Shine

Shine

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.

“I’LL TELL YOU,” she whispered more to herself than to me, her voice rough with unshed tears. We were sitting on the back patio, coffee in hand, enjoying a quiet moment. The story that tumbled out was heart wrenching, a deep, hidden hurt that had impacted her life for many years. No one else knew other than her husband and, now, me.

I texted her later, remembering our implicit agreement that nothing we talk about is off limits from our husbands, telling her that her story was hers and that I wasn’t planning to share it with Aaron.

“It’s okay. I knew when I told you that I was telling Aaron, too. I trust him implicitly.” Her response caused me to pause, and after some prayerful thought, I realized she needed a small, trusted circle to know, and she was trusting me to bring Aaron into that circle. Her story needed exposure to the morning light—Jesus—and loving people standing alongside her.

There is a reason light is an analogy for Jesus and darkness is an analogy for Satan throughout Scripture. Our enemy often uses hidden, secret things to destroy us. He convinces us that no one will believe us, that we are the only one, and then he sends boogeymen in the form of dark thoughts and bad dreams to keep us chained up, afraid, alone. He thrives in the dark, hidden spaces, whispering lies with just a kernel of truth to keep us separated from those who love us, unable to see a way forward.

Jesus is and always has been the antidote to the darkness. He exposes the lies we believe in the dark, revealing the inconsistencies and flaws in our twisted-up beliefs we could not see for ourselves. He brings healing, redemption, and new life.

Lord, what lies have I believed in the dark? Which stories need your morning light shining upon them?

-Julie

One Good Step: What needs the healing exposure of Jesus’ light in your life? Make a plan to talk to a pastor, a therapist, a trustworthy friend.