Have you ever felt surrounded by grey, as if the world had lost its vibrancy, leaving only shadows and muted tones behind? It’s a place we’ve all found ourselves at one time or another—a place where the path ahead feels obscured and the warmth of life seems distant.
For me, it was about six years ago, during a season when I felt like I was walking through fog. I was emerging from a deep depression, still unsure of my footing, when something extraordinary happened. An image came to mind—a vision of myself stepping out of the shadows and into the light. My heart, once dull and heavy, was now radiant, bursting with all the colors of the rainbow, reflecting the brilliance of the sun. It was as if the light wasn’t just shining on me but through me.
That image has stayed with me ever since. It wasn’t just a picture—it was a truth, a calling. Christ’s words, “You are the light of the world,” began to take on new meaning. They weren’t just about Him—they were about us. We are called to reflect the light, to carry it into a world that so often feels dim and uncertain. But what does it mean to live as light?
Light has a way of changing everything. It pushes back the darkness, revealing what was once hidden. It gives us clarity where there was confusion, direction where there was uncertainty. When we walk in the light, we can see where to step next, avoiding the pitfalls that once seemed inevitable.
But light isn’t only functional—it’s comforting. Think about the way sunlight warms your skin on a chilly morning or how the soft glow of a candle makes a space feel safe and inviting. Light brings with it a sense of warmth and welcome, the assurance that we are not alone. What would it mean for us to live as that kind of light? To be the warmth someone needs on a cold day, the clarity they seek in their confusion, the quiet reminder that they are seen, valued, and loved?
Reflect for a moment: How have others brought light into your life? What words or actions gave you hope when you needed it most? And how might you reflect that same light to someone else?
When Christ calls us to be light, He doesn’t ask us to shine on our own. We are like the moon, reflecting the sun. Just as the moon produces no light of its own, we reflect the brilliance of the One who is the source of all light. Without that connection, we can’t shine at all.
And yet, we reflect His light in ways that are beautifully unique. Each of us, like a prism, transforms that light into a spectrum of colors—a radiant display of grace. When God’s Spirit is at work within us, we begin to reflect His character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not qualities we manufacture; they are fruits of the Spirit, evidence that His light is flowing through us.
What colors of God’s grace do you reflect? How does His light shine uniquely in your words, your actions, your relationships? And what might change if you let that light shine even brighter?
Jesus also compared us to a city on a hill, one that “cannot be hidden.” A city on a hill doesn’t just shine for its own sake—it becomes a beacon for others. Picture a weary traveler, wandering through the darkness, catching sight of a glow in the distance. That light offers more than illumination; it offers hope, safety, and rest.
In the same way, we are called to live as beacons for those around us. Our light can guide, comfort, and invite others to draw closer. But being a city on a hill also means being visible, even when it’s uncomfortable. Light draws attention. It asks us to stand out, to live boldly, and to shine in spaces where light is most needed.
How often do we try to hide our light, fearing what others might think? And yet, what if our visibility is exactly what someone else needs? What if our boldness in shining becomes the invitation someone has been waiting for?
Darkness isn’t the absence of light—it’s simply the light we can’t see. Even at night, when the world feels cloaked in shadows, the sun still burns brightly just beyond the horizon. It hasn’t disappeared; it’s simply hidden from view.
This is the profound truth of our faith: even when God feels distant, His presence never leaves us. Like stars piercing the night sky, His light is always there, waiting for us to notice. And just as stars shine brightest in the deepest darkness, our own light often becomes most visible during life’s most challenging moments.
Think about a time when you felt surrounded by darkness. What guided you through? And how might your light shine for someone else walking through the same night?
Light is not passive—it’s active. It radiates, it illuminates, it transforms. And when we live as light, we carry an extraordinary responsibility. Our words can become a source of clarity. Our actions can bring warmth. Our presence can reflect the grace of God in ways that ripple outward, changing everything they touch.
But being light is not something we do on our own. Like a candle lit from a flame, our light comes from the One who is the source of all life and goodness. When we draw close to Him, His light flows through us, illuminating the world with love, joy, and peace.
“Lord, make us reflectors of Your light—a beacon for the lost, a glow of warmth for the weary, and a reminder that even in the darkest night, Your light shines on.”