2 Samuel 22:29 -You are my lamp, O Lord, the Lord turns my darkness into light.
Challenges impact every aspect of our life. Faith, family and friendships, as well as educational, professional and community obligations all provide interactions and outcomes that either please us or cause us to question God’s ultimate intent relative to that event or circumstance. These challenges are opportunities allowing us to: learn and grow; demonstrate the kind of person we choose to be; and understand or affirm the path God has chosen for us. Whether we choose optimistically to see “light” as fully committed Christians or pessimistically to see “darkness” through an incomplete faith, our choice makes a statement about our confidence in God’s care taking. A city leader who is involved with me in two community groups that are encountering unnecessary obstacles asked me after a particularly unproductive meeting if I was “giving up” – making the easier choice. I reassured her I would continue with my “determined optimism” on behalf of both worthy causes. By choosing to see darkness in adversity, we are more likely to endure the same life challenge again or incrementally become less willing to strive for goals or recognize God’s path for us. There is enriching energy and productive momentum in “light,” while “darkness” brings lethargy and stagnation. Samuel clearly made a choice to trust in God for positive outcomes and guidance in navigating his life. He mentioned specific, daunting challenges in 2 Samuel 22:30 that would be unattainable without God’s support and reassured us that God equips us to meet each life challenge in 2 Samuel 22:33-37. Each of us has encountered God’s intervention in times of direst concern, such as the sudden appearance of a friend or family member at a moment of despair, but do we recognize and acknowledge it? Why selectively rely on God’s “light,” rather than recognizing God’s purpose in all challenges? Why not meet every challenge with God’s affirming, guiding “light” of energizing optimism?
Forward
Challenges impact every aspect of our life. Faith, family and friendships, as well as educational, professional and community obligations all provide interactions and outcomes that either please us or cause us to question God’s ultimate intent relative to that event or circumstance. These challenges are opportunities allowing us to: learn and grow; demonstrate the kind of person we choose to be; and understand or affirm the path God has chosen for us. Whether we choose optimistically to see “light” as fully committed Christians or pessimistically to see “darkness” through an incomplete faith, our choice makes a statement about our confidence in God’s care taking. A city leader who is involved with me in two community groups that are encountering unnecessary obstacles asked me after a particularly unproductive meeting if I was “giving up” – making the easier choice. I reassured her I would continue with my “determined optimism” on behalf of both worthy causes. By choosing to see darkness in adversity, we are more likely to endure the same life challenge again or incrementally become less willing to strive for goals or recognize God’s path for us. There is enriching energy and productive momentum in “light,” while “darkness” brings lethargy and stagnation. Samuel clearly made a choice to trust in God for positive outcomes and guidance in navigating his life. He mentioned specific, daunting challenges in 2 Samuel 22:30 that would be unattainable without God’s support and reassured us that God equips us to meet each life challenge in 2 Samuel 22:33-37. Each of us has encountered God’s intervention in times of direst concern, such as the sudden appearance of a friend or family member at a moment of despair, but do we recognize and acknowledge it? Why selectively rely on God’s “light,” rather than recognizing God’s purpose in all challenges? Why not meet every challenge with God’s affirming, guiding “light” of energizing optimism? 