3 Steps From John 1:5 You Can Take When Life Feels Dark

Recently, I drove up to Denver very early in the morning while it was still dark. I’m not a fan of driving in the dark. I’m blind in my left eye, which means my depth perception is less than ideal, and the darkness exacerbates that problem. The great thing is that the headlights on my SUV work well and illuminate the road well enough so I can see more clearly.

Driving the dark is challenging, but living in the dark is even more challenging! What do I mean? When you’re living in the dark, you feel clueless about which direction to take, and fear can easily invade your thinking. Let’s face it, the dark can feel scary!

Here’s what I know: light always wins over darkness,

John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). John was referring to Jesus as being the light of the world. Jesus proclaimed about Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). When Jesus made this statement, the Pharisees were pretty ticked! Why? Because by stating He was the light of the world, Jesus was saying He Himself was God. He was making a direct reference to when God Himself led the Israelites out of Egypt.

As the children of Israel were wandering, they would only move forward as the pillar of the cloud moved by day and the pillar of fire—giving light—by night. (Ex. 13:21). Throughout history, every year the Israelites would celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles, remembering God’s guidance through their wilderness wanderings. It was on the last day of the feast that Jesus himself stood and triumphantly declared, “I am the light of the world.”

What does all this have to do with you? Some of you are in a wilderness of sorts. You’re facing dark circumstances, and you’re not sure where to turn or what to do. Jesus promised to be the light for your life. He promises to illuminate the path. So what tangible steps can you take in your wilderness wandering to take hold of His light? Here are a few ideas:

• Praise Jesus by faith that He is the light of the world, even though your circumstances feel dark. Praise unleashes deeper faith in our hearts. As you invite Jesus into your darkness and declare out loud over your circumstances that He is the light of the world, there will be a shift in your spirit. Circumstances may not change, but your attitude will. Gradually, you will find that your faith increases.
• Step out by faith. Sometimes when we’re unsure of what to do, we become paralyzed, and as a result, we do nothing. Instead, when faced with options, ask yourself: which option requires the most faith? Then take steps in the direction of faith. Here’s what I know: God always honors faith. Often in life we won’t have clarity, but if we step out trusting that God will lead as we go, He will direct one step at a time.
• Claim Scripture over your situation. Often when I feel unsure of how or what to pray, I get my Bible and pray Scripture over the situation. Recently, I was heavy-hearted for a friend who doesn’t know Christ yet, so I grabbed my Bible and prayed through the book of Ephesians, putting her name in as I prayed. God honors His Word; as we pray the promises of God’s Word, we bring light into dark circumstances and, at the same time, increase our faith. By learning to pray Scripture, you tangibly bring God’s light into your darkness. 

Friend, walking in the darkness is no fun. Wilderness wanderings can feel awful. But there is hope! Remind yourself—write it on an index card and put it on your mirror or on your refrigerator—Jesus is the light of the world! {eoa}

Becky Harling, an author, certified speaker, leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, is an energetic and motivational international speaker inspiring audiences to overcome their greatest life challenges and reach their full God-given potential. Her most recent book is How to Listen So People Will Talk. Her husband, Steve Harling, is the president of Reach Beyond, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the voice and hands of Jesus around the world. Connect with Becky at beckyharling.com, Facebook or Twitter.

This article originally appeared at beckyharling.com.