Finding our Way in the Dark

So it’s Sunday morning and the Guest Pastor is wearing a lampshade on his head. (Yeah, that’ll happen when the Senior Pastor is stuck on a plane with the mission team trying to get home from Texas.)

The lampshade is one of those ivory-colored, flute shaped (well, upside-down flutes) where the circular opening at the top is 6-8 inches across then opens out to a wide, wire rim to support the shade.

It makes a perfect hat.

And why, you ask, does he have a lampshade on his head? He’s talking about the way God’s word shines a light on the path of our lives as we walk. Since I’ve tuned my heart and mind to the ways that God’s light works in this world–shining, revealing, reflecting his glory (the theme of of this blog) my ears perk up. Well, my eyes do too.

Pastor D. is talking about knowing God’s will for my life–because I know God has a will for me and it can be known. How? By running to my friends to ask them? Chatting with the Pastor on a Sunday after church? Chalking up circumstances to see how they play out? All of those are a piece of the puzzle. But……..

Bottom line? 95% of God’s will for us can be revealed through His word.

If we want to know God’s ways, we need to know His Word.

Walking in the light of God’s word and knowing his ways…..this is the Scripture he shares with us:

“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 10:12 KJV)

Pastor D. also shares from Psalm 119, verse 105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” then reaches into his crinkly, blue Ikea bag. When he pulls out the lampshade, a lightbulb goes off (sorry about that)–what a perfect illustration!

Unfortunately, there is no long range spotlight that goes down the pathway of my life 150 feet in front of me. No, at the most, it may be only a ten foot radius at my feet. And the path forward is actually difficult to see (as the lampshade is covering my eyes). However, with my view down at my feet I can clearly see the path before me a few steps at a time.

And if I’m stuck? Can’t see what’s next?
He admonishes us, “Go back to the last time you said ‘yes’ to God (or ‘no’). Start there. Then move again. And again. And again.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d always prefer the searchlight. (Or the spotlight—even better.) I’d like to see the Way Ahead part of my life, be prepared for what’s coming, delight in the bright future and all.

But what if the future is dark? Because there will be dark days.

I will need God’s light then most of all.

When the way is dark and friends aren’t around, I have Jesus with me, His word in my heart, my head leaning towards Him, listening for His voice to say, “This is the way, walk right here, even if it’s just one step at a time.”

Here’s to taking the next right step as He lights the way in the dark.