away from the light, the darkness still appears to be there, but the light of Jesus is always present, if we would just keep it before us.

Now, when you are lost in the woods, a faraway light is good – but sometimes what we really need is a light to come to us, to be with us, to stand beside us as we climb our way out of the darkness. When Jesus says that he is the light of the world, he isn’t saying that he is a shining star in the distance. No, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us – and this means that the light of Jesus comes to us in the times of our need.

If you are feeling all scratched up by the zig-zags of life, know that you are not left alone. Dare to believe that Jesus is with you in a deeper way than you may even realize at this moment. And wherever you are, and into whatever you face, may you feel the warmth of Jesus light with you, and have hope.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Gracious Lord Jesus

You show me the compassionate love of God the Father, always present, always shining into our lives. In the times and places when I am tempted to focus on my struggles and problems, help me catch a vision of your brilliance, lighting the way. In your name, I pray that you push aside all the darkness that creeps into my life, and the rejection and depression I can so easily feel because of it.

Enliven my life. Brighten my experiences, shine upon my relationships. Give me peace, security, and resolve. Remind me, O God, that in your mercy I have hope, and in your Spirit I can sustain all things.

This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

Jesus says that he is the light of the world. But he also says (In Matthew 5:14) that “You are the light of the world.” How can we shine Jesus’s light in our lives?
What do you think it means that we will never walk in darkness? Does this mean that we will never struggle?
What is the light of life? In what ways does Jesus’ presence enliven your spirit?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Riccardo Mion

The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.