How to Shine Your Light in a Dark Place

Think about an incredibly frustrating situation you are dealing with in your life.

• Maybe it’s a co-worker that just absolutely drives you bonkers
• A job that you love except the boss is making your life miserable.
• Is it a difficult relationship, like a situation with an ex, or troubles with your spouse? Perhaps it’s a difficult in-law or even a friendship.
• You might work in a large system that seems to eat people alive. I felt that way when I worked and moved in the foster care system. People who work in education, government systems, hospitals, and businesses often feel the same.

I was talking with a friend about one of my kids in a school situation. It’s a good school, but as with any school there are challenges. My friend gave me the advice that sometimes you reach a tipping point where the negatives outweigh the benefits. Then it’s time to move on.

This is sound advice worthy of consideration, and the counsel of a Godly friend is always to be taken seriously. (Proverbs 27:9 tells us, “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”)

I don’t think we are there yet in this particular situation. I believe God has placed my child, and us as parents, in this situation for a reason.

We are here in this time and place, not by accident, but by God’s design.

Shine Your Light

Later as I was praying about all this, the verse that continued to come to my mind was Matthew 5:14-16:

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

We are called to be a light in a dark world. Whatever your frustrating situation, perhaps God is keeping you there because you are called to be the light in this dark place for awhile longer.

Being the light does not mean you have to be perfect, or preachy. It does not mean you have to be walked all over. Far from it. It means being yourself. Allow the light of Christ’s love to shine through you. People will see the difference.

The darker the place, the brighter your light will shine.

The next morning, I shared this verse with my child. I decided to print Matthew 5, about letting our light shine, to hang up in our kitchen for my kids, and I looked up other similar verses, too. I created a printable and am sharing it with you below.

Let’s guard our words in these tough situations:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

God promises to protect us wherever we go:

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 3:3

God’s glory is in us:

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

Printable Let Your Light Shine Watercolor Bible Memory Verses

Get these free printable Bible verse note cards now.

 Where should we send your note cards? They are included in the Grow Your Faith free printables pack:

How will you shine your light in a dark world today?