Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

As God’s co-worker’s we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” (Isaiah 49:8). I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

This morning I loved what Henri Nouwen wrote in You Are the Beloved: “I just returned from a walk through the dark woods. It was cool and windy, but everything spoke of You. Everything: the clouds, the trees, the wet grass, the valley with its distant lights, the sound of the wind. They all spoke of Your resurrection; they all made me aware that everything is indeed good. In You all is created good, and by You all creation is renewed and brought to an even greater glory than it possessed at its beginning. O Lord, I know now that it is in silence, in a quiet moment, in a forgotten corner that You will meet me, call me by name and speak to me a word of peace. It is in my stillest hour that You become the risen Lord to me.”

So beautifully written. And David wrote this beautiful psalm, Psalm 138, as only David can. I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your unfailing love and Your faithfulness, for You have so exalted Your solemn decree that it surpasses Your fame. When I called, You answered me; You greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise You, Lord, when they hear what You have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, He sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me. The Lord will vindicate me; Your love, Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of Your hands.

Though we walk in the midst of trouble…we are never abandoned. Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, longs for our good. Only in the light of His love can we see His light that heals us. This world chooses the darkness it knows. God promises that darkness will not last. His Love pierces the darkness with light that brings newness in us as we turn to Him and receive His peace bringing us hope. David knew that and that’s why he wrote so beautifully about God and gave glory to Him. David loved God and knew God’s love to be very personal. We can, too. It takes seeing the darkness for what it is and knowing in our depths our utter insufficiency as we cry out for help and understanding. And God is there. His love is the only way out of the darkness. His love lights our way to Him. His light never dims because our God loves us with an everlasting Love. How we each of us need His Love to guide us out of the darkness! When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. Darkness is all around us and we live in this world darkened by sin. That’s why Jesus came. To show us the Father’s love that brings the light of life lived with Him. Let God be the light for you that you so desperately need. He’s here. Always. Loving us and His Love is our Salvation.