There’s always darkness, but then there’s also light.
The Well’s Facebook page is often full of prayer requests, which is a beautiful thing. Now, it’s not the need for prayer that’s beautiful, but rather people requesting and wielding the power of prayer.
The darkness can be daunting, but Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). When we enter a dark place, the first thing we look for is a way to add light to the situation. Imagine a dark room in the middle of the night. You hear a strange sound, believing it to be a critter. You quickly turn on a bedside lamp. You scan the room looking for the source of the sound, and you realize it’s just a curtain brushing up against the wall from the fan that’s blowing on it. It’s NOT a critter. Whew. Your heart rate slows, you turn off the light and return to sleep. Why? Because the light brought clarity, and clarity brought peace of mind, so you could return to resting. Wouldn’t it be odd if we could SEE that the noise in the room was only the curtains, but spent the rest of the night worrying about a critter that isn’t there?
Prayer turns on the light.
Now imagine a different situation. You receive news that isn’t favorable. Maybe it’s about a child, your job, or health. Jesus is there, the Light of the world, and He’s ready to bring light into your darkness. He wants to bring clarity and comfort. Prayer turns on the Light and helps to chase away our fear, anxiety, worry and doubt. And just like the unknown noise in the dark room, when Jesus brings light to your situation as we pray, it produces clarity and calm.
Prayer pushes back the darkness.
Jesus said, “My peace I give you, but not like the world gives. So, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus’s light in our darkness brings peace to our hearts. How? Well, imagine that you’re walking home, and you see a dog growling in a yard. You freeze in fear, unsure of what to do because you’re weighing your options. The owner of the house hears the dog, opens the door, and brings the dog inside. You no longer need to weigh your options. The owner has provided the answer for you. You have peace.
Jesus IS the Light of the world. He’s bigger than the “dog.” He’s also the owner of the house. You no longer need to weigh your options. So, unless your problem is beyond this world, Jesus has the light to bring you clarity and comfort in the midst of your problem in THIS world.
Just keep praying and turning on the light.
While grasping the peace of Jesus gives us may be easier said than done, we must stay in the constant pursuit of His light through the power of prayer. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
So, keep asking for prayer from your sisters in Christ. Keep praying for yourself and others. Keep turning the light on through prayer because Jesus is the light of the world, and He’s your light, too!