A Guiding Light

If you have ever experienced complete darkness, you know how disconcerting it can be. Life can be like that, until you reach for the light.

 

Imagine being hundreds of feet underground in a cave. Then your only light goes out! It’s pitch-black. You can’t see your hand 6 inches in front of you, and you suddenly feel like you can’t breathe.

In the summer of 2014, I traveled with some friends to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system known, with over 400 miles of passageways. Even today there are miles of uncharted territory, including underground water systems.

The caves have some modern-day lighting in places, but visitors are required to take organized tours because there have been several incidents in the past where people have gotten lost underground.

The caves include traces and remains of many Native Americans and explorers. It’s a fascinating visit with many interesting natural formations to see—as long as you’re within the artificial lighting area or have a flashlight.

In the dark

Sometimes in life we can feel like we’re suddenly in the dark. We need guidance because we don’t know where we’re going, and sometimes we don’t even know where we want to go.

Where should we go to college? What kind of job should we get? Who should we be friends with? How can we make the right decision when we face a difficult situation?

We can become frozen in place, afraid to take any steps. What if there’s a wall or a cliff directly ahead of us, and we just can’t see it?

Our light

God is our light. He provides the guidance, comfort and love that we need in every circumstance. Praying to God for guidance when we don’t know what to do is the best thing we can do.

Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

God wants us to be happy, and He has given us a type of instruction manual to help us through life. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The psalmist understood the difficulties of life and that reading the Bible provides clarity and light. When we feel lost and stuck in the darkness, we can turn to the effective tools of prayer and Bible study to find our way.

Reach for the light

Under normal circumstances, I probably would have panicked when I found myself in the complete darkness of a cave. I’ve never been a huge fan of the dark. But thankfully we weren’t lost, and our flashlights worked fine. Our guide had instructed us to turn off our flashlights as he turned off the artificial lights so that we could experience being in complete darkness.

I held a flashlight in my hand, ready to turn it on as soon as I needed it. In the same way, we have the tools of prayer and Bible study at our disposal, and we can, and should, use them as often as possible.

We should remember what Romans 8:28 says: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

God wants us to be happy and successful in life, and if we do our part, He will take care of us. He is in charge of everything and gives us the light we need to see clearly.

So the next time you’re feeling stuck or unsure, reach for that light.

For further insight, read “Wilderness Hiking: The Importance of the Narrow Path.”