Rivers in the Desert

I once heard someone explaining to me an adventure tour they were able to enjoy which included exploration of a cave. Our discussion focused on the fact that most people have not experienced true darkness. Even in our homes when it’s dark, there is usually a shred of light somewhere. That shred helps our eyes focus and pick up on the familiarities of our surroundings. This  makes it easier to navigate the darkness. True darkness, however, can be completely disorienting. 

I think about times where I’ve tried to get my bearings with limited sight. It was next to impossible. Because the darkness limited my sight, my hearing turned every sound into a threat. That’s because without clear vision, I can’t tell if I’m facing a foe or a friend. The person I chatted with about their cave exploration shared the same experience. In true darkness, there is no illumination from the clock or brightness from the moon. It’s dark. I experience that disorienting feeling when I’m out driving at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood. The unease makes you drive with both hands on the wheel and your attention set to hyper alert.

When I think about that, my mind instantly shifts to why it is increasingly important for us, as children of light, to live in the light. People often throw out that saying, “There is light at the end of the tunnel” in order to give others hope that their trouble won’t be forever. What I find the most interesting about this is that if I recognize that I live in light and God’s light is in me, then there is no darkness. So even if I’m in a place that has the appearance of darkness or the abandonment of a wilderness, the reminder that God is with us right in the midst of the moments is the encouragement to go through. 

In the middle of a hard trial, it’s difficult to focus on the end of the tunnel. Let alone trying to remind yourself that there is hope. Hard trials can do that to us. It becomes more of a hardship to see the good during that time. This is one of the reasons we are encouraged to keep our focus God-centered and our thoughts positive. That is the only way we’ll be able to make it through. 

Walk in the Light

Ephesians 5:8