When Your Longing and Looking for Goodness and Light
On some nights, I lay in bed unable to sleep. I am afraid of the dark. Not the kind where the lights go out, but a prevailing blackness that trickles down into my mind and seeks to wrap itself around my heart.
As soon as my head hits the pillow, the dark images cloud my view.
I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve struggled to fall asleep as I imagined the worse case scenario. As I lay in my jammies safe under the covers, I will picture myself on my deathbed.
Perhaps you’ve had a sleepless night or two this year. I don’t know what nightmare disrupts your slumber, but you probably have longed for daylight at least once or twice.
I guess that’s why I love Christmas so much. It’s the twinkle of the shimmery lights on the tree.
The tiny flickers of light remind me there is always hope. God’s glory can break through any temporary shadow the enemy may seek to cast over my life.
Jesus, the Light of the World, is alive and at work in our world.
We don’t need to fear the increasing darkness. One day, He will speak but a word and wipe out all wickedness.
He will bring us goodness and light, my friend.
So, if like me, you are feeling gloomy this Christmas, I want to encourage you to rise up and remember how His redemption rescued you from the pit of hell.
Rise up and remember His goodness.
No situation is too dark for God’s salvation to shine through if you look to the Light.
Let the light of His love fill your life with peace and joy this December.
As we countdown to Christmas, let’s begin our day by surrendering our hearts to God’s plans for this season by echoing the prayer of Mary in Luke 1:38 (NET):
I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to Your word.
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Such light and hope I find here today, friend. Night before last I had a sleepless night after I’d visited a friend whose nephew just had a life-threatening, life-altering motorcycle accident. And I’ve had plenty of sleepless nights over my own issues too. So thank you for this bit of light and hope today. You made me smile.
Oh, Betsy, what a blessing to have a friend like you who shows up when life is hard! Praying for this grieving family.
Merry Christmas to you, Lyli!
Feliz Navidad, friend. 🙂
It goes without saying that your words here are so encouraging, but I also have to comment on the image you created for this post. So beautiful!
Thanks for all you do!
Thanks, Michele. I am thankful for people who share their photos for free on Pixabay. It adds so much life to my blog. 🙂
Thanks so much for the reminder that just a small flicker of light casts out the darkness, Lyli! I can relate with restless nights and fears about worst-case-scenarios. Praise God for coming to us and promising to stay close until the end of the age!
Yes, He has it under control. I don’t know why I worry so much!
Dear Lyli! YES, I surely understand what you are saying…I go through the same, exact things at night. No wonder the Bible says, “Fear hath torment”. You and I can surely vouch for that, can’t we, my friend? Anxiety is so real, and sometimes I feel so condemned by Christians who feel that if we are believers, we should never feel depressed, fearful, or anxious. Thank you for understanding and for your transparency and for keeping it real. God bless you abundantly this Christmas!
Fear is such a tool of the enemy, friend. It’s a battle I am sure we will be fighting until He returns to take us home.
One of my favorite verses is the latter part of Micah 7:8: “when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.”
By the way, I wanted to let you know that the link in your email for today’s Faith on Fire post goes to last week’s rather than this week’s.
Love that verse, Barbara.
And, thanks for letting me know about the issue with my e-mail. Not sure what I did. Can’t fix it now though. Bummer
Lyli, I so get this one! I am so grateful for His Light which dispels all darkness – in the world and in our hearts! May you and Bruce have a blessed and JOY-FILLED Christmas! xo
Thankful for you, friend. Merry Christmas 🙂
Love this, Lyli. Remembering God’s goodness and light. This is great, “The tiny flickers of light remind me there is always hope. God’s glory can break through any temporary shadow the enemy may seek to cast over my life.” Amen! Merry CHRISTmas sweet friend!
Feliz Navidad, friend. May your home be filled with His goodness and light in 2018. HUGS
Lyli, are you familiar with Bible teacher Steve Brown? Out of Lauderdale, I believe. He used to pray these words, “Father you know what wakes us up at 2 a.m. – still our hearts.” I love that. Our good, good Father never sleeps, never dozes, never catnaps – He is at our beck and call 24/7. He longs to hear our whisper or our shout, “GOD I NEED YOU.” May your Christmas be merry and bright with your hunk. xo
Susan,
Yes, I am very familiar with the amazing Steve Brown. He used to broadcast on the local Christian station here when I was growing up, and I always loved listening to his short encouraging devotional thoughts.
I love that God never sleeps. Psalm 121 is one of my favorite Psalms just for this very reason.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! 🙂
Hugs,
Lyli
Lyli, you too? Yes, I have experienced THAT darkness AND His Light! It is a double-edged sword in that I am grateful and sorrowful that others know how darkness feels. Thank you for pointing to hope!
Charla,
I am so thankful our paths crossed through COMPEL this year. Blessings to you as we look toward 2018.
HUGS
Merry Christmas! And may Jesus shine His light on you this coming year!
Merry Christmas! Thanks for hosting!
“Rise up and remember His goodness.
No situation is too dark for God’s salvation to shine through if you look to the Light.” There is such hope in this, Lyli! May we be light-bearers and hope-bringers to others this Christmas.
Amen, friend. May we let our little light shine. HUGS
Fear is the devil’s worst tool, thank God for His Holy Spirit and the perfect love that casts it out You He created the dark, and it was good, the devil high jacked it for evil, I wrote an article called Holy Imagination, we have to think on the good thoughts of Phillipians 4:8. He gives us so much grace. He is light in the darkest places, and even some people standing in daylight are full of darkness. Merry Christmas, may the Lord light up 2018.
Yes, I meditate on Philippians 4:8 very often when I am struggling with crazy thinking. This is not true, I tell myself. — That’s an important verse to memorize to combat fear.
Blessings!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder, Lyli! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Amen to the light we find in Jesus. Merry Christmas Lyli,
May your day be filled with love and peace. Thank you for your linkup each week. It is a great place to meet others and visit your wonderful blog.
Blessings, Maree
I think I never realize His light and goodness so much than when I’m in darkness. so for that reason, I’m thankful, even in the dark. Bless you friend. May your holidays with family be joy-filled in spite of anything and everything – that’s how I’m praying !
Thanks for praying, Sue. You bless me. — Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Lyli, as I read your post, I am more convinced that we need to really focus on reprogramming our minds. This is something that the Lord has been urging me to do. Thanks for your honest sharing. Praying for a new season and looking forward to the new year as I’m inspired by you!!
Yes, my friend. The battle starts in our thinking. Have you read the Chuck Missler book Be Ye Transformed? I bought it in the church bookstore years ago, and I probably need to re- read it. 🙂
At my age, it’s more aches and pains that keep me awake. LOL But I know what you’re saying, I’ve certainly had my dark nights. But the darkness only makes us appreciate His light more, doesn’t it! Hope your Christmas was a beautiful reminder of Him and that you’re looking forward to many blessings in the new year. Thanks for hosting and sharing the light all year.
Thanks, Donna. I am at that age where I never sleep through the night any more. So, I’ve started playing music to help me get back to sleep. It’s making a difference.