Whenever God Shines His Light

I was reminded of this old Van Morrison song the other day…

Whenever God shines his light on me
Opens up my eyes so I can see
When I look up in the darkest night
Then I know everything’s going to be alright
In deep confusion, in great despair
When I reach out for him, he is there
When I am lonely as I can be
I know that God shines his light on me

Reach out for him, he’ll be there
With him your troubles you can share
If you live the life you love
You get the blessing from above
He heals the sick and he heals the lame
Says you can do it too in Jesus name

He’ll lift you up and he turns you around
And he puts your feet back on higher ground

I’ve met many people who are in a dark place; I’ve met many who care for someone who’s in a dark place… the life-restricting health diagnosis, the shattered, apparently unmendable relationship, the ongoing deep anxiety, the isolation of fear and aloneness…

This contrasts with a God creates light, who brings light, who is light. He shines his light of hope, healing and joy into the dark places of the unseen and unknown. This God comes in Jesus who says ‘I am the light of the world’, promising that those who follow Him won’t be in darkness.

This Jesus who is light, enables blind eyes to see, calls His followers to shine their light that they receive from Him, and look forward to the time when there will be no more darkness…

Van Morison (with help from Cliff) brings me down to earth as he reminds me that God’s light can shine on the ordinariness of my life. This isn’t some theoretical religion or philosophy about spiritual light. This God reaches out to me as I reach out to Him, bringing His sight to my blindness, His power to my weakness, His light to my darkness,   

Reach out for him, he’ll be there
With him your troubles you can share
You can use his higher power
In every day and any hour
He heals the sick and he heals the lame
And he says you can heal them too in Jesus name

He’ll lift you up and he turns you around
Puts your feet back on higher ground