Isaiah 9:2-5

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” vs. 2

Darkness is the perfect metaphor for those dismal times in life when the present is oppressive and the future seems hopeless. There can be a myriad of triggers: cancer, divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, alienation…the list goes on and on. These are the things that come to us as we live in the world, and in our suffering it really does seem as though darkness has closed in. We scarcely know what to say or who to turn to…and even the valiant efforts to light up our neighborhoods with strings of Christmas lights do little to lift our spirits. But just as the longest nights do not last forever and ultimately give way to the glorious light of dawn, our suffering too does have an ending. One day when we least expect it, light will come crashing into our darkness and lift the clouds of gloom. The source of the light can vary, it could be a child’s shining face, a kind word from a friend, or maybe an actual sunrise, but the result will always be the same. The burdens of the present are lifted, we catch a glimpse of hope, and joy returns to our hearts.
Thought for the Day: What has been my darkest time?