Welcome back wayfarer friends!
You may have noticed themes of “walking” and “light” are kind of a big deal around here. Aside from having a forward looking and bright connotation, these concepts hold special meaning in relation to faith.
Long before I had any intention of starting a blog, let alone what to call it, the idea of walking in God’s light kept weighing on my heart. Like many Christians, I grew up learning about Jesus, attending service every Sunday, said grace before meals and prayers before bed each night. Yet the substance of faith never held much weight, until life started becoming heavy too. Maybe you can relate.
Spiritual Darkness
At some point in life, we all face difficult times—heartbreak, bullying, loss, severed trust, betrayal, or even abuse. Many of these add an unfair weight to the baggage we carry, and at times, it can seem unbearable.
Multiple challenges may stack up, leaving us covered in wounds before we even realize how we’ve been hurt, or why. Voices of the enemy, the world, or even our own mind, can start to drown out who we once were in spirals of shame. And over time, we start to believe the lie that that feeling of brokenness is our fault. Not because of what we did or what was done to us, but because of who we are.
If you’ve ever faced a dark season, or are currently lost in the middle of one, these feelings of shame and despair can most likely strike you to the core. It’s only natural to want to hide, cover it up, find a distraction, brush reality under the rug of detachment, and put on a brave enough face just to make it through the day.
Whether you’ve been hurt from others mistreatment, are struggling with your own mistakes, or a combination of both, its a natural fear to want to cover up our faults and scars. The world glorifies strength, those who seem fearless, well-liked, and have it all together. Yet the Word (Jesus) tells us when we follow Him, we’re guaranteed to not look like the world. We’re promised to run up against judgement, mockery, persecution, hardship.
And often that feels like irreparable weakness, standing up despite crippling fears, and bearing scars for His glory.
Light of God
Often, it’s when we reach the lowest we’ve been, get real with ourselves and real before God, that we’re able to bring everything before Him. Dragging the worst parts of ourselves and the most painful moments in life out of the shadows and into the rays of His tender, redeeming light.
Maybe you can recall a specific moment this happened. Or maybe it was countless small moments of surrender. Regardless of when or how or what we’ve been carrying around, presenting it humbly to the Father will always be met with open arms. No exceptions.
This passage from Ephesians 5 highlights what it means to let spiritual darkness die and be reborn to new life in Christ.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. […] Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, […] be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The only way to truly heal and live in freedom, is by bringing our wounds into the light. Asking forgiveness ourselves, or help in forgiving others. Then having courage to leave what’s passed in the past, and stepping forward into a bright future with our Savior.
God’s presence is always there, eagerly waiting for us to seek Him. And in moments we feel too weak even to stand, His light can meet us there, and He will sit with us in the darkness.
Walking in the light is faith in action. Sooner or later, we have to put enough weight in what we believe, trusting that the God who was with us then, will support us no matter what lies ahead.
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
This change starts within, and over time, it alters how we live, enabling us to spread His light to others we encounter along the way. We all have dark sides and baggage we wish wasn’t there, but every last one of us are offered a new identity in Christ—to find healing redemption at His feet, and arise, to walk in the Light.
≫ Comment below what “walking in God’s light” means to you!
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