If you live in the Midwest you've probably noticed that your car lights are turning on just a bit earlier each evening? Brace yourself. This pattern will continue for the next several of months, right into December - and there is NOTHING you can do to stop it. In Minnesota, we call this a season. I've been told that we have four of them. In a similar fashion, our own personal lives can go through a rotation of seasons as well. For example, it's not uncommon for people to experience seasonal depression. In fact, seasonal depression occurs most, of all times, during the Christmas holiday. Many psychiatrists suggest that the lack of sunlight produces this funk or feeling of isolation and sadness in us. It just comes with the season and the absence of light.
However, fall can also usher in extreme beauty (the turning of the trees produce amazing colors). This, too, is confusing. With darkness comes amazing beauty. During dark days I often grab hold of this verse that reads,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.- James 1:17
In a world with so many shifting shadows, it's great to know that God is our One constant. There is no change or shifting in Him. There are no seasons that apply to His nature. In addition, James writes that God is filled with light. If we've ever needed light, today is the day. Walking in darkness is awful. Just ask my toes, as they stumble through the house bumping into things until a light is found.
Notice that even in our dark days, God continues to give us good and perfect gifts. Unfortunately, it might take a little more work on our part to discover or see our many blessings - but they're there.
Take a moment this week to thank Jesus for being your CONSTANT. Thank Him for his continuous presence in your life, even during the dark days of fall. And keep your eyes WIDE open to the blessings that He pours out to you. Remember, the best place to shine a light is in the darkness. God knows this, so keep looking for Him.
