Let Your Light Shine no Matter the Circumstances

This weekend we were attempting to get the Christmas tree decorated. We are using an artificial tree and I got it put together a few days ago. The lights are not the favorite part of decorating so they were holding up the progress. While finally attempting to get them on we discovered that some of the lights weren’t working. We were able to fix 1 strand but after many attempts could not fix the other and their addition was put off yet again.

The next morning I was determined to figure them out but after over an hour of working on them, some still wouldn’t light. At that point I decided to just go ahead and put them on anyway and not worry about those that didn’t light. As many as there were that did work it would still be pretty by mixing the strand that worked completely, with the strand that didn’t.

After that aggravation I decided it was time to bundle up and destress on a much needed ride while the sun was still shining. As I was riding along and noticing the Christmas decorations in people’s yards I thought back to the tree lights. Some shine brightly, some are a bit dimmer, and then of course some are not working at all. When they’re plugged in they work together to illuminate the tree beautifully just the same. I realized that we can be compared to those lights. Some days I feel as though my light for Jesus is shining brilliantly, but then there are other days when I sense that my light may have been dull or even burned out. I could let those days get me down and beat myself up because I didn’t do better, or I can apologize and promise Him and myself to try harder the next day. None of us can be a vibrant light 24/7 only He can. Without His power we can’t shine at all, just like the lights need electric power. They have to be plugged into an outlet and we need to be plugged into His word if we are to shine.

Not only does this comparison work with our own personal stories, but it works with others as well. When we see someone who may be struggling to shine, we can join in with them even if we aren’t fully shining and together make the light stronger. Darkness is simply a lack of light and even a tiny little spark can bring brightness. Darkness is also the absence of God which is why I believe light was created before every other creation in Genesis. We get our light from Him and we are to share it with everyone. That doesn’t mean we have to beat them over the head with it or nag about following Him, it means we should live in a way that others can see Him through us in our every day lives and conversations.

If we are to illuminate His love we need to be plugged into His word repeatedly and keep recharging ourselves with God’s spirit. The lights on the tree will not glow when they are unplugged, nor will we.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.