A Light in the Darkness

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."  2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

A beautiful blown-glass angel sits on my dresser.  She holds a tiny candle on her delicate hands...usually.  The point of connection is so minute, that it comes off frequently.  Fortunately, because of the position of her hands, I can place it right back and it will stay...until the next time it is disturbed.

This morning I laid something beside the angel and it bumped her slightly.  The candle fell off.

It felt like me.

In recent days it seemed like my "light" was knocked off.  Circumstances have threatened to cast me into darkness.  I know all of the right stuff in my head...but my heart was troubled...and ruling my spirit.  Now, I carried on with life...and in God's strength walked through days that I really felt like just staying in the bed.  I prayed...sought encouragement in His Word...and prayed...offered a sacrifice of praise...and prayed some more.

Today He gave me these words in 2 Corinthians 4.

Treasures in Jars of Clay

1Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.


7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.


16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

He is faithful.

Lord, I'm believing You...in Your strength and Your all-surpasing power!  Help me in my unbelief.  Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You...and not just on what I can see.  Help me to walk in Your light...and to allow You to keep my light burning.  Thank You for Your love and grace.  I love You.