by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Hope in the Darkness

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Walking through a forest of Redwood trees, especially in late fall and winter, is a walk in search of light. The angle of the sun and the height of the trees prevents the sun’s rays from penetrating to the forest floor. Most of the light is seen only when you look up.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 English Standard Version

If the psalmist had been walking through a Redwood forest he might have said that he lifted his eyes to the top of trees, to the place where light resides.

It’s easy for us to be captivated by the darkness that surrounds us and to get lost in despair. Many people dread the darkness of winter, and they feel the physical and emotional toll the darkness takes on their lives. We need light. We crave light. We hunger for light.

We anticipate celebrating the light that comes to us, the light of the Christ child who shines his love into our darkened world. Yet for this light to shine, this child born for us must experience darkness. There has been no darker day on this planet than the day when Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There is no greater darkness than when God turns his back on Jesus.

In his darkness, we experience light. We lift up our eyes to his hill and know that we will not be consumed by the darkness, we cannot be consumed by darkness. Sin has been forgiven, death has been conquered, and hope has been born.

The light shines in the darkness and darkness will not win. The day is coming when all darkness will be removed and we will experience the joy of the light of God for eternity.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado