Growing Brighter

One thing we all share as God’s creations is the need for light – both the sunshiny kind and the spiritual kind! We’re just drawn to it, whether it be the morning sun beaming through the kitchen window or the warm love of Jesus shining through the heart of a friend. If we find ourselves spending too much time in the dark—of any kind—we can really start to feel it. Our hearts weren’t created to live in the shadows; they were made to thrive in the radiance of God’s goodness and truth. There’s a popular science fair project that illustrates this wonderfully, and it’s something we can remember during the ups and downs of our spiritual journeys. Here’s how it goes: A seed is planted in a small container, which is set in the bottom of a big box. The box has been turned into a maze, filled with obstacles, with the seed at the very bottom and a hole cut all the way up at the top, where light is coming through. Over time, as the plant grows, it naturally finds its way around the barriers of the maze and up toward the hole. Why? Because it was designed to reach toward the light, and no matter what gets in its way in the darkness, that plant will not be deterred. It’s not about how big those barriers are or how many twists and turns that vine has to take, it’s simply about being irresistibly drawn toward the brightness above. And isn’t that how our journey happens too? 

We each grow through the maze of this life differently, but the most important thing for all of us is not the challenges we have to overcome, but the fact that we have a very present, loving Creator who’s always there, willing to illuminate our path if we are paying attention. 

Consider the verses below—just a few of the many messages about light in God’s Word. Does any message in particular speak to your heart today about your own journey?   

  • Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. —Luke 11:34 NIV
  • You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. —I Thessalonians 5:5 NIV
  • Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105 NIV
  • 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? —Psalm 27:1 NIV
  • The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. —Revelation 21:23 NIV

Consider writing a note for your future self to read when things feel discouraging. How would you remind yourself to look for the light in tough times? We all need that nudge once in a while, and who better to give your heart a pep talk than the person who knows you best? You! 

This is an excerpt from God of All Comfort: 40 Days to Unwavering Hope – a new devotional journal now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.