A Light Has Dawned

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” – Matthew 4:16

Advent comes just when we need it most. In the darkest, coldest season of the year, when despair and sadness try to seep into our hearts, the Light of the world shows up in radiant hope. Dark may be the night, but our Dayspring shines more brightly than we know. We were never meant to hold the heaviness of this world in our hands, alone. There is One who came to bear every burden and cast light upon every shadow. But if we are looking for hope in this world apart from Him, we are in for a bitter disappointment.

Upon those who sat in the shadow of death, a light has dawned. The “darkness sown with stars” has become, not a lonely wilderness, but a place of expectant, daring-to-believe hope, because our King chose to robe Himself in humanity and quietly come among us as a baby, born in a stable yet announced by a sky full of angels. We could not reach Him, our eyes blinded by grief and despair, so He stepped down into the darkness to meet us, to save us, to clasp our trembling hands and yank us into the light. We come, fighting and resisting sometimes, but we come, and once we’ve seen Him, we adore Him.

This world of deep and permeating darkness has been set ablaze with glorious light in the person of Jesus Christ. His gentle, humble birth led to a gruesome, horrific death, and yet in the redemption of the Resurrection lies our wild hope, hope that defies the power of darkness to permanently wound us. The tale of Redemption was ushered into the world one cold night in Bethlehem, and we have glimpsed glory in the person of Jesus. That Hope has marched down the centuries, drying tears, unmaking sorrow, upsetting evil, and paving the way to make all things new.

This is why I love Advent. We come to the end of the year, battered and clinging with failing fingers to shreds of hope, and we are greeted with the light and joy of Christmas. If you are wandering in darkness this season, if despair is trying to take root in your heart, be encouraged. He came once, and He has promised to come again. Our lives can be fenced about, defined, gloriously overturned by this Hope. It will never let us go.

 “We all are what we are because Another is what He is.” – Amy Carmichael