This Little Light of Mine… - Encouragement Café - March 2, 2017

This little light of mine…
By Aj Luck
Thursday, March 2, 2017

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 5:16 NASB

I have a confession to make. When I was a little girl, I took my toys VERY seriously. I played school with all my stuffed animals properly lined up on my bed as if they were ready for class.

I created worksheets, tests and even a grade book. (I had 24 students. First name, last name and subjects and grades listed.)  

I baked my heart out with my Holly Hobby easy bake oven. I even attempted to “bake” my Mom’s church mints.

Slinky? I wore it out! Magic 8 ball, play-dough, Barbie etc. LOVED THEM!

However, what happened when a beloved toy broke? It went to the trash pile, yard sale and even thrift store donations. The broken ones became forgotten.

Then there is the glow stick.A toy created specifically to be BROKEN.To look at a glow stick, it’s pale, boring and there’s nothing special about it… until it is snapped.Have you ever snapped?REALLY SNAPPED?Me too.

The pressures of life getting so heavy, my shoulders sag under the weight of it all.

I try to bend, to be flexible.  Honestly, I just try to avoid being broken. I want to be strong for all those around me. Some days I can pull it off. Other days, I simply snap in half.

Inevitably, each time I surrender to the snap, (or more transparently, survive the snapping) God will use it to encourage someone else. It may not always be right away, but nonetheless, God will use my brokenness to spread hope to others. 

It took me a long time to realize that NOTHING happens to us, for just us. It will always be for someone else if we simply surrender our hurt and struggles to God.

So many days I wish I could stand tall and shine brightly like a brand new shiny toy. A fake smile would be painted upon my face giving the illusion that all is right in my world.No matter how hard I try, I can’t.

Why?Because I’m not a toy. I was not manufactured by a toy maker.

I was handcrafted in my Mother’s womb by the Creator of the all things, The Sovereign King and Lord of Lords. God Almighty.

So were you.

You were created for a purpose. You were created for HIS purpose.

He is the Light of the World and He lives inside of your heart and mine.Simply put, Let your Light shine. Embrace your brokenness. Allow others to see the Light of Jesus in and THROUGH you.

You may feel ordinary, boring, purposeless, and useless.

May I encourage you?  You’re NONE of those things. You are a handcrafted, beautiful glow stick, and this dark world needs to see your light shining brightly.

So many in our world today see brokenness equal to worthlessness.God sees our brokenness as beautiful.After all, in OUR weakness, HIS strength is perfected in and THROUGH us.

Whenever the enemy starts whispering in your ear, just read this out loud back to him. May you be reminded of who you TRULY are, LOVED.

Prayer … Dear Jesus, Thank You for being my Savior. Help me to surrender my pressures, hurts and fears to You. Remind me that You have a greater purpose for my life than I can see on my own. Enable me to endure the brokenness so that Your light will shine brightly through me. I pray that in all things You would be glorified. In Jesus Name, Amen.

© 2017 by Aj Luck.  All rights reserved.

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