Apr
8
2015
God’s Nightlight
Posted in Faith 2 Comments
When I go to bed after my husband, he is asleep when I enter our room.
I can maneuver quite well in the dark without bumping into anything.
I make my way over to our closet and turn on the light.
I get ready for bed in the soft glow of the closet light.
I am almost on autopilot as I walk to the closet.
I know the steps I need to take in order to get there.
The path is quite easy when there is a full moon.
The moonlight shines through the skylights in our bathroom, illuminating the way.
We have a balcony off our bedroom and the moonlight seems to call to me.
I will look out and marvel at the perfect circle in the night sky.
I can almost get ready for bed with no light at all when there is a full moon.
The moonlight is so comforting to me.
When my children were young, they were afraid when the power went out.
They all had flashlights next to their bed.
However, without their nightlight, it just wasn’t the same.
I came up with a plan.
I would open the blinds of their room whenever we had a power outage.
Unless there was no moon at all, there would always be some light.
I would stand next to the blinds so they could see my silhouette.
Look at the light, I would tell them.
At first, their eyes would have to adjust.
Within minutes, they would exclaim, I can see you!
God gave you His own nightlight, I would tell them.
Soon their flashlights would be turned off and God’s nightlight provided illumination.
My husband teases me about how well I can see in the dark.
It is nothing extraordinary.
I just always look for the light.
I search the darkness until I find it.
God’s nightlight is always there.
If necessary, I am even able to come downstairs in the dark.
A large window above our front door allows the soft light to shine through.
I also know the number of stairs, fourteen in all.
I know when I am almost to the bottom.
There are always ways to combat the darkness.
There are always ways to see when the way is not clear.
God provides a nightlight.
God helps us to remember the details that allow us to walk safely.
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When He had spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put His hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:22-25)
Jesus is able to heal completely all those who come to him.
Why then was the blind man not healed completely the first time?
We know that Jesus is the Son of God; He healed and performed many miracles.
This blind man was different; this healing was different.
The healing of this blind man was gradual.
Jesus knew that His disciples were beginning to see and beginning to understand.
There was a gradual restoration of the man’s physical sight.
So too, the disciples experienced gradual spiritual sight as they began to understand.
Isn’t it the same with us?
Once we were in darkness.
God provides a nightlight with just enough Light for us to get around.
Gradually, God opens our spiritual eyes in gentle increments until our eyes adjust.
Such grace is bestowed upon us.
We receive just enough light so we can begin to see.
Sometimes things are a bit distorted, just like the man saw people who looked like trees.
Gradually, things become clearer and our spiritual sight is fully restored.
God does not want His children to walk in darkness.
God sent His Son Jesus to illuminate the darkness.
I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)
God’s nightlight is Jesus.
The Light of the world casts out the darkness.
Our eyes have to be adjusted in order to see it.
The ability to see God’s nightlight often happens gradually.
There is no reason to be afraid.
Remember the blinds in my children’s rooms?
Turn your eyes towards the light.
As your eyes adjust, you will begin to see the Light.
You will see gradual light illuminating the darkness.
In the soft light the silhouette of Him is visible.
I can see You!
Thank you, sweet Jesus for providing just the right amount of Light for me to see.
God has provided a nightlight for you so there is no need to be afraid.
Look towards the Light.
The silhouettes will become clearer as your eyes are opened and your sight is restored.
Have your eyes been adjusted yet?
This makes me think of how dark our lives can be without the light of God in them. We need to be that light not hidden under a bushel, but in the open for all to see God in us!
Sue,
God’s nightlight is always there. He gives us just enough light to illuminate our path. Just like the Good Shepherd gives us just enough grass to graze in for today. What grace…just enough for today and trusting Him for the rest.
Gina