Month: January 2020

Reflection on Psalm 36:7, 9 How precious is your unfailing love, oh God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. … For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

I’ve heard people say that when they were younger they needed a night light because they were afraid of the dark. You see, their immature imaginations envisioned all kinds of goblins and scary creatures lying in wait in the shadows. They were afraid that harm would come to them if they were not able to see what was behind and under the objects in their rooms.

Some adults still have such fears. They want to be able to see all the answers. They believe that the more light shed on a situation, the less there will be lurking in the shadows to deceive them and to disturb their peace. What they fail to acknowledge is that artificial, man-made light can be deceptive. Even after tons of details have been dragged to the surface, the truth still remains unclear.

Our text suggests that perhaps, such people are looking at matters with the wrong headlamp. The Psalmist tells us that God is the light by which we should see. When God sheds light on a situation, the fogginess is washed away and we are able to discern that which is invisible to the human eye. God is the fountain of life. The light of God can help us see around and through the stuff that creeps in the corners, and there is no need to be afraid.

When we discern life through the light that God provides, we are able to see that, as long as God loves us, we have nothing to worry about. God’s eternal light will enable us to look at our situations through the illumination of time. And when we do so, we will see clearly that our God is in control. We will be able to detect a pathway toward spiritual shelter and find peace and protection beneath the shadow of God’s wings.

Scripture Focus

Psalm 139:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— ¹²  but even in darkness,  I cannot hide from you. To you, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

Reflection on Scripture

Last week in Sunday school, we discussed the nature of light and dark. It came out in our discussion that scientists have discovered that what we perceive as darkness actually contains tiny particles called neutrinos, which are slivers of light that pass through the entire universe. The presence of neutrinos has been detected through experiments using large pools of water or oil. As neutrinos interact with electrons contained in the water or oil molecules, they give off flashes of light.

I say WOW to scientific revelations! But before scientists “discovered“ light in the darkness, the scripture had addressed this phenomenon in more than a few places. For example, in Psalm 139:11-12 a writer observes that darkness cannot hide from God. The night shines as the day. To God, both darkness and light are alike. Moreover, the gospels assure us that darkness cannot overcome the light (John 1:5). God can find us, even in the dark!

Prayer Response

Eternal God, thank you for your presence everywhere and in everything. I rest assured in knowing that, no matter what I’m going through, you will find me. You will embrace me with your light that cannot be overcome, even in my darkest hour. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Focus Scripture – Matthew 6:25-34

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

While taking a class in Pastoral Care, one of my classmates shared this story. He told me it would be all right if I shared it with others for the good of the order. Thanks, Elbert!

“The Trouble Tree”

The carpenter who was hired to help a man restore an old farmhouse had just finished his first day on the job, and everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. First of all, on his way to work, he had a flat tire that cost him an hour’s worth of pay. Then his electric saw broke, and after work, his old pickup truck refused to start.

His new boss volunteered to give him a lift home, and the whole way to his house the carpenter sat in stone silence as he stared out his window. Yet on arriving, he invited his boss in for a few minutes to meet his family. As they walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was one big smile as he hugged his two small children and kissed his wife.

Afterward, the man walked his boss to his car to say thank you. Now on their way out of the house, the boss’s curiosity got the best of him. So, he had to ask the man about the tree on the front porch.

He said, “I noticed when you came up onto the porch before going into your house you stopped and touched the tree, why?”

“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” the man replied. “I know I can’t stop from having troubles out on the job, but one thing’s for sure – my troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then, in the morning, I pick them up again. Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick ‘em up, they aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”

Prayer Response

Awesome God, thank you for reminding us that there is no need to worry. You’ve got this! Amen.