“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance” (Isaiah 60:3).
Just before dawn, the world is still wrapped in shadow. Everything is quiet, still and the darkness feels endless. But then—just over the horizon—the first sliver of light breaks through, unstoppable. It’s not asking permission. It just is, and it changes everything.
That’s what Isaiah is talking about. “Arise, shine,” he says because the light of God is more than just a sunrise; it’s a revolution. It pierces through the deepest darkness, declaring that hope isn’t just a possibility—it’s here. Not coming someday, but right now. The glory of the Lord rises upon you. No more stumbling around in shadows or waiting for a better moment. The moment has come, and it’s shining all over you.
It’s easy to think, “But I’m not ready to shine. I’m still figuring things out. My life is a mess!” God’s light doesn’t wait for you to be polished up or perfect. He meets you in the mess. He breaks through your fear, your confusion, even your doubts. His light is relentless, pushing back every shadow in its way.
Once it hits you? You can’t help but glow. The light of God isn’t something we hoard like a flashlight with dying batteries. It overflows. It radiates through us to the people around us, to places where darkness thought it had the final word. We become a living, breathing reflection of God’s glory, even when we least expect it.
Let’s shine! Not because we’ve earned it, but because our light has come. The darkness doesn’t stand a chance.
Questions for reflection:
- Where do you feel like you’re still stuck in the shadows?
- How might God be calling you to rise and reflect his light to others this week?