Could it be any darker? Where is God? The eyes strain to see the faintest hint of light but to no avail. It is black darkness. You can’t tell whether your eyes are wide open or tightly closed – there’s no difference. There is no night light plugged into the wall of your experience. You look towards the door, hoping to see some light shining through the cracks, but you can’t. Nothing. You’ve opened the window blinds and peered into the darkness, but the twinkling stars aren’t shining, and the moonbeams (stuff that poets write about) are nowhere to be seen. So much for poetry!
You checked the desk lamps and the ceiling light – the bulbs are burned out. There you sit in darkness. Now, you recline on the flat of your back, peering into the black room all around you. A droplet of water trickles out of your left eye – you brush it away, but then a few more appear out of nowhere – on both sides of your face. For some reason, you can’t stop them, and for some reason, you don’t even want to stop them — now that they’re flowing. It’s called crying.
Is there any light?
The entrance (opening) of Your words give light…” Psalm 119:130
When you open your Bible, think of it this way: a shaft of light will shine in.
Someone turns on the light in the hallway, and you can see it shining through the door’s cracks. Open the door, and your room will brighten up. When we open the Word of God and allow it to shine into our experience, the dark thoughts that plague our minds will diminish — if not vanish. The hard thoughts will soften and begin to melt. Hope will start to overcome the thoughts of despair. The confusion of the mind will give way to a clearer understanding — because why? Because the entrance, the opening, and the unfolding of the Word of God to our hearts gives us light and understanding.
Dear Child of God, your Bible is unlike any other book. It’s even different from the commentaries written by theologians and godly teachers. Your Bible is alive! (Hebrews 4:12) It may not flip open on its own or move around on your desk as if it were magical or powered by kinetic energy. But it is the living Word of God, and when we open its pages literally or virtually and thoughtfully read it, the living Word will do its unique work in our hearts.
We may close its covers or shut it off because the living Word has suddenly touched a sore point, exposed a wound in our lives, or awakened our conscience. Or, we may prayerfully close our eyes and exclaim: “Wow! That was good. That’s just what I needed. I believe the Lord is helping me to see things differently and is beginning to lift me out of the dark pit I have been in for too long.”
The entrance, the opening, the unfolding of Your words gives light…” Psalm 119:130
Yes, it is alive, and when we open the Word of God, we are bound to be affected by its light. To keep it closed is to cherish darkness.
When times are tough, and life’s circumstances are brutal, we need to spend more time alone with the Word of God — not less. When we’re blinded by tears of discouragement or blindsided by a crisis, we might question God’s goodness and His faithfulness and yes — we may snub our Bibles almost in a huff against God. But when we come to our senses and open its pages quietly and meditatively – we find once again the “entrance of Your words gives light.” Some of us are slow learners.
For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Romans 15:4 CSB
Did you allow the light of your Bible to shine into your experience yet today?
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has blessed you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
