We live in the country, away from any kind of city lights, so it gets pretty dark at night. Dark like it is impossible to safely make it to the mailbox without a flashlight kind of dark. Unless you happen to have a little help from the moon. On a nice clear night, a full moon really lights up the place. It’s just like switching on a night light.
We had one of those nights recently, and I had to grab my camera to capture the beauty. I set up my tripod, put the camera on top and focused my shot. Looking through the lens was enough to take my breath away.
Such a magnificent sight. The way the bright, glowing moon lit up the dark was nothing short of awesome.
It’s funny to think that most beautiful moon, lighting up the entire night, is actually getting its light from the sun. It is totally dependent on the sun for that beautiful light.
I can’t help but think of how our relationship with our Creator is the same way.
We are dependent on Him for our beauty. He is our bright light and we are made to reflect His light.
This world can seem so dark. We can hardly turn on the news without hearing of another tragedy. Sad story after sad story. The bad news is overwhelming, and it can be easy to feel defeated and let down. But we must remember that darkness is transformed by the brightness of Christ. He has pierced the darkness forever. He is the light that will never fade. Never go dark. Never be overcome.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. {John 1:5}
So instead of stumbling around in the darkness, we have the light of Christ as our guide. He is our eternal light in this dark world.
Our path is lit.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. {John 8:12}
We are called to shine. We don’t shine on our own, we shine because of Him. He is our source. We are called to be the people who reflect God’s light in the darkness of this world. This hurting world needs to know His light.
Let God use you to be a blessing. What a beautiful reflection you can be. Use the opportunities He gives you to shine His light wherever you go. Let His love shine from you. Let His grace shine through you. Shine with your words and your actions. With your entire life.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. {Matthew 5:16}
I took down my camera and walked back to the house with a heart full of gratitude for His light. My path is lit.
Just remember . . . darkness can not survive where there is light.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Jennifer,
I love your shot of the moon…gorgeous! God’s very own nightlight to us. When my children were little they needed/wanted a nightlight to help them not feel afraid in the dark. Being an adult in this world right now, I feel like I need a nightlight….we all do. Jesus is that light to illuminate our way. I also believe that, like you said, we are called to reflect Him. With all the naysayers and gloom dispensers (especially with our current political climate), people need to hear, now more than ever, where our hope comes from….that there is an eternal hope and peace that can be theirs. The world is ripe for me to be a reflecting nightlight…I pray that I can be that!
Blessings and prayers for safety for those in the hurricane’s path,
Bev
KAY says
Thanks Jennifer
I needed this as I sit and wait in the general path of Hurricane Matthew here in SC. I am open to reflect the light of the Lord, even in the clouds and darkness of the world. And thank you Bev for your prayers. And my prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti and other places in the Caribbean who are struggling in the aftermath.
~ Kay
Jennifer Studio JRU says
You are right, we just need to be open to reflecting His light and I think He will lead us, Kay! Praying along with you and praying for you!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Beautifully said, Bev! I know just through your comments here that you are a wonderful reflecting light! Thank you for that!
Michele Morin says
I love in the country as well, and love those nights when the stars are so visible that I can see the three dimensional aspect of distance up there. Light is such a terrific Scriptural metaphor, and you’ve given it new life in my imagination today! Thank you.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh, thank you so much, Michele! Enjoy those beautiful country nights!
Rookia Nurse says
What a spectacular photo! May I use it as my cover on Facebook? It will remind me of this powerful message, that we are called to reflect His light onto the darkness in the world, as the moon reflects the light of the sun onto our darkness.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Thank you, Rookia! They do watermark the image with incourage.me and our name, so I think it would be okay to use as long as that stays on the photo.
Rookia Nurse says
I don’t see the watermark on the photo, maybe because it is mostly so dark, but i put the pic up and already had the opportunity to share the story, the reminder- We are to reflect His light.
