Being Light in Dark Places - The Crosswalk Devotional - June 24

Being Light in Dark Places
By Jennifer Slattery

Each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” (Genesis 40:5-7, NIV).

When we find ourselves in dark circumstances, it can be hard to see God’s hand. We might even feel as if He’s abandoned us and we’ve lost our purpose. This, in turn, can lead to feelings of worthlessness that only deepen our sadness. We find hope and the strength to persevere when we lift our gaze.

Years ago, I spoke at a homeless center for women and children on Joseph’s story, recorded in Genesis 37-50. Sadly, I arrived with preconceived notions regarding their relationship to Christ and intended to encourage them to seek God in their pain. During the meal prior to my presentation, however, a conversation with a powerful and joyful woman of God not only corrected my assumptions, but convicted my soul.

I didn’t know her story, but I saw Jesus in her bright eyes and hope-filled words. She didn’t talk about the difficulty of her circumstances—although I knew she must’ve faced numerous soul-crushing challenges. I imagine she endured times of discouragement as well. She was human, after all, and homeless. But that night she radiated the light of Christ. And I marveled at the hope she must’ve brought to the other women in that shelter—most of whom were probably living in the darkest seasons of their lives.

As I reflected upon this, I sensed the Holy Spirit ask, “Would you live like her, as a missionary to the homeless? Would you see the opportunity to shine in such a dark place?”

Thankfully, God hasn’t asked me to sleep under the freeway overpass, but I have pondered His question, and my encounter with that woman, numerous times since. I’ve wrestled with my fierce desire for comfort and my tendency, in difficult seasons, to become so consumed with my experience that I miss what God wants to do in and through me.

This wasn’t the case with Joseph. He, no doubt, mourned his circumstances. At this point in his story, he’d lost everything, including his freedom. Yet, in his pain, he lifted his gaze—to God, and to his surroundings. He looked up and out, and he noticed, and responded to the pain of others.

I’m convinced his ability to demonstrate love while in an Egyptian dungeon stemmed from his dependence on and connection to God. Throughout his story, we read that the Lord was with him. While, in context, this points to the favor he experienced, first as a slave and then later as a prisoner, his responses to various situations demonstrate a depth of spiritual maturity that can only come from an intimate relationship with God. This, in turn, allowed him to become a conduit of grace to others, which then increased his experience of it.

According to Christian Psychiatrist and neural scientist Dr. Curt Thompson, we experience healing when we become instruments of healing for others. In a relatively recent Faith Over Fear podcast episode, Toni Collier expressed something similar. She talked about how various women had come to her, stating that they felt stuck in their pain and like they continually cycled through the stages of grief. While she wasn’t suggesting someone rush their mourning and healing process, she did discuss what some now refer to as the sixth stage of grief, and that’s finding meaning by using our stories to help others.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

When we’re hurting, we can easily veer into one of two unhelpful directions. We can deny our pain and suppress, or we can slip into hopelessness and despair. Scripture, like found in Joseph’s story and throughout the Psalms, reveals a healthier response that involves honest, unfiltered, and thorough lament cushioned in hope.

Biblical hope is much more than wishful thinking. It rests on the knowledge that our God is with us, is at every moment working all things for our good and His glory, and won’t waste our pain. In fact, He will use it, if we let Him, to bring beauty from ashes and to shine light into other people’s darkness. We can also trust that one day He will eradicate all sorrow from our lives for good. In the meantime, we cling to Him and His promises and remain yielded to His hand.

Further Reading:
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Romans 5:3-5
Revelations 21:1-4

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she’s passionate about helping women experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

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Sometimes, anxiety can hit without any recognizable provocation, or our anxiety can feel more intense than the situation warrants. When we find ourselves in that place, we can pray the prayer ancient Israel's second king, David, prayed at the end of Psalm 139, trusting that our God will and is leading us to increased freedom. Listen in to this episode of Faith Over Fear and have your mind and heart fixed on the truth you need for your day! If you like this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!