For the last few years, God has placed on my heart a word to focus and meditate on throughout the year. The past years’ words were: Courage, Mature and Steadfast. These have been words that have helped guide my goals, attitudes and outlook on life.
I wasn’t sure if I’d have a “word” this year. Would there be one word the Lord wanted me to focus on in 2022?
Throughout the Advent season, I loved the Names of Jesus Scripture Writing Journal I came across here. Writing out scriptures from the Old Testament that pointed to the long awaited Savior was such an encouragement.
LIGHT of the World
The name of Jesus that I kept going back to and reflecting on is… Light of the World.
He says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6 NIV
I am thankful the light of Jesus went beyond Israel. I have salvation because of that LIGHT!
Everyday I hear of tragedies, sorrow, sadness, pain, sickness, sin, and destruction. It surrounds us. It can be overwhelming, and DARK.
In the midst of the darkness around us, understanding Jesus to be our LIGHT gives me hope.
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.”
John 8:12 NIV
NEVER? What does that mean? It sure seems like a lot of His people are walking in darkness.
However, in the midst of darkness, there is a light and the darkness can not overtake it. Isn’t’ that reassuring?
Hope in the Darkness
In the deep, dark tragedy, evil and pain like Jeremiah witnessed with the Babylonian invasion of Israel, he found hope.
21 Yet this I call to mind
Lamentations 3:21-24
and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
This statement of faith standing strong in the midst of the surrounding darkness shines as a beacon to all those suffering under the consequences of their own sin and disobedience.
Chuck Swindoll
Sometimes it’s our own sin that weighs us down. Sometimes it’s the sin of others and the evil in the world. We live in a broken world. It’s not the world God intended, and thankfully it’s not the world we will live in forever.
Winter is dark. Currently the sunrise is at 8:00 am and sunset is at 5:00 pm. If you work 8-5, you don’t get to see much light this time of year!
Yet, we all know that since that magical day of Winter Solctice, the amount of daylight we get each day is gradually increasing. Hurray! We have hope in the winter months for spring- time warmth and light.
We can have that same hope as we anticipate the Savior’s return to which will end all pain, sadness and evil for His people. He is a beacon of light shining in the darkness right now, and one day there will be no more darkness.
I have to rest on that hope. I have to rest on His promise to be the light in the present darkness.
Jesus is our LIGHT: Promises from God’s Word
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 1:9
We trust that He is the light in our current darkness, and we put our hope in His promise that one day the darkness will be gone.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Waiting on the Lord
How about now Lord? It seems like this would be a good time for that old order of things to pass away. Yet, we trust in His good and perfect timing. It could be that our current suffering might be what turns another soul to their Savior.
Waiting on God is hard, but there is purpose in our waiting.
Waiting does not mean passivity. Waiting works us over, making us pliable in the Potter’s hand. He molds the wet clay and forms a real grownup out of the child in us.
Briscoe, Jill. “Between You and Me.” Just Between Us, Dec. 2019, pp. 7–7.
Christians are called to be LIGHT
Jesus is the light of the world, and as we await His glorious return, God calls us to be light.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8
Whether you are suffering or watching a loved one suffer, look for the light. If the darkness can not over take the light, that means there is always light to focus on, to guide, to encourage, to give us hope in the darkness.
For more encouragement, here is a previous post I wrote, From Darkness to Light; 5 Ways out of the Dark Into the Light.
LIGHT
This is the word I will choose to focus on for 2022. May I remember Jesus is the LIGHT of the World and may I be His LIGHT to those around me. This will be my guide in decisions and goals for 2022.
I’d love to hear if you have a word for 2022! Share in the comments below! If you’d like to take a quiz to find out your Word of the Year, check out this one.
If you are curious about my word from 2020, read this post.
Hi sister!!! I loved this blog!!! It is a great reminder that there is Light in this world, and that light is Jesus. May I be a light to others. Love you girl!!!