When You Need Some Light

This is what the Lord says, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn their darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” ISAIAH 42:16

Three weeks ago, my husband, toddler and I moved halfway across the country, from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to Ft. Riley, Kansas. Though I have moved many times growing up as an Army brat, this was my first PCS as a military wife, and it is a completely different experience when you are the one responsible for all the details. This Army life has a way of exposing my need. I so often rely on comfortable rhythms and routines to guide my daily steps, and there’s nothing like a PCS to disrupt every rhythm I have in place. I always find myself a bit dis-oriented with major change, and this move has been no exception.

As we were preparing for this PCS, a friend sent me the verse from Isaiah 42:16, and I have thought over and prayed them often throughout the process of the last few months. I love the imagery of God leading us as we travel unfamiliar paths. As the truth of this verse has settled in my heart, I have begun to see a much deeper promise in the words of this scripture: There are so many other areas of my life where I need Jesus to turn my darkness into light, to make my rough places smooth. I believe the logistics of a cross-country move are important to the Lord because they are important to us. No detail is too small to ask for His guidance and His provision. Again and again, we saw how He went before us during this PCS and provided all that we needed. However, He cares much more about the state of my heart. And as this verse has settled into my soul, I feel Him drawing me deeper into the promise He has made to us.

We all are in need of light. It may look different for each of us, but if we are honest, there are areas of our lives that desperately could use clarity and light. We have rough places that need smoothing. We need to be guided; we need a Guide. It requires humility on our part to acknowledge this, but I have learned from many years of insisting on my own way that the more quickly I am able to acknowledge my need, the more quickly He is able to bring healing, hope, and light where I need it most.

I am always amazed at what the Lord can work in, through, and around His children when we take Him at His word and trust that He will be good on His promises. Let’s dare to believe that His words are true, that He will lead us, guide us, and bring light to our darkness.

I don’t know your story. I don’t know what you are carrying at the moment that feels heavy or the path you are facing that seems daunting. However, I do know that we share in this precious promise that our God will be our light and our guide. If any of these words are tugging quietly at your heart or shouting at you from the page, I pray you will reflect on the questions below and allow the Lord to show you your need and meet you in the midst of it.

• What are the unfamiliar paths you are facing?
• Where does your soul feel the need for light?
• What are your “rough places” that need to be smoothed?

If there is anything that comes to mind as you ponder these questions, take a moment to reflect and specifically identify what is on your mind . And remember that it’s okay to need help, to admit you’ve come to the end of yourself. This is the Gospel working out in our daily lives: We need a Savior. And if our insufficiency points us back to Him, then it is a gift. He is the end and the beginning and all that’s in between, and there is nothing sweeter than learning to rely on Him for all that we need.

The beauty of walking with Jesus is that His promises are never based on circumstances. They are ours simply because we are His. The truth of this still astounds my heart. Regardless of every other factor, He says he will not forsake His promise; He says He will not forsake us.

“These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.”

Hallelujah, Christ the Lord is with us.