The Light Has Come - Your Nighlty Prayer - November 16th

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The Light Has Come
Your Nightly Prayer
By Candice Lucey

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

"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

SOMETHING TO PONDER

We spent many Christmases at the home of dear friends, Gary and Maureen. As soon as festive music started playing on the radio, my family and I would reminisce about the enormous tree they put up the year before, the beautiful heirloom decorations, Maureen’s delicious cooking, and Gary’s hilarious family stories. Maureen traditionally made Cherries Jubilee for dessert. She soaked the fruit in brandy, placed the dish in front of us, turned out the lights, and then set it on fire. Their home is on acreage and, at 7 pm, surrounded by profound darkness. Flickering fire atop cherries created a centerpiece of Northern Lights, colorfully breaking through the night. Like any light spectacle, its magic was made most profound by a contrast with intense darkness.

Mary’s and Joseph’s trust in God led to some dark days. One wonders what people said behind closed doors, or even to their faces, as Mary’s belly grew bigger. They would have been the subject of gossip; Joseph could have publicly divorced her. Joseph’s trust in the Lord and loyalty to Mary glimmer brightly even now. If we are tempted to sentimentalize the story of Advent, we run the risk of detaching Mary and Joseph from the harsh and dark realities they faced - their faith and obedience are so stunning, so bright. At Advent, we need to remember the intense darkness in order to recognize God’s startling and merciful presence. This is the power of Advent right now - to remind us that Christ defeats our present darkness too, giving us hope until he comes back to reign on earth, when “night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light”. (Revelation 22:5)  

This Advent season, think about the ways Christ’s light breaks into your suffering. Consider how you have grown, or the unexpected gifts which you received as a result of the hardship you faced, such as deeper trust in the Lord, greater patience, or more empathy for others. You are never totally shrouded in isolating darkness when you are hurting if you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember how the Lord preserved Mary and Joseph so she could give birth to the one who came to save; how the Lord was out front, lighting the way all along, towards the fullness of his Kingdom, and continues to lead us. You have hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Lord, this Advent, please help me to fight the temptation to focus my prayers on dark circumstances and how you might remove them. While it’s true that Christ asked “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me”, he also submitted “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Mattew 26:39) Help me to anticipate the joy and wonder of the light you bring to hard times - the light of your peace, your presence, and your power. When I look back over your faithfulness in my life, I was never on a happy vacation or eating ice cream on a beach at those times: you erupted into bleak situations to fill my heart with joy and transform my mind. You changed my perspective, increased my empathy, and matured my faith. Lord, thank you for giving us “the Light of the World”. (John 8:12)

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Darkness comes to everyone. If you have your eye on Christ’s glory, take a look around for someone who does not. Think of ways to share him with someone who is sinking into darkness this Advent. Share the reason for your hope, and perhaps, as you reflect on Christ’s love, you can become the glimmer of light that person needs.

2. Don’t forget the darkness you suffered. Don’t dwell on it, but remember what you went through so you can also recall how God was bigger than your struggles. No problem in your life is so big that God will be unable to overcome it. Let the memory of his trustworthiness give you hope the next time you suffer.

3 . Suffering has a purpose in our lives. It hurts when the flames touch us, but trust that God is using that suffering.  Praise the Lord “in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Whether you are at the centre of this trial or are caught up in someone else’s aftershock, God wants to transform your heart. He loves you and wants you to draw close to him. Respond to pain honestly and invite him into your darkness so he can show you his sanctifying and healing power.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Allanswart

Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.

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