Light in Darkness

I’ve worked for many organizations over the years: large, small, for-profit, non-profit, faith-based, and secular.  Though the industries and my roles have been different, the challenges of living out my faith has been consistent.

Some organizations have been better than others; however, I’ve found myself handling workplace challenges in two basic ways.  My first inclination is to pray persistently. Something like “Lord to give me strength to endure”.  After enduring, I’ll then change my prayers to asking for deliverance.  “How long Lord?”, or ” What lesson am I suppose to learn Lord?”  You know the drill. Pray Until Something Happens.  PUSH prayers.

And during these trying times I’ll gather with my holy huddle.  My faithful friends who commiserate with me.  The ladies I lunch with and wax eloquent with about workplace darkness.  And after one of these power lunches I’ll feel better.  For a while.  Until the next “thing”.  Then the cycle starts over again.  Endurance prayer. Deliverance prayer. Holy huddle lunch.  This approach has a form of godliness but lacks power.

As a Christ follower I am called to follow Christ, so how did He deal with darkness?  The gospels of  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth.  He interacted with darkness but didn’t handle it the way I do.    Rather than run from darkness He went toward it.  The gospel of John calls Jesus the Light which shines in the darkness.  So as a Christ follower I am not called to bemoan the fact that I have been placed in darkness. I am called to shine His light.  Sometimes He’ll direct me to be a candlelight which is gentle and soothing.  Other times I’m called to be a floodlight: bright, blaring, and downright uncomfortable.  Different light for different types of darkness. Light none the less.

So rather than pray for endurance and deliverance, my prayers  must be guidance prayers.   Lord, what type of light should I  shine in each circumstance?  This is how I consistently live as a Christ follower in dark places. Not in fear but faith.  Not accepting darkness but shining His light.  One day at a time.  One circumstance at a time.  Guided by the True Light at all times!

Grace and peace,

Karen