Curse the Darkness or Light a Candle

"Why curse the darkness when you can light a candle?" This version of the quote attributed to William Watkinson changed my perspective. The verse below inspire courage. Listening to a podcast and a sermon this Sunday got me thinking: I need to be focusing my eyes only on the Lord and His Word, and not on the things that scare me. So many things scare me: when I think about how evil the world is today, raising our son in it, people judging me, someone not liking me — I’ve been memorizing verses on not fearing and trusting the Lord my whole life! Part of it is I need to trust the Lord and not myself—give up control. The other part as these verses remind me is that Jesus HAS all authority. He had authority to do exactly what His Father willed. That was His focus, His heart, His time spent in prayer even as He prayed in the garden in Luke 22 and Matthew 26, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done.” That’s how He shined, and how He was able to accomplish the Father’s will as He talked to His Father in John 17. He IS the light. He has the power. He IS the Word. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. He has given us authority to live it out, to live different from the world. When we were lost, we were groping for the way to walk and direct our lives because we walked in darkness. He is our hope. If we’re still living in darkness, we need to do a serious heart check and repent. We are to live in the light of freedom that comes from obedience to the Father’s will. Our goal should be to live lives that look more and more like Jesus. Jesus lingered often with His Father and was not distracted from His focus and purpose on doing and accomplishing His Father’s will. This is how we shine as lights in the world — in His Word continually and walking in obedience in His presence helps us conquer fears and gives us courage to go live it out. 

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭15‬ ‭

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬-‭6‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬ ‭

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