Light

Light

But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

2 Corinthians 4:7

It’s easy to fall into a false belief that in order for us to reflect the light of Jesus, we need to be in a position of strength. But God says that his strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). It’s probably much more obvious that way. A story from Susan Hunt’s book A True Woman illustrates this principle.

Susan recounts that when her friend Sharon was diagnosed with cancer, Sharon’s response was, “I am confident that God will use this to take me deeper into his love for me.” Susan didn’t see Sharon again until after she’d had surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy. She was surprised at what she saw. Yes, Sharon’s body and hair were thinner, but she was amazed at how Sharon glowed with peace and love. She looked absolutely radiant. Susan said, “Sharon, you must have been spending some incredible time with God.” In the midst of Sharon’s weakness, God’s glory was reflected.

If our weak bodies are God’s temple and he dwells in us, then his strength will be reflected in our circumstances and our relationships. As we spend time with God, his presence will radiate to those around us.

God of light and power,

Thank you that we don’t need to feel embarrassed about our lack of strength, health, wealth, or intelligence. Thank you that your light can shine forth from our weak, perishable bodies. Amen.