Streetlight in the Night
I used to be the pastor of a small rural church near the Kings River, south of Fresno. During the winter, this area was socked-in with Tule fog. When driving, you can barely see two center lines down the road!
The church was located 3 miles outside of town, surrounded by corn, cotton, cows, and alfalfa. In front of the church was a lonely street light, the only one for a few miles along Mt. Whitney Blvd.
It was amazing to see how many cars would breakdown in front of the church, underneath that streetlight. Whether they suddenly developed mechanical troubles in front of the church, or were just holding-on to make it to the streetlight, I don’t know. But the drivers were seeking the light in order to see what was wrong with their car. Under the light, they hoped to find a solution to repairing their problems.
David wrote in Psalm 27:
“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? (v.1-2)
When fear comes upon us, it is vitally important that we look for the Light and bring our fears and troubles to God. In doing this, we can find grace, strength and courage to face what lies before us.
Sometimes God’s light reveals that something really is broken and we can’t fix it quickly. As pastor of that small country church, people would occasionally come to my door, asking if they could use the phone to call for help (this was before cell phones). In working on their car under the street light, they discovered they needed a part, a tow, a tool, or something else beyond their resources to fix their problem.
Like the drivers of broken-down cars in front of the church, don’t be afraid to call for help, whether you cry-out to God, a close friend, or a pastor. We are all here to love and care for others, to help others see God’s light and to dwell in His presence.
I invite you to read all of Psalm 27 for today’s devotion. As you do, think about these questions:
• What fear do you carry in your life today?
• Where would you like God’s light to shine in your life?
• How can you be a light to others?
Jeff Glass
jeffglass@diveintoflood.com