Shine Your Light in DarknessSample

DAY 1 — Your Ultimate Turnaround In this month’s devotional, I want to share with you about how God makes His most stunning performances in times of darkness! Are you ready for the ultimate turnaround? I really believe that, right now, God is leading us step-by-step through some of the most difficult times people have ever faced. A global pandemic, social and political upheaval, economic worries, mounting fears—so many people are experiencing soul-gripping darkness. Let there be Light! Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives Light. It gives understanding to the simple.” We can receive light through the entrance of His words. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” This is good news! As followers of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t get darker and darker for us in this world, but brighter and brighter. This isn’t to suggest that there will never be times—or even seasons—of darkness in our lives. Rather, this amazing promise encourages us to trust that God is going to light our way with that Light that shines brighter and brighter... until the full day. This truth gives us confidence and faith-filled expectation—the promise of a better day, a better week, a better month, and a better year. Now notice this promise speaks of the path of the righteous. Remember, we’re not righteous because we do everything right. We are righteous because we’ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Revelation 1:5 reminds us, “Jesus loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Don’t ever forget that He loved us first. He doesn’t love what is washed. He washes what He loves. He loves you! And that’s why He’s washed you in His own blood, cleansing you from all of your sins. With all that is going on in this world, it’s not what we’re looking at, but how we’re looking at it that really matters. We should be looking for the good. God promises us that while He is not the cause of all things, He does cause “all things to work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). No matter how dark it is today—no matter how dark your financial situation, emotional situation, family situation, or your health situation may be—you don’t have to be afraid of the dark. In times of uncertainty, times of discouragement, times when it seems like hope is dim, be encouraged: Light is coming! We will see tomorrow how God brings His Light of healing and blessing into this world of darkness so we can experience the brighter future He has provided for us.