Through the Darkness
From the 21-Day Light of the World Advent Devotional
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16).
When Jesus came to earth as a baby, the world seemed very dark and heavy for the nation of Israel. They had experienced 400 years of silence from God. Four hundred years. Generations came and went. No prophets spoke. There were no more mountaintop, holy moments with God as in former days. There was only silence.
In the meantime, the Roman empire rose to rule the world. Rome oppressed its citizens with edicts from the emperor, heavy taxes, and a forceful military presence. The people of Israel longed for a savior during these dark days and wondered if God had forgotten them.
Have you ever felt that way? You pray and nothing changes. Your circumstances look so bleak that you can’t imagine how God could break through the darkness. The road ahead seems so rocky that you wonder how the path could ever possibly smooth.
During such a season in my life, I found today’s verse in Isaiah, and it changed me. It didn’t change my circumstances, but it changed my perspective about them and about God.
The book of Isaiah, written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, tells us so much about Him and about God’s love for His people. We read about God’s character and heart and how He promises to always care for His people, even when He guides them to and through hard things.
Isaiah 42:16 tells us that although we may face the unfamiliar, the dark, and the rocky, God never leaves us. His guidance, presence, and light will always be with us. He promises that we will experience Him in the challenging paths of life.
In Isaiah 7:14, God says that Jesus will be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” God sent Jesus to be near to us, to be with us through every season and circumstance.
God intentionally chose the exact circumstances and timing for Jesus’ birth. He knew the world was chaotic. He knew His people were desperate for relief. He knew the time was right to send His Light for the people.
If you find yourself in a sweet season today, remember how God has been with you in a challenging season. If you are in a season of heaviness, never give up hope. When the world seems darkest, God’s light shines brightest. He is leading you and walking with you. He is always working behind the scenes, and His timing is always perfect.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us that you sent Jesus into the world to be the light. No matter how dark our circumstances seem or how unfamiliar they feel, you are with us. You guide us, you lead us, and you are making our paths smooth. Thank you for never forsaking us.
Dig Deeper: Read Isaiah 42
Discussion Questions:
How do the timing and circumstances of Jesus’ birth give you hope?
How have you experienced God’s light and love in a difficult season?