Last night I prayed that God would give "light at the end of the tunnel." No sooner had the words left my mouth I was instantly convicted by the Holy Spirit. Certainly God knew what I meant, but being unbiblical I was struck with the realisation it was not a prayer God would honour. His gentle, gracious correction was appreciated and thus my perspective and prayers changed.
The cliche "light at the end of the tunnel" is often employed to suggest there is a new glimmer of hope in our circumstances. Our situation and all around us seems dark, but light implies there is hope ahead. Instead of looking with eyes of faith, it perceives good changes await us in the future. The end of our trial is in sight, and we can rest assured (based upon what we see) a good outcome lays before us. Brothers and sisters, let us not forget God has promised never to leave or forsake us. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, and in Him is no darkness at all! If we find ourselves in a dark place and we are straining our eyes for a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, we have forgotten to look to Jesus and trust His promises. Perhaps we have forgotten the Holy Spirit dwells within us!
Consider the words of David in Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" David was no stranger to dark places as he fled from King Saul who sought his life. He often sought refuge in the darkness of caves in En Gedi, an oasis in the desert one can visit near the Dead Sea in Israel today. God was David's refuge and was a light for him in dark places. Now was David afraid sometimes? Sure! But in the moment of clarity when he wrote Psalm 27 inspired by the Holy Spirit, he realised all his fears were unfounded because God was with him and was his light and salvation. David made mistakes navigating dark places, but God brought him through all victorious. Knowing Jesus is our light and salvation requires us to walk in faith.
In his book The Pursuit of God, hear what A.W. Tozer wrote about faith: "Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made is self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be, and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said, "I will set my throne above the throne of God." Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line...The Word induces us to lift up our eyes unto the Lord and the blessed work of faith begins." (Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread Publications, 1993. Print. pg. 85) Instead of looking to ourselves for strength or wisdom, we are called to look to God. If Jesus is our light and salvation and we are experiencing fellowship with Him, we will not be in darkness even if we find ourselves in caves and or lost in a network of tunnels and trials which seem endless.
When God is your light and salvation, don't hope for "light at the end of the tunnel." When we have fellowship with God, we have Light brighter than the sun. Who should we fear besides Him?
The cliche "light at the end of the tunnel" is often employed to suggest there is a new glimmer of hope in our circumstances. Our situation and all around us seems dark, but light implies there is hope ahead. Instead of looking with eyes of faith, it perceives good changes await us in the future. The end of our trial is in sight, and we can rest assured (based upon what we see) a good outcome lays before us. Brothers and sisters, let us not forget God has promised never to leave or forsake us. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, and in Him is no darkness at all! If we find ourselves in a dark place and we are straining our eyes for a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, we have forgotten to look to Jesus and trust His promises. Perhaps we have forgotten the Holy Spirit dwells within us!
Consider the words of David in Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" David was no stranger to dark places as he fled from King Saul who sought his life. He often sought refuge in the darkness of caves in En Gedi, an oasis in the desert one can visit near the Dead Sea in Israel today. God was David's refuge and was a light for him in dark places. Now was David afraid sometimes? Sure! But in the moment of clarity when he wrote Psalm 27 inspired by the Holy Spirit, he realised all his fears were unfounded because God was with him and was his light and salvation. David made mistakes navigating dark places, but God brought him through all victorious. Knowing Jesus is our light and salvation requires us to walk in faith.
In his book The Pursuit of God, hear what A.W. Tozer wrote about faith: "Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made is self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be, and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said, "I will set my throne above the throne of God." Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line...The Word induces us to lift up our eyes unto the Lord and the blessed work of faith begins." (Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread Publications, 1993. Print. pg. 85) Instead of looking to ourselves for strength or wisdom, we are called to look to God. If Jesus is our light and salvation and we are experiencing fellowship with Him, we will not be in darkness even if we find ourselves in caves and or lost in a network of tunnels and trials which seem endless.
When God is your light and salvation, don't hope for "light at the end of the tunnel." When we have fellowship with God, we have Light brighter than the sun. Who should we fear besides Him?
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