The Light that Shines in the Darkness

There is a point at sunset when the sun gets behind the clouds and it starts to get dark. The sun is officially “set.” But if you are somewhere that you have a good view, you can see the setting is not the ending. There is an afterglow. Often times it’s sun rays just like these shooting through the clouds above and around. It’s breathtaking enough that you can almost feel heaven is near. What I love about it is that you never know what it’s going to look like. One day it might have the rays. Another day it may have all sorts of radiant color that lasts for hours. Yet another day, it could disappear and there isn’t much color at all. That’s the beauty is that you never know what kind of canvas you’re going to get.  

I see so much of God in these sun rays – whether at sunset, sunrise or in the middle of the day breaking through the clouds. It’s for that reason I want to share with you a few of my favorite Bible verses about that light so you can get an idea of what the blogs I’ll be writing on this author page are going to be all about…

John 1:5 NLT The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 8:12 NLT Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you want have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness, ” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 

The world needs the light of Christ in us more than ever right now. That’s why we need to not be afraid to share our light and seek the light.
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I am one of those people who believes that whatever mess you are walking through, God will eventually use it as a message. I don’t believe I ever walk through a struggle for punishment, but for God to display His glory through me. On this journey of life in recovery, following Jesus I have had so many experiences. Countless times I’ve found myself saying, “Oh, I’ve got to write a book about that,” as I process through certain experiences. But I believe there is something to be said for sharing the process as you walk through it. In that process I’m always growing growing and learning as I constantly focus on the light.

There is so much I’ve wanted to share in the middle of different journeys in my life, that I’ve taken notes on but haven’t necessarily written on a blog. Some of them I have, but they just didn’t fit on the Healthy Voice page. They were more experiences on my own personal Healthy Voice journey. But as I go through more and more things, I realize I don’t want to put off what I’m learning. I want to share now, those things I’m going through for those who might go through them too.
 
So this blog will be about what’s on my heart, those things that I’m navigating with every ounce of my being – mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically – things that I’m right smack dab in the middle of walking through, trying to do my best to stay focused on the light. These are like what I share on my Wednesday video messages you see – that are really about, “Meeting you in the middle of your mess with a message.” I know that some of the journeys I’ve been on – recovering from addictions, my parents divorce, finding a new career, getting married, navigating grief, injury, and so many other things are experiences I do not go through alone. I also know we cannot walk them alone.

But the facets of my story are a patchwork in one quilt God is weaving together. Yours is another one. No matter how deep your pain, he wants to use it to help someone else so don’t be afraid to walk through it! 

The seed of the Healthy Voice was planted in me. But it wasn’t meant to stay there. I am not the lighthouse. I am a lantern. That’s why the image on this new site is a lantern, because I’m just one. I have the light of Christ in me, but I am not Him. This is why it’s important for me to separate my personal journey from the Healthy Voice page, because you’ve got to find the light of Christ on your own. Maybe this blog will serve as inspiration or guidance while on that journey. Maybe there will be one that we share in common. If so, I’d love to hear from you. It helps so much to know we’re not alone in the darkness, or the wilderness. 

I want you to know the light that shines in the broken places is what makes us beautiful – those cracks in the jars of clay. Those cracks are where the light breaks through, just like the light breaking through those clouds above. They remind us that God is in us. No matter what or how much we go through, He is with us, guiding us towards the light reminding us that the light is with us and IN us, always. 

I hope you’ll come back and follow my Author Facebook page and personal Instagram so you can stay on top of these messages. Have an awesome day!! See you next time.