Showing posts with label God's light and life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's light and life. Show all posts

Friday, January 8, 2021

Seeing a Small Flicker of God's Light

A crisis invariably creates within a person the compulsion for self-examination to assess the pain and suffering that cannot be denied. The unwillingness to take advantage of an opportunity to change unproductive behaviors and thoughts is a prescription for other major crises to follow, filled with additional pain and suffering.

Samson experienced several crises in rapid succession. The most severe crisis followed the loss of God’s presence, which resulted in being captured by his enemies who promptly gouged out his eyes. In addition, he was permanently separated from his family and friends and made to serve as a slave for the duration of his life.

Even under such harsh conditions, Samson’s will to live could not be extinguished. In the depths of that devastating darkness, nothing could switch off the flicker of God's light that provided hope for fulfilling God’s calling. God’s love penetrates the deepest darkness to give courage and hope for facing the future.  

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You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.

~2 Samuel 22:28-29 English Standard Version

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

~Matthew 4:16 New International Version

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Resilience: Standing Firm in Faith - Part 1

Disease and illness are hard to avoid. Striving to live here in the Houston area free of allergies is an example. Medications, a healthy diet, and living responsibly contribute to staying healthy. Resilience, that toughness of personality and spirit, can also limit the impact of an illness. But sometimes a fatal disease can silently creep up on us before we realize something is dreadfully wrong.

There's something unique to be gained for those who face death with faith that God is our eternal destiny. Harvey Gilbert relates how a friend managed the finality of death: "As the illness advanced, the long flight of steps represented a unique awakening. The disease gave death time to live and its victim time to die, and time to discover time, and in the end to discover life."

God sent his Son Jesus into the world to give us light and a life worth living. Discovering a life worth living requires slowing down and giving consideration to God's purpose for giving you life. That discovery is life-changing.