“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
John 12:46 (NIV)

What feelings do I have when I am living in darkness? The darkness of my own addiction which blocks me from seeing truth; the hopelessness of the illness of a beloved family member that fills my heart with anger and despair; the longing for a relationship that recently ended or never even started… In these depths of darkness, I feel alone, afraid, confused, uncertain, hopeless. I feel lost, stifled and shunned.

Any time I feel unsure or uncomfortable with a situation in my life or a decision I’m about to make, all I need to do is step back and re-read John 12:46. This verse reminds me that when following my Savior, I will find clarity in His word and His messages that are presented to me throughout the day. When following Jesus, it is as if He holds the flashlight on the path of life before me. He dispels the darkness for truth until I can no longer deny it. He clears my heart of resentment and fills it with the warmth of His love. He evaporates loneliness with His comforting embrace. All that He asks of me is that I believe in Him.

Confusion, distortion and hopelessness are not part of Jesus’s message. When these things are alive in my heart, I need to move closer to Him in order to find my way.