Fireworks
Last week, thousands of people spread blankets across fields, sat on the hoods of their cars, and leaned against truck tailgates, all waiting for the first shell to rise.
Children covered their ears before the first boom. Parents pointed toward the sky. Then, for a few brief minutes, complete strangers all looked in exactly the same direction.
I’ve always found that fascinating.
Then again, nobody gathers at noon to watch fireworks.
Not because they wouldn’t work.
Fireworks don’t actually shine any brighter at night.
The same shell climbs into the sky. The same explosion. The same brilliant colors. If you launched that very shell at noon, it would burn just as brightly.
The difference is the darkness.
Life has a way of working like that.
Looking back, many of the things I treasure most were already there. The love of my wife. My family. Good friends. The steady faithfulness of God. None of them suddenly appeared after the hard chapters of life.
But I did see them differently.
Darkness has a way of sharpening our vision. It strips away distractions and reminds us of what was worth holding on to all along.
Maybe that’s why so many people encounter God most deeply in seasons they never would have chosen. His presence hasn’t become stronger. His goodness hasn’t increased.
We’ve simply become more aware of the Light that never left.
Maybe you’re walking through a dark season right now.
If you are, don’t mistake the darkness for God’s absence. Some of His brightest work is often seen there.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5
#FirstLight #Faith #Hope #Light #John1 #ChristianLiving #DailyReflection #Fireworks
If this encouraged you, I’d be honored if you’d share it with someone who may need a little light today.