There’s a Big Difference Between a Puny Flashlight and More Powerful Light

In John 8:12 it says, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.” (TLB)

We all have dark days. There are dark days of disappointment when dreams crumble and plans fall apart. There are dark days when we’re stressed out by finances or relationships, dark days of disease and divorce and losing a loved one.

When we hit those dark days, we need a guiding light.

When I have a problem I can’t control, I don’t typically turn to God. Instead, I decide that I’ll figure it out on my own. I go back in the recesses of my mind to an emotional chest of drawers and pull out all kinds of little flashlights.

I pull out the flashlight that says “Relationships” and start shining it on my life. I think if this <fill in the blank> would just happen, then life would be great.

When that doesn’t work, I pull out another flashlight that says “Job/Career.” If I could just change jobs, then everything would be right again. But that doesn’t work either.

So we try the “Sex” or “Money” or “Seminar/Self-help” flashlights, hoping to make the way clearer.

And when that doesn’t work, I may even pull out another flashlight that says “Location.” If I could just move to another state or wherever, then things would get better. But then I realize that when I move to another location, I take all of my problems with me—because the biggest problem is inside me.

I don’t need a flashlight. I need the Light. In fact, I need the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is not some puny little flashlight. He is a searchlight! He is a giant, powerful light that lets me see five miles down the road.

In my dark days, I shouldn’t put my trust in the flashlights that depend on my own power. Instead, just flip the switch that turns on God’s light in my life—in other words, have faith. When I tell God that I don’t know which way to go and that I’m feeling unsure and confused, but that I’m going to trust him anyway, that’s faith.

Ask Jesus to help me to trust him, and he will.

“I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path” (John 8:12 TLB).

In summary, Jesus called himself the light of the world. The pillar of fire represented God's presence, protection, and guidance. Likewise, Jesus brings God's presence, protection, and guidance. I need to make him the light of my world. As his follower I should follow him as a soldier follows his captain. Just as I follow the laws of our nation, so should I follow the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

How God Uses Tough Times

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 it says, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”  (NLT)

I’m never a failure until I quit, and it’s always too soon to quit. God uses tough times to test my persistence.

The difference between faithful people and unfaithful people is that unfaithful people give up at the first sign of difficulty. Faithful people keep on keeping on.

Faithful people are determined. Faithful people are diligent. Faithful people are persistent. Faithful people don’t know how to quit. A little acorn becomes an oak tree because it refuses to give up.

God uses tough times to test my persistence.

When I go through tough times, remember this verse is for me: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT).

God is more interested in what I’m becoming than what’s happening to me. He often allows trials, troubles, tribulations, and problems in life to teach me diligence, determination, and character. The problems I’m going through right now are a test of my faithfulness. The question is, will I continue to serve God even when life stinks?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

It is easy to lose heart and quit. I will face problems in my relationships and in my work that will cause me to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. So I should not let fatigue, pain, or criticism force me off of the job. I need to renew my commitment to serving Christ. