Devotionals for the Heart: The Light of Jesus Christ Dispels Darkness

Light in the Darkness
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

–Matthew 5:14 (KJV)

In a completely dark room, the human eye is naturally drawn to any glimmer light.

Isn’t it amazing that God made our eyes to be drawn to light when we are surrounded by darkness?

Over time, our eyes may adjust to darkness. They may even become comfortable with the darkness. But a small, flickering flame immediately catches the eye when shining in the darkness. Another amazing truth about light is that the darker the space around the light, the brighter that light seems to grow.

In the Bible book of Matthew, Jesus Christ tells His disciples that they are the light of the world. I think this statement is still applicable to those of us following Jesus today. Just like His original disciples, we live in a very dark world. We worry about the economy, politics, and family issues that seem to be far too big to handle. These problems seem to take over our world and hold an oppressive shadow over us. Most days, we may feel like we are simply trying to push our way through the darkness—not stopping to think about the light we bring into the darkness.

The daily struggles and darkness we live in are sacred. Sacred struggles may seem a little unrealistic, but each of us is—or will be—going through something that surrounds us with darkness and threatens to stifle the light of Jesus we bring into the world. But I have a secret I want to share with you: No amount of darkness can destroy your light.

The light inside your soul first appeared when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and nothing in this world has the power to destroy the light Jesus first started in your heart. 

Remember: The light inside you that you bring into the darkness is Jesus and that is how we can view our struggles as sacred.

I know life can be dark sometimes. I know it may seem like the darkness always wins and we are constantly fighting invisible battles no one else sees. But the darker our circumstances are, the brighter our light will shine. And the brighter our light shines, the more others will see Jesus in us.

While we walk through the darkness, people will be drawn to our light. Because of this light, they may draw closer to us and also because of our light, they will be able to see Jesus.

Maybe you are going through darkness that you do not understand. You may be asking God why He would put you through pointless pain. Maybe your pain and darkness is not pointless after all. Maybe God is simply using your light to draw others to Himself. Learn to trust God in the darkness and trust that He has a plan and purpose for your light.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for the light You have given us to share with the world. Please help us to shine brightly in the dark world around us and draw others to Yourself. Grant us the courage to walk through the darkness with You by our side. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Go Light Your World” by Kathy Troccoli. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five.

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning to take a step of faith and trust God

Step of Faith
A devotional by Tessa Huckstep

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” –Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

Worry and fear can be nearly paralyzing when considering an unknown future.

There are so many “What ifs?” in this life. Such as, "What if I fail the exam? What if the test comes back positive? What if life never gets better than this? What if God never shows up?" 

These questions make us feel suffocated in our hearts, minds, and souls. If we allow these fears, worries, and doubts to continuously enter our thoughts, we are destined to start believing our future is bleak and hopeless. We begin to believe we are justified in our worries and things will always turn out badly.

But such a negative focus could not be further from the truth. Maybe the test will come back positive. Maybe we will experience the worst possible scenario in our situation. God never promised our lives would not be filled with problems and sorrow. However, God did say that He would never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). Additionally, Jesus promised that the victory is already His because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

We will face trials, heartache, and failure. No one can claim the remainder of their life will work out perfectly and without problems. Your future does hold difficult seasons, but you were never meant to walk in those seasons alone. Our Heavenly Father walks beside each of His children in the darkest of valleys and the highest of mountaintops.

Lay your future in the hands of the Creator. He knows all things in the past, present, and future. God knows every worry that consumes our thoughts and He is calling us to release them to Him. Today, will you release your fear, your worry, and your doubts? Remember: There is no dark valley along your life journey that God’s Light cannot break through. There is no worry that the peace of God cannot still. The peace of God passes all of our human understanding (Philippians 4:7). His peace is so strong that it can ease our worry even though the situation that is bringing our worry remains.

I know that God is the One who directs my paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) and leads me toward a future that I am uncertain of (Jeremiah 29:11). I also know that God is calling me to release the worry that is weighing me down. He continues to whisper just one simple request, “Trust Me.”

Trust is a choice. It is a step of faith. Will you choose to trust the Lord Jesus Christ and simply take one more step of faith today and every day of your life on Earth?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for offering Your peace and presence to us. Please help us to release our worry and fear to You. Grant us the faith to entrust our future to you and simply take another step of faith. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Trust Me” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Tessa Huckstep grew up in rural Illinois. She was born to Christian parents and has known Jesus Christ personally since the age of five. 

Currently, Tessa is attending community college and majoring in elementary education. In the future, she plans to teach in the public school system, hoping to bring the love of God with her.

Tessa enjoys being active in her local church. She serves as a co-teacher for the two-to-five year old class where there is never a dull moment.

It is Tessa’s passion to be a girl after God’s own heart and through her studying of God’s Word, Tessa longs to draw closer to her Savior. Through her writing, she longs to take others with her on this journey of faith.

Tessa loves all things Regency, needlework, and dainty teacups of every size.

When she isn’t writing or studying for exams, she can be found in the kitchen with more flour in her hair and on the floor than in the bowl, though the mess is always half the fun!

~*~
Connect with Tessa:
Blog: https://beautifulbeloved937002841.wordpress.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: The Light

Toward the Light

A devotional by Malinda Fugate

Key Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:7, John 8:12, John 1:5, Psalm 119:105 (NIV) 

In an instant, my apartment was plunged into darkness.

The abrupt power outage eliminated the neighbor’s garage security light as well as the neighborhood street lamps that normally peeked through the windows.

At first, I froze, waiting for my eyes to adjust. The passing moments proved that I had no choice but to feel my way through the familiar room, relying on touch and memory. Soon, my hands grasped the trusty aim-and-flame lighter, giving life to the sweet-smelling candle on my bookshelf. The soft glow illuminated the entire studio apartment, turning the cold darkness into cozy comfort. Let there be light.

The darkness in our lives isn’t always as abrupt as a power outage. It can creep in like a steady dimming of the lights as circumstances become troubling and our mental health needs care. In these times, God can feel far away or not present at all, leaving us stumbling through the darkness, trying to find our way. How can we function without the Light of the Lord? Suddenly, despair sets in, and possibly even panic as we struggle with each step in what seems to be His absence.

These are the moments when 2 Corinthians 5:7 echoes through our hurting hearts: “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Our feelings don’t always indicate what is true, and just because we cannot see the light does not mean that God isn’t right there with us. We stumble step by timid step in the dark, reaching for what we know. Just as our memory of a familiar room guides us through a power outage, the precious Scriptures we have hidden in our hearts become the guide for truths we cannot currently see clearly.

So, what do we need to do when we’re in the dark? The first thing we need is to turn on the light. According to John 8:12 (NIV): When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we declare the truth of who God is and what He has promised, it’s like lighting a match of hope. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) Even in a cave, deep below the earth and far from the sun, the smallest light can push away darkness. It may not illuminate every nook and crevice, but it has the power to light the way. The Bible says in Psalm 119:105 (NIV), “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

So too, does God’s Word have the power to pierce the darkness, leading the way to more of His marvelous light.

This world does indeed have trouble, but the Light of the World (Jesus Christ) has overcome it. He never leaves nor forsakes us even during the times we cannot see Him clearly. His truth remains unchanged and we can rely on it in any circumstance, even when it seems the darkest.

The moments of despair are temporary, because our God of love keeps us close to His heart and brings us into His light. He is trustworthy and He will not abandon us in the dark.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart.

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books. 

Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays.

Malinda invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International in May 2020).

She also invites you to read her previously published books: Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, and then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

When she's not writing or working at church, Malinda might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi. 

Visit Malinda online via https://www.malindafugate.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Light

Hold On To The Light
A devotional by Julia Wilson

“The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.” 

–John 1:5 (MSG)

There are times in life when everything seems dark and uncertain. As we live through this pandemic called COVID-19, life has seemed like that at times. Everything we thought we knew, everything we used to do has gone. We have been in lockdown for months and now we are beginning to emerge into a strange new world.

In these uncertain times, there is one sure thing … God. God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the Life-Light and He shines as brightly now as always. We do not need to fear because God is with us today and He sees our tomorrow. He is the Light of the world (John 8:12 NIV).

Have you ever noticed how when you are trying to sleep in a dark room, that just a small ray of light can illuminate and seems to light up your room? Jesus Christ is like that … when we cannot see our way through dark times we need just to look to Him and He will give us just enough light to see the next step. We do not need to see the whole way ahead, just the next place to plant our feet. Jesus asks us to trust Him to guide us through life with all its highs and lows.

I love looking at different Bible translations of the same passage. This is how the Passion Translation says John 1:5, “And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom – the Light that darkness could not diminish!” Wow! I just love the thought of light bursting through the gloom. Imagine the sun’s rays bursting through the clouds. Jesus is like that when He bursts into our life, He illuminates us and asks us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

When Jesus is living in us, we are called to be bearers of His light. We are to show Jesus to a hurting world by all that we say and do. The Passion Translation tells us “So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so… they will give their praise to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 TPT).

St. Francis of Assisi said, “preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” Our life is meant to point others to Jesus Christ. Our world can be very dark at times and people need hope. The good news is that we do have hope! Above all, hope has a name … that name is Jesus.

Light will always overcome darkness. Jesus is our Life-Light. We need Him in our life every single day, every step of the way. He is my hope and He can be your hope too! If you have never said yes to Jesus, I would like to give you an opportunity today and have this Life-Light in your life. May I lead you in a prayer?

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I choose to turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

My name is Julia Wilson but I also go by Christian Bookaholic.

I live with my husband and five cats in a small town in Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn (England). We have four grown up children and three granddaughters.

I have always loved reading and have always been surrounded by books. I used to work as a teaching assistant for special needs in the local high school. Ill health forced me to stop working in December 2015. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as M.E.) and fibromyalgia. I now have plenty of time to read and review books!

Our eldest son set up my Christian Bookaholic blog. I review every book I read. I read over 300 books a year. I read Christian and mass market. I prefer stories set from 1850 onwards. My favourite type of books to read is stories set in WWI and WWII, and Russia under Czar Nicholas II.

I am a historian, having a Combined Humanities degree where I majored in History and minored in English. I also love swimming. I only learned how to swim in 2017 and go swimming four mornings a week for 90 minutes before breakfast, it keeps my joints going.

I am also a crazy cat lady. I absolutely love my cats. I have grown up with cats and cannot imagine life without them. My dream is to own an old fashioned seal point Siamese … but not while we have our young rescue cat as she hates other cats!

I love God and love going to a large lively church called Lifecentral. I cannot imagine life without God. He gives a peace even when life does not. He guides my life. He is my Rock.

Thankful Thursdays: God's Light

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for God's Light in the darkness!

If I’m going to honest, a lot of real world situations have been weighing heavily on my heart lately. But true to how AWESOME God is, He returned the lyrics of a song to my mind. It’s a song that I haven’t heard since I was a child listening to WGTS 91.9 FM.

God often uses this method to encourage me. It usually goes like this: God breaks through the darkness with His Light by sending song lyrics into my mind, I look up the lyrics on YouTube and then listen to the song only to find out that its message is exactly what I needed to hear in that situation!

The song that God brought to my mind this morning is “Praise the Lord” and the video that I watched on YouTube featured a LIVE performance of the song by Russ Taff.

It truly encouraged my mind and reinfused HOPE into my heart as God's Light broke through the darkness. After listening to this song, I was reminded to focus on what truly matters (living for Jesus Christ and knowing that in the end, HE wins!). The song also reminded me to remember my true identity as a child of God. We are His creation. He loves us with ALL of His Heart and He has unlimited resources to help us through any and every trial that we may face here on Earth.

Life is easier to deal with when you have Jesus Christ in your life and rely on God. His power is greater than every force of evil. He is the Light in the darkness. There’s always hope when God is in the picture and the GOOD NEWS is that God is always in the picture!

I’d like to share the song with you too. Watch it via the video below:

God bless you, sweet friends.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Legacy

Sharing Our Legacy
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Tied up in losing people we love is that no one will ever know us just like that—ever again.

When my Gram died a few years ago, I didn’t just lose a confidante who understood the quirky humor and drive beneath my serious, bookish nature, or a woman with a fierce intellect and the sort of deep soul-wisdom I craved. I lost how good it felt to be understood by her. She “got” me on a level few in my world did, and with her passing, part of myself felt like it was slipping away.

Flipping through a photo album with my kids, I was horrified when my daughter didn’t remember her. I realized my children were never going to know her like I did—or know me through her eyes. I needed to do my part to change that: sharing stories and memories, passing on her legacy of authentic goodness and wit. She shaped so much of my life, my personality and my childhood. My kids needed to know this!

When Jesus died, his apostles were bereft, inconsolable, but he sent the Holy Spirit in his place to live within each them. The spirit transformed them with the power to spread the Gospel, growing the church from a handful of persecuted believers to a worldwide harvest of millions.

Just like I want to share the legacy of my late Gram so her beautiful soul can carry on in my children, we as Christians are propelled with the authority and all-encompassing command of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of the One True God, the Alpha and Omega, so all people can know Christ. The good news of the Gospel wasn’t gifted to humanity so it could be a secret for a select few but to be proclaimed so all can dance in the light of the Lord.

I love what the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter to the early believers: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10 CEB).

Jesus Christ called us out of darkness and into God’s glory. Why should we keep such good news hidden away? We are obligated to share, but more than that, we are honored to be able to share about the wondrous things that have happened to us because we chose to walk in the light. Because of this choice, we are God’s people. And because we share these stories, others can be God’s people, too.

Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, “You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 CEB). 

And in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature” (Mark 16:15 CEB).

Praise the Lord—we have an inheritance to share. Let’s do what we can to tell the world His story.

~*~
Author Bio:
Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team.

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight.

Book Review: Hope in the Hard Places

Today, I'm sharing a review I wrote about a book by Sarah Beckman called Hope in the Hard Places: How to Survive When Your World Feels Out of Control.

Hope in the Hard Places: How to Survive When Your World Feels Out of Control is a wonderful, practical and inspiring book!

The back cover copy of this book says that it is about how to survive when your world feels out of control. After reading it, I think that the author, Sarah Beckman, accomplished her mission of writing an “encouraging guidebook for the weary soul looking for hope in dark circumstances.”

Throughout this book, the author shares encouraging messages that comfort everyone who is facing a trial whether it is cancer, chronic illness, loss of a loved one, divorce…the author leaves no stone uncovered when addressing situations that cause people to feel without hope and help.

Hope in the Hard Places is divided into four parts:

- Part 1: Terrain

- Part 2: Preparation

- Part 3: Journey

- Part 4: Destination

Each part has several chapters (except Part 4, which has only one chapter) and each chapter touches on a key concept like hope, detour, first aid, seek the source, remove the boulders and the one concept in Part 4 is called “Hard but Holy.” A Bible verse starts each chapter.

The author’s writing style is smooth and her tone is calm. This entire book is thoroughly written. It leaves the reader with a full and satisfied feeling like eating a good meal at your favorite restaurant. It’s an experience that you want to share with everyone.

Throughout this book, Beckman shows the reader how they can survive pain by applying Bible-based truth and principles. She shares stories and insight from real-life people who have been through tough times.

Hope in the Hard Places truly is a light that will shine into your darkness and help you survive the storms of life.

*I (Alexis A. Goring) received a complimentary copy of Hope in the Hard Places: How to Survive When Your World Feels Out of Control. My opinions in this honest review are my own.

Devotionals for the Heart: Light

Twinkle Light Promise
A devotional by Paula Moldenhauer

“I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.”~ John 8:12 (TLB)

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. . . . If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!”~ Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)

Our first Christmas tree had only white lights. For years, held in bondage to a legalist understanding of Christmas, we’d skipped the Christmas tree, but I was hungry to express joy at the thought of Christ’s birth, so I hung white lights in the window as a reminder that Jesus, the Light of the World, came to save us from darkness within and without. All other decorations in the years to come built upon that first strand of lights, just as our lives begin with and build on Jesus.

Life is illuminated by Jesus’ grace and truth. Our thoughts, identity, and decisions are illuminated by His light.

Where there is light, darkness flees. It doesn’t matter how the enemy lied to us or who tried to steal light from us. It doesn’t matter, because Jesus, the Light of the World, is with us now. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light.

Jesus chases the darkness away. His light heals us. His light leads us to freedom.

Jesus is the Word Incarnate. The Word is a lamp to our feet, a light to our path.

Jesus, our Light, reveals next steps. Steps of life-giving light.

In Jesus is life, and His life is the light of all mankind. The darkness of this world has not overcome His light. It cannot! (John 1:4)

God’s light is pure. In Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

He not only lights our way, He lights us! We are like the Christmas tree. It can sit, unnoticed deep in a forest. When night comes, it is shrouded in darkness. But when wrapped in twinkle lights, that same tree cannot be hidden.

When we are illuminated by the Light of Jesus, we light up our space in this world. We are like Him: pure, white light, like a city set on a hill that can’t be hidden. Like a lamp or a candle set in the middle of a dark room.

Even in the dark times of our lives or of the world, His light shines in us and through us.

In this world of suicide bombers, gunmen in schools, and war in the Middle East, the darkness fights for position. In this world of hidden abuses that tear at personal worth and identity, darkness tries to suffocate.

But it cannot win.

In the most inky, black darkness, the tiniest light always pushes back the black. Whole caverns of darkness cannot overcome one little flickering candle.

There is no greater worship than a life surrendered to the Light. Surrendered lives pierce the darkness as they lift glowing arms to point to Jesus.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are perfect light. In You there is no darkness at all. I surrender to Your light. Take it deep inside me and heal me. Shine it at my feet and guide my next steps. Glow within me, lighting me up from the inside out that I may bring glory to Your name.

~*~
Author Bio:

Author, speaker, and mom of four, Paula Moldenhauer encourages others to live free to flourish. She shares this message when speaking at women’s events, and it permeates her written work. 

Paula has published over 300 times in non-fiction markets and has a devotional book series, Soul Scents. Her first published novella was a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards, and she now has six published works of fiction.

Paula and her husband, Jerry, are adjusting to a sometimes-empty nest in Colorado.

Visit her at www.paulamoldenhauer.com and sign up for her newsletter to get a weekly Flourishing Moments and periodic updates on free days for her books. For daily Flourishing Moments “like” Paula’s author/speaker page

Today’s devotional was adapted from Soul Scents: Flourish Selections for Advent. Download the devotional book for *free* here (www.paulamoldenhauer.com/gifts) or you purchase it for 99 cents if you prefer to read on Kindle. 

Words of Faith: How the Love of God breaks through darkness

A Song in the Darkness

A Words of Faith story written by Dineen Miller

Pain ripped through my shoulder in the darkness of night. And the pain medication my doctor had prescribed barely touched it. Weeks had past since my bone spur removal, I'd stopped progressing, and the pain had grown worse. I even dreaded saying the word…pain… but it had become my way of life. My world had shrunk from fullness to survival.

And fear joined the party and brought questions like, why wasn't I getting my range of movement back? Had something gone wrong? Would I be in this kind of pain for the rest of my life? How would I survive?

I sat on the edge of the bed, the room still dark and hours stretched before me until daybreak. I tried to keep my sobs from waking my husband. Weariness had given into fear and desperation, and the enemy used it to full advantage. Worst-case scenarios played through my mind.

Then the bigger questions came. Where was God? Why had this happened? I'd never imagine myself in such a place, suffering such intense pain with no progress. I'd noticed the concerned looks of my family and physical therapists. Even my doctor seemed surprised by what had happened, saying he’s never seen anything like it before. The words I'd feared, "frozen shoulder" had now become part of this challenging equation.

In the darkness of night, the diagnosis only brought more pain and fear. Lord, where are You? Please take this pain away. I didn't know how much more I could take.

Then I heard it. The words broke through the pain as clear as if they played from an external source, yet I knew I was the only one who could hear it. The song I'd sung everyday to my daughter on our hour-long drive home from her daily radiation treatments several years ago.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

As she laid in the passenger seat, exhausted and weary—two brain surgeries, pain, steroids, radiation—I'd sung the words to her from a mother's heart desperate for her daughter to be whole and happy again. I don't know where the song had come from. Only that I sang it to lift her spirits, to encourage her, to let her know I was there and that I loved her.

That I’d never leaver her…

I'd trusted God then for her future without doubts or fears. Why couldn't I do that now for myself?

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

The words pushed my focus upward, away from the pain. Now the words were for me. From my Abba, Papa God, telling He was with me in the pain. I wasn't alone. I wanted so much to be free of the pain, but I wanted...needed to know He was with me even more. The song continued to wash over me and God’s presence reminded me of a verse I had recently memorized.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” ~Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)

He delights in every detail...every detail... Even pain? I investigated that word "delight" more and found a plethora of meanings including "to move" and "to bend down."

My God saw my pain, heard my pleas and moved to bend down in song to comfort my heart and body. He sang over me in the darkness of night and my life to show His presence and His love. It wasn't what I'd expected but very much what I needed, the reassurance that nothing would keep Him from me.

“No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”~Romans 8:39 (NLT)

Relief from the pain didn't come but relief came to my soul and spirit. I wasn't alone. I didn't need to be afraid. The enemy's lies lost their foothold. Even in this place I never imagined I could be, God was already there, holding His child by the hand.

He would lead me to my healing and He did. He never let go of me and He never will. For He is with us always, singing His love whether we hear it or not.

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

~*~
Author bio: 

Dineen Miller's favorite stories are the ones about our Great God and BIG faith, which fuel her desire to ignite the souls of others through words of truth and God's transforming love.

She is a mutli-published, award-winning author who has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Focus on the Family Radio, Dr. James Dobson’s FamilyTalk, FamilyLife Today and INSIGHT on Miracle Channel.

For the last ten years, she's had the privilege of writing and ministering to the spiritually mismatched at SpirituallyUnequalMarriage.com, an amazing online community full of the light and love of Jesus. She is blessed every day to love her husband of 28 years, her two grown daughters and son-in-love, and two very energetic furry rescues.