This season, we are called to shine! We are called to be lights for Christ. A beacon on a hill. Don’t put your light under a bushel. No. I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.

I realize ALL TO WELL this can be difficult. Between the decorations and invitations, everyday responsibilities on top of holiday demands, the hurried pace of Christmas can be trapped in the “to-do” rather than the “to shine.”

In Exodus, the Bible tells us the Israelites were instructed to build a Tabernacle for the Lord. Housed inside was a golden lampstand given with very detailed instructions. The instruction that was most profound to me was that the light was to shine forward (Exodus 25:37). Not backward. Not downward. But forward. 

Godward. 

I believe the light shining forward was toward the HOPE that one day there would be a King, a Messiah, who would be the perfect sacrificial lamb to take away the sins of the world. 

This light shining forward represented the day when Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. A Savior who would be called the Light of the World (John 8:12).

The light shining forward represented the love, grace, kindness, friendship, and mercy that Jesus would one day offer. 

The light shining forward would be given to us, believers in Christ, to shine so others would be drawn to His light inside of us and softened to hear the good news of the gospel (John 1:9).

But sometimes, when life doesn’t go as we want, the light goes dim. We get angry in traffic and there goes the fuse. Our kids disappoint and the plug gets yanked from the socket. Our parents get sick. Our job is unstable. Our marriage is strained. 

Or – the checkout clerk at Target tells you you can’t buy Miller Lite for a Christmas party you are having in four hours. 

Selfishness kicks in to high gear. Our body feels a rise in temperature. When we don’t get our way, temper tantrums can snuff the light inside of us and take us down with smoke trailing our frustrations. 

But here’s the promise. Jesus never leaves. Even when we are down and out, His light can shine forward. His light will shine even when we can’t.

That’s just it.

We can’t force the shine.

Inward light has to come from the love and conviction that our faith in Jesus is ABOVE our circumstances. Our light shines because we believe the promises of the Bible ARE TRUE and they override our difficulties. In fact, our trials are growing us into a deeper faith to believe that God is in control despite what we see around us. 

Yes. Because the lamp is shining forward, we have a God of HOPE who is filling us with joy and peace as we TRUST AND BELIEVE in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

I pray you will watch this very telling video moment of losing light and be inspired that God will always shine – even when we can’t. He is so faithful.

Yes. HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WOLRD – even in Target. 

Thank you Ann, for your calming demeanor when I was about to lose my light. 

And thank you, Grace, for your sweet friendship and prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray and shine. 

Merry Christmas.

With lots of shining LOVE,

Annie