The Light never fails to shine through the darkness– Light that darkness could not overcome! These words from John 1:5 shine like a beacon for my weary soul. I sit up straighter and lean in to read them again.
The Light never fails to shine through the darkness. The Light that entered my heart as a baby, and again in my forties, and every day since shatters any darkness that threatens my very being. It was a Light that first arrived into the universe as a newborn to two teenagers struggling to obey in humanity’s messed-up, chaotic world. A Light that suffered horrific torture so we may know true love without the blemish of sin.
Every day since my infant baptism, I carried the Light of Jesus. I’m thankful that the light became brighter in my forties as I accepted Jesus into my heart as an adult and my true relationship began.
The Light of Jesus’s presence has carried me into my sixties. It is a light that never fails to shine through the darkness. The Light is part of my story that leads me to where I am today.
How Can I Get This Light?
Years ago, my parents chose to have me baptized as an infant. Even though a “yes” or “no” never left my lips, I was marked by the blood of Jesus. I am grateful that my parents believed in providing a spiritual foundation. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
I spent years not fully understanding the gift of baptism. I lived to the best of my ability and succeeded in many areas. While I knew God and attended church regularly, I had no idea that knowing God was more than following church rules.
Where was God in the equation and did I know Him or was it a matter of reciting well-memorized tenets and scripture? Did I experience the light of Jesus as an infant? What do we need in place to get the light of Jesus?
Looking back I now see what was missing in my spiritual life. Instead of living life fully, I lived from a place of want and not believing I was enough. Knowledge of God will only get you so far. The light enters when you desire a relationship of love with your Creator.
The lack of relationship with God became overwhelming as an adult. Marriage was hard, raising two sons was challenging, and working full-time while working on my Masters in Reading Education felt impossible some days.
God reveals Himself through the gift of His Son and the Holy Spirit. But in the same breath, God wants us to spend more time with Him and learn the truth of who He is. It is a reciprocal relationship.
The Light of Jesus comes through intimacy with the Father because of what the Son sacrificed for us. Baptism, by itself, does not guarantee that we will experience the light. Let’s explore ways to draw closer to God.
Drawing Closer to the Father
My first impressions of God the Father as a five or six-year-old was a stern figure who took care of discipline when I did something wrong. He didn’t feel approachable and there was a sensation of fear when I went to church. Drawing closer to the Father was not an option.
As a teenager, I found a softer, kinder Father during my high school years. After I got married, I began a quest to know Jesus but it wasn’t until after much heartache that I found Him. And then there was no turning back from embracing the light that Jesus came to shine for all of us.
Jesus is the light that never fails to shine through the darkness. And it is through Him that we access the Father.
We draw closer to the Father through Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6, NIV).
We also receive the Holy Spirit through the Father. He is our Advocate, our Guide, and Spirit of Wisdom.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26, NIV).
Come to Jesus! Let Him lead you to His everlasting peace, love, and light. Through Jesus, we encounter an opportunity to abide in the Father and learn all He wants us to know. Grasp the hope that is more than a wish or a dream you send forth on the white, feathery tufts of a dandelion. Hold tight to the One who is THE LIGHT and the truth of all our dreams.
May we allow the Spirit within us to teach us as we turn to Him for wisdom. He imparts the light of discernment.
Final Words
Holy Spirit come! Lord Jesus light the way. Father God draw us closer into a relationship with you. You are the Light we hope for, the Light we didn’t know we needed, and the Light that shines through the dark places in our hearts. With you in our lives, we will always know the way we should go. Thank you, Lord, for being our Light! Amen.
Equipping and empowering women one step and one heart at a time!
I am fascinated with light and dark. You can find evidence of this in these two posts. Click HERE or HERE.
I memorized (or tried to, lol) 1 John 1 a year or so ago and the words often come back to me about light and darkness. I look forward to the physical light, too, that is returning a little more each day again as we get through a dark winter.
I imagine that memorizing those words from John were quite fulfilling. The theme of light and dark always hits home in a special way for me especially this time of year when dark is more prevalent. I am thankful that daylight is making its way back in a little longer each day.
Happy New Year, Mary! Yes, let’s live in the light — a light we can be assured that no darkness can overcome it.
Living in God’s light will provide what we need. His light can never be extinguished. Happy New Year, Lynn!
Dear Mary, your testimony is radiant, filled with light and hope. This is what we need to hear when everything seems to be going wrong. Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Linda! I want to be known for light and hope. Thank you for speaking that into me. I pray you enjoy the light and hope of Jesus throughout the year.
Thank you, Mary. Especially your final words/prayer resonate in my heart. I long for it with you! Love and blessings to you!
You’re welcome, Trudy! I’m grateful the prayer resonated with you. May you feel Jesus’s presence daily this year.
Mary, this post spoke to me deeply – my One Word 2024 is “Fully”. My longing this year is to live fully, to know Him more fully, and to love Him fully. Earlier this morning I read Psalm 97:11 – “Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart” (NASB). Every little bit of His light that He shines into our lives is like seed, it will bring forth something in our lives. Grateful for your thoughts this morning. May He bless you richly this coming year!
I love your word for the year. “Fully” is a similar word to my word of the year, which is “wholeness.” Your thoughts about God shining His light into our lives as a seed that will bring forth fruit are spot on. Thank you for sharing how God is working in your life.
Light is such an amazing metaphor for the way Christ takes up residence and floods us with his presence.
I was especially interested in your thoughts on infant baptism. Belief sometimes is a thing that grows in us.
Light is an amazing metaphor that I cannot seem to get enough of. I went through Tsh Oxenreider’s Light and Shadow for Advent and found it fascinating.
I have not thought too deeply about my infant baptism but maybe this post will open some doors for more Thoughts on it.