HopeFul Reflections

The phrase across the worship book used by my church is “lighted to lighten”. I never thought much of this, but now I understand what it means. In each of us is a light that brings us great strength and ability, but we often forget or don’t even realize it exists.

Backstory

When I was younger I lived in a poor neighborhood, but because I never knew anything else I never thought anything of the situation. I knew things were difficult but assumed this was what everyone experienced. I now live in a far better area with far greater stability, but I often look back with nostalgia at the young boy who struggled back then. Despite having nothing, having earned nothing, and not even having opportunities on the horizon, that boy knew with certainty that greater things were coming and accepted the struggle. This certainty came from frequent discussions with my mother that with God on my side I could endure my struggles. With God on my side my world view was not that of total despair, it was that the hardships of today were only details of a far greater tale to be told. My struggles have purpose. I had no other reason to believe that anything good would come my way, this only came with full belief that God was watching over me.

Feeling Alone

I cried many nights as a child due to feelings of inadequacy, feeling alone, and feeling hopeless. Despite this, the feeling never left me that God is with me and his light shone on me. Through my most difficult struggles I knew that God was watching over me and the my story was not useless. I’d like to explain why I was able to believe this.

A Mother’s Faith

I owe great thanks to mother for her faith. I know that her faith in God is what gave her strength and that strength was passed on to me through observation of her faith and through direct discussion with her. It was through her that I could see a light. Her life was significantly more difficult than my own. The details of her struggles could be its own post, but I hope you can believe me when I say that she struggled a great deal in her life. However, she has shown incredible strength throughout her struggles and I consider myself blessed to have come from a woman as strong as my mother. She has often explained that in knowing that God is with her she has the ability to persevere throughout her struggles. Throughout all of her struggles she prayed and was given strength.

Faith’s as a Lens for the World

Even in the face of despair which may be clearly visible before us or despair that exists in our minds, the belief that an all powerful and loving Father is watching over us and has great plans for us allows us to endure whatever may come. His spirit allows us to not only endure our struggles but do so with grace. We do not simply endure struggle, we employ struggle as our chance to exemplify his strength in showing perseverance, kindness and patience in the face of adversity, and the ability to accept struggle with humility. We see struggle as our ability to grow in our faith and realize our weakness is our greatest strength as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 .

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Within each of us is the ability to allow God’s light to shine and provide us warmth but as exemplified by my mother, the ability to provide warmth to others. In the worst of situations, the poorest areas, and in the lowest of positions we as God’s children are able to observe his beauty and rest with ease knowing that with the Spirit with us we are able to envision the beauty of this world beyond what we currently see. The difficulty we face is now seen as opportunity for faith. The struggles of our brothers and sisters are our chances to offer strength and kindness. The despair we feel in our minds is because of our sensitivities alerting us to a desire to make things greater. We desire opportunity to make greater all that is around us. We simply struggle to identify how, but meditation on the Word and connection with His Spirit are starting points.

Whoever you are, you are a child of God. You are loved. Though you may feel that you are struggling alone and in vain, there is power in your struggle and purpose in your response. His light shines through and your actions echo His greatness. You may find it hard to believe, but the way you live affects the world greatly and you may choose to act in accordance with his Will. The faith of one woman, is the reason for the confidence, security, and strength that I have today. I hope this post helps you find your strength and the ability to offer it to others. I hope the flame of your spirit becomes lighted so you may lighten the spirit of others.

-JKG