The Light is Coming

 “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, ESV).

The winter solstice is just under 24 hours away, and though I am not a fan of the darkness it represents, it’s important because it signifies that light is coming.

Each year when we “fall back” an hour due to daylight saving time, it takes me a few weeks to adjust to the shorter, darker, and often colder days. As a girl who loves the sunny, warmer, and longer days of summer, the transition can be difficult in a lot of ways. But each year when we make the move to an earlier sunset, I remind myself this is part of life.

Genesis tells us that God created day and night. Though He is not the creator of darkness as it relates to the evil one, He does sometimes allow us to remain in a dark season. And it is often in this period of time where He grows our hearts in unimaginable ways. 

Have you ever found yourself struggling with health issues, dealing with financial stressors, grieving the loss of someone you love, or adapting to a changing relationship? These are but a few examples, and I know we’ve all experienced these periods of darkness.

There was a difficult period in my life that lasted about 12-18 months. They were long, and grueling as I walked through uprooting things in my life that were keeping me from living the life God had for me. But God, in His goodness, sustained me. He allowed me to exchange sadness for joy, loneliness for contentment, and co-dependency for an identity rooted in Him. 

Jesus said in John 8:12: 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.” The period of darkness in my life led to my greatest growth as a follower of Jesus, and that is because of the truth contained within these verses from the Gospel of John.

This is what reminds me of the winter solstice. It contains the most darkness as it represents the shortest day, and longest night of the year. I love the winter solstice, not for the darkness, but for the reminder that the light is coming. 

If you find yourself in a dark space, remember to look toward the light of Christ. He may not remove you from the darkness immediately, but He will provide the glimpses of light along the journey. 

When I think about the changing of the seasons, and as we approach the winter solstice, I can’t help but feel such joy and wonder as I turn my heart toward the expectant hope of the return to Jesus Christ.