Light In The Darkness

Author’s note: this is the original devotion that was submitted to the Upper Room in September 2022. I thought I would include the original so that you could compare it to the final edit that is published in the July/August Upper Room for Monday, July 22, 2024. It is published on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Hold Fast To The Light (Title was changed to: Light In The Darkness)

Read Job 33: 28-33 (Scripture was changed to: John 1:1-14)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Some mornings, I wonder why I sit down at our kitchen table with my Upper Room, Bible, and prayer lists.

No matter where I look, the world is a mess. In lots of different ways, we have become very skilled at destroying our world and ourselves.

Not a week passes, when I learn that a relative, friend, or neighbor is facing a crisis. That crisis comes in assorted shapes and sizes.

Over the years, I have learned there is no immunity in life from a crisis.

Additionally, I have noted that a crisis is very good at disrupting life, and sometimes taking life.

Our messy world and the challenges people face in their daily living make me question my morning routine.

Why should I continue to pray?

Why should I continue to read Bible verses that I have read hundreds of times?

And then on some mornings, a total stranger from a far corner of the world will touch my questioning heart. Their heartfelt words from the Upper Room devotional will give me hope.

That hope in the darkness prior to dawn will push me to revisit these words from John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

To overcome the darkness of the world and a crisis, you, me, we, us must hold fast to that light.

Prayer: Father of us all, help us always to seek your light in our darkness. Amen

Thought For The Day
One ray of light can overcome darkness and give hope.

Bill Pike (Virginia, USA)

Hopefully, the correct link to the Upper Room site: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2024-07-22

This is followed by More From The Author in the Upper Room:

More from Bill Pike
July 22, 2024 by Bill Pike (Virginia, USA)

I am always honored when the editors at The Upper Room accept one of my devotion submissions. Being an editor is tough work. Today’s devotion was submitted to The Upper Room for consideration near the end of September 2022.

The world continues to change. Yet, I still cling to my daily routines. I’m an early riser. I start the day with the Upper Room devotion. This includes reading the suggested scripture and my morning prayers.

I also keep a highlighter with me. This allows me to capture words and insights from the other writers in the magazine. If a piece really resonates with me, I try to make a comment on the Upper Room website. I thank the author, briefly reflect on why the piece resonated, and then encourage the author to keep writing.

I cherish the ability to write. It is a gift that keeps me grounded in reality. I’m exhilarated when a submission to a newspaper, magazine, or website is accepted and published. Additionally, I’m disappointment when a piece isn’t accepted. In those situations, I try to learn and regroup with a goal to try again.

As a natural born worrier, I think a lot about our world and how people are hurt by the chaos and turmoil that can change a life in a blink. In these challenging times, I think it is important for our voices to be heard.

I believe writing is the perfect tool for capturing what is in our hearts and on our minds. We can’t let darkness overcome us. Writing can be a means for us to bring light and hope into a weary world. Sometimes I find hope in stories that capture human kindness.

Our son and his family, along with his in-laws were recently traveling in England. An unexpected disruption in train travel forced railroad personnel to move passengers from one train to another one. This merger of passengers made for a very crowded train. Lots of people were standing in the aisles because all the seats were taken.

A woman passenger noted that our son’s mother-in-law and one of his young daughters needed to sit down. This passenger knew that her stop was the next one. Just before her stop, she made arrangements to give up her seat to the weary woman and her granddaughter.

I wonder what nudged this passenger to offer kindness to perfect strangers? Small acts of kindness like this are good for our souls. They give us hope in a world that can overwhelm us with troubling stories.

My gift for writing has helped me to write and self-publish four books for children. Additionally, during the last seven years, I have over 400 posts on my blog site named Might Be Baloney. I simply write about life from a variety of angles with the goal to make us ponder our world, with a touch of humor and an occasional tear.

Despite my many imperfections, I’m thankful that the light of the good Lord has allowed me to tinker with words.