Kathy Cheek says
God must have been whispering the same thoughts to both of us this week, I wrote something similar!
Reflected Glory http://www.kathycheek.com/2016/10/reflected-glory.html
If ever there is a time to be a light and reflect Jesus in our world today, it is today!
Love your words!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Yes, you are right… it is today for sure! Thank you, Kathy. I will check out your words as well!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
I wasn’t able to leave a comment on your post, but I wanted to say your thoughts were beautiful! It is an honor as well as an awesome responsibility!
Rebecca L Jones says
When I moved from Atlanta out to a suburb in the country, I went from the skyline lighting my night to having to depend on a drive way light to find my trash can. I stared into the darkness, the woods. The critter noises, a whiny train whistle that sounded like a tornado coming, and there was the moon. Darkness, especially, spiritual darkness is a frightening place, but God created, and it’s still good if He’s there. And I love the wording, we depend on Him for our beauty.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
You are exactly right, Rebecca! It is still good if He is there!
Nancy Ruegg says
Thank you for your inspiring words, Jennifer: ” Let His grace shine through you. Shine with your words and your actions. With your entire life.” GRACE is one of those little one-syllable words whose meaning is huge. Praise God for the privilege to reflect his GRACE through our words and actions. What an impactful, uplifting perspective!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh yes, Nancy… praise God for the privilege!! It is certainly a privilege to reflect His grace!
Beth Williams says
Jennifer,
I, too, live in the country. My neighbors have a street lamp in their driveway, but that is all the light we get. This world is getting so bad that I have found myself asking God “How long O Lord, till you come back?” It feels like Sodom and Gomorrah. I try to shine my light by going to see my aging dad 4 or so days a week at the assisted living and talking with the other residents there. They need hugs and smiles. Their days can be long and lonely. I help with “Feed the Multitude” in our community. Our church bakes cookies, cupcakes and brownies for 250+ people once a month-another church makes the meal. I have gone to help serve the food to the needy families. For all I know that could easily be me.
Blessings 🙂
Jennifer Studio JRU says
How wonderfully you shine His light, Beth! You touch those lives deeply with each hug and smile and with that food. Thank you! Bless you!
Jasmine Ryan says
In January, when the days were shortest and the light most scarce, I chose my word of the year to be LIGHT. I am so encouraged that we aren’t called to have enough power to ignite a light, only to be willing reflections of His radiance. Those words “darkness has not overcome it”…so sweet to me when the world shouts otherwise. Thank you for these words, and that one word in particular. LIGHT.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
What a beautiful word of the year! So grateful we have those words to remind us when the world is shouting otherwise, Jasmine!
Cindy says
Wow! This is such a beautiful devotional (and photo)! Thank you for sharing your heart, for letting us see all the beauty that God has worked in you!
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Oh, thank you so much, Cindy!
Theresa says
What an honor to reflect the light of God. This world has a lot of darkness and it can get us down, so thanks for the reminder that the dark will not overcome the light. The light always wins. Always.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
It does always win… yet in the world today, I know I often need the extra reminders, Theresa!
Faith Douglas says
Ladies , I want to say I agree with all of your comment. We as children of God need to be the light that the world needs. I work in the world as most of you do, and when I listen to to people talk about how unhappy they are, an try to tell you the things they do to be happy is frightening to me. We need to be that person who will tell about how God can help them throughout their struggle, even when sometime they pretend like they do want to here about him. We must be that voice of reason for a people that is trying to convince themselves they can live without the power of God. I am praying for those of you that are in the path of Matthew, I am from Jamaica and I am now living in Buffalo so I know what it feels like during a storm. Jennifer you really tough the heart of what we as children of God should focus on daily. Please continue to let God uses you for women around the world.
Jennifer Studio JRU says
Beautifully said, Faith! We do need to be that person and that voice and from your comment, I know that you are. Thank you!
Brandi Luiz says
I enjoy your words. You speak to my heart.