Light in the Darkness

Read Together
Psalm 27

Light one candle and say together
The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear?
(from Psalm 27:1) 

Reflection

When I was a child, I had a tape (something that played music) called GT and the Halo Express. It was created for children and each song on the album was a Bible verse. The idea was that by listening and singing the songs, kids would be committing the Bible to heart. I can't find the collection of songs I had online anymore (though I can find the title of the collection: "God's Protection Day & Night") and my memory is very foggy over most of it. But whenever I read Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?” I picture a blond-haired cartoon angel standing in my childhood bedroom, holding a sword made of light. I don't know why this is the memory I hold onto. I don't know if there was a story that went along with the music, or if that was simply what I imagined while I listened to it, but I do know that Psalm 27:1 was a verse I learned from listening to those songs as a child, and it helped me feel safe and protected in the middle of the night. 

There is something very comforting about light in the darkness. 

It is common to light candles during Advent. If you're not doing this practice, I would encourage you to start tonight. You don't need a special wreath or candles of a specific colour if you don't have them. Just pull together four (or five, the fifth one can be lit on Christmas) candles together in one spot. Wait until it is dark, turn off the lights, and, for the rest of this week, light one candle only. 

Watch what happens as that small light source encounters your dark room. 

How does looking at that candle make you feel? Really sit with those feelings for a few minutes. 

Most traditions consider that this first candle of Advent represents the theme of hope. Hope necessitates darkness, doesn't it? And darkness needs hope, too. There's no need to feel hope if everything is going well. But also, without hope, our struggles can overwhelm us. Hope is that tiny flicker of light promising that the darkness has not taken over. 

And it is true. The candle may not be illuminating everything in your room, but it is changing the way everything looks. That tiny flicker of flame is stronger than all the darkness in your space. That insignificant light source is reaching all the way out into the corners. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? 

Next time things feel dark, whether it is in the middle of the night or a hard time in your life, hold onto that hope. Know that God is with you and He will see you through. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Remember this candle tonight and how no darkness can overcome even the smallest flicker of light.

Talk About

  • What scares you? Are you scared of the dark or doing something new or are you worried about the future?
  • Where can you find hope in the midst of that fear? Think of some practical things you can do to focus on hope when fear starts to overwhelm you.

Pray Together
Lord, hear our voices as we call to you. As we pray now, we are seeking your face. Teach us your way, Lord; lead us in a straight path. We remain confident that we will see your goodness in our lives, Lord. So help us wait for you. Helps us be strong. One thing we ask and seek is to live in your house all the days of our lives. Keep us safe in your dwelling. You are our light and our salvation.
Amen. 

Put it in Action
Commit to learning Psalm 27:1. If you're doing this Advent Challenge as a family or a group, challenge each person to learn the verse. Say it every time you sit down for a meal, before you go to bed, and right when you wake up. Do this until you know it. Check out this video to put the words of the verse to music! 

More information about our Advent Prayer Challenge can be found here.