I had watched her countless times and felt the same wonder each time. She would manage to move about in the darkness without a hitch. She could walk, run, jump, leap and chase as if all was in the light before her. Her actions were all due to a cat’s ability to see in the dark. As for me, I tend to grope in the dark, often bumping into a wall here or there.

Life often feels like a walk in the dark. God seems to ask us to take the next step in our journey even when we aren’t sure there is a next step, or we cannot see where the next step would be.

In her book, Seeing in the Dark: Finding God’s Light in the Most Unexpected Places, Nancy Ortberg examines the life of faith. She states:

“Perhaps that is what most of our faith journey is: learning to see in the dark.”

My problem lies in the fact that I would much rather journey in the light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12, NLT). In those moments when life has seemed darkest, I discovered I was most aware of my need of the Light. It was in the darkness, I knew I needed more of Him, if I were going to be able to navigate through the dark.

That same verse continues: “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

We won’t need to walk in darkness because His Light is not able to be extinguished. His Light, present at creation, will continue on through all eternity. Sure it may seem to lessen at times, perhaps flicker, but it will always be present and capable of overcoming the darkness.

“In the darkness, it’s easy to miss what is truly life. The darkness begs us for a knockoff. It wants to cheat us. It wants us to wrestle ourselves out of the darkness so quickly that we fail to stay there and wait … wait for the light to show us where next to put our feet. It tricks us into easy answers and superficial directions, all the while leaving us hungry for the life that is truly life.

His wonderful light – light that offers us the life we were created for. Light that comes out of and into our darkness.”
(from pages 126-127)

I found this book to bring much encouragement, infusing my faith, pressing me towards His light. It was a beautiful reminder of the extraordinary ways in which God lights the way before us even in the most painful and challenging of days. He never leaves us in the dark. May you feel His blessing today …

“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious toward you
and give you peace.

(Numbers 6:24-26)

****Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I am disclosing this as required by Federal Trade Commission.

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Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Everyday Jesus and Looking Up and Beloved Brews and The Book Nook .