Encouragement for Today

December 20, 2024 From the Darkness Light Has Dawned SARAH FREYMUTH Lee en español

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 (ESV)

Winter keeps coming, a heaviness in the air and in my chest. Sometimes it’s hard to see my way through this time of perpetual darkness, the appearance of the sun so late, its sinking so early in the day. Even harder still when I have to take a puppy out in the whipping Wisconsin wind.

On the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, we see the least amount of light. The veil of darkness might make us wish we could curl up and hibernate all winter.

And like the literal dark of this winter day, we can also grow weary of emotional or spiritual darkness, whether it’s more bloodshed on the news, late nights spent waiting for a prodigal child to return, another month of barely paying all the bills, or a season where joy has been elusive. We make our way through the days with that same temptation to close our eyes, hoping to open them to a time when things are different.

Will this winter of our hearts always last?

We sit and wait and wonder.

But even when it feels like dawn will never come … the Bright Morning Star is awake and alight with life and hope (Revelation 22:16). Jesus has come into this world and taken darkness captive by the power of His light. First John 1:5 reminds us “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

And Psalm 139:8-12 says He does not fear going to the depths for us. The darkness is not dark to Him. Nothing in our situation can scare Him away. It’s the opposite — in our suffering, He draws close.

Jesus came to a world riddled with darkness, destruction, temptation and broken systems. He was born as a man, while still fully God, and lived among us, calling all people to Himself as the Light of life. When we are weary, He is our strength. When we run out of steam, He keeps us going. When we battle the lies of the evil one, He fights for us.

He is the Light that cannot be overcome (John 1:5). This is the hope we hold close, the joy that illuminates our hearts because we can shift our focus from the weak winter sun to the eternal Son who sets us free to live in His love and shine it out to others.

The more I am mindful of this truth, today's wakeup doesn’t seem as harsh as usual. Blue and gray and white clouds climb the sky patterned in winter’s blanket, a layered beauty I know the sun resides behind.

Glory to God — the Light of the world has come.

Lord, thank You for sending the Light of the world to shine in my heart and help me overcome the darkness. Jesus is my strength, my salvation and my Good Shepherd. Help me shine His light to those around me who need His love today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

We may not always know where the Lord is leading us, but we can stay close to Him by holding firmly to His Word. That’s what we long to help you do here at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Would you join us in these efforts by giving a donation today? Together, we can keep providing biblical resources for any girl in any season. Donate now!

ENGAGE

Connect with Sarah Freymuth on her website or Instagram, or subscribe to her newsletter here!

We’re so thankful for how God has touched hearts and lives through Encouragement for Today Devotions over the past 20 years! Celebrate our 20th anniversary with us by heading to our Facebook group to watch a special video from one of our devotion writers, Alice Matagora.  

FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 1:4, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (ESV).

How is Jesus comforting you with His light and love in this season?

Reframe your thinking on something you’re struggling with: How does the light of Jesus change how you approach it?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2024 by Sarah Freymuth. All rights reserved.