As I am writing this devotional, I am 31 weeks pregnant. I have been following my pregnancy and learning about my baby week by week through an app. It gives me weekly updates, such as the size of my baby, what is currently growing or developing in their body, and their body’s physical development from 10 toes to 10 fingers.
Earlier in this pregnancy, at 16 weeks, I received a notification that our baby was now sensitive to light. The notification read, “Your baby’s eyes are making small side-to-side movements this week and can perceive some light, even though they’re still closed!” I am in awe that our bodies and minds have been created to begin perceiving light and distinguishing it from darkness at just 16 weeks of gestation. This perception of light continues to get stronger, not just as the baby develops before birth, but also as they grow in this world where the difference between light and darkness is so evident.
A question that comes to mind from today’s Scripture is, how do we see light when all we feel is darkness? Whether we look around at the world or face darkness in our own lives, how can we see light? This question and reflection on my app’s update remind me that sometimes we just need to look around. Whether it is shifting our focus in small side-to-side movements or making greater movements, such as seeking help or making changes in our lives, without looking around, we can get stuck, staring at the darkness in front of us. However, when we look around, we may perceive God’s light in different ways … ways we would have missed if we hadn’t been able to move.
The darkness of the world is not God. No matter how overwhelming or overbearing it may feel, the author of 1 John says, “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” If we get stuck in darkness, we miss opportunities to see God’s glimmer of light, where God is working and on the move. We’ve had the skill of looking around with our eyes since before we were born. Don’t forget to continue to use these muscles during times of darkness.
Reflection:
- Where have you seen God’s light in the darkness of the world?
- How has God created you to shine God’s light with others?