Hold Fast in Hard Times — Bright Lights (Day 6)
A few years back, we got hit by strong hurricane force winds in our area. The eye of the storm landed north of us, but the impact spanned several counties.
The power was out for two weeks in some neighborhoods, but God mercifully sent a cold front to Florida, and we opened our widows and let in the cool breeze. With nothing much to do at night, lots of folks ventured outside to their front yards to chat with the neighbors.
One of the best post-hurricane pastimes that ensued was star-gazing. With no lights in the big city, we spread beach blankets out on our lawns and laid down to look up at the heavens.
That’s when this city gal learned the secret — the darker the sky, the brighter the stars shine.
Maybe you are in the midst of a very dark and desperate season of your life. Perhaps you think your life has lost meaning, and that your dreams have died.
The truth is that our greater purpose is to be a bright light. Keep twinkling. Somebody who needs to get out of the darkness is watching.
Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
so that you may be blameless and pure,
children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation,
among whom you shine like stars in the world.
Hold firmly to the Message of Life.
Then I can boast in the day of Christ
that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
Philippians 2:14-16 (HSCB)
I’m sharing “Bright Lights” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and linking up with like-minded sisters at Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, and Unforced Rhythms.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.
I needed to read this this morning. Thanks.
“the darker the sky, the brighter the stars shine”
This reminds me of when we were without electricity for a week in 2011 after tornadoes came through. There are many graces we can see and receive in the dark that we don’t notice in the light…. Thanks for always shining, Lyli!
We live in rural Indiana — far from the bright lights of the city. Star-gazing is a treat on a clear night. Thanks for this imagery: “Keep twinkling. Somebody who needs to get out of the darkness is watching.” I think I’ll tweet that!
Star-gazing after a storm… I love that. And these words are beautiful: “the darker the sky, the brighter the stars shine.” Thank you for this little bit of light.
When I’m on the boat at night, I’m often in spots away from lights and can see the stars. (If the night is clear, of course.) Of course, my eye is drawn to the big and well-known stars and constellations. And then there is the delight of seeing the less well-known ones. Makes me think of how, like the smaller stars, we add to the whole picture of what God is doing in women’s lives. We don’t need to be major speakers or leaders. We can be that “little bit of delight” that He uses — to tell someone that “Yes, I’m in this person, too.” Like the stars (when we can see all of them) may the sheer number of His sons and daughters and all the love we have to give — may it give others an idea of just how huge our God is and how big His love is.