It seems as though the power would go off a lot more 50-60 years ago than it does today. But it still happens from time to time and it is usually when we need power most of all. Have you ever noticed how quiet it is the instant the power goes off?
Let’s say it happens tonight around seven o’clock. What is the first thing you will do? There isn’t much you can do without light, so most will attempt to find a flashlight or candles. Once you have a light source, many more things become possible.
This brings to mind my niece who lives in south Georgia. I was in my early twenties when she was born so I have had the privilege of watching her grow into a wonderful, godly woman. I also have several other nieces and each of those is also uniquely wonderful. But my niece Lori has always been the voice of reason in our family. When she was young and her mom would run out of gas on a hot summer day on a lonely highway, it would be Lori who would somehow manage to find the humor in it. She would take an otherwise tense and irritating experience and transform it into an amusing adventure. On those scary, stormy nights when the power would go off, Lori could be heard above all others making silly remarks and giggling uncontrollably.
It was as though Lori had decided that she would take control of the circumstances in her life and make the best of them. She has never been one to allow unpleasant events or people to steal her joy … or her light.
At the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Jesus looked out at this bloodthirsty, pathetically immoral mob and took pity on them. He pitied them because they were in darkness and were not handling it well. They were angry at something that they couldn’t see and took it out on God in the flesh.
How do we respond when something comes our way that we cannot understand? Do we lash out at those around us instead of attempting to seek out the source of the problem and focus on that? In most of these situations, the source is usually the same; darkness. Darkness as it applies to us is often the absence of understanding. But there are many things that are incomprehensible, so what then? God has made a provision for that as well. His provision is faith.
When the lights went out in the house and everyone else was fearful, Lori was cool-headed and had faith that all would be well. Today, the lights are dimming all around us and without a few like Lori, this would be a very unpleasant place. Not only do we need someone giggling in the dark to lift our spirits, but we also need someone lighting candles.
In John 8:12, Jesus said, ” … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” So not only do we run to the light when difficulties come our way, but we should also point others to “the Light of the world.” A little hope mixed with a lot of faith will get us through most anything!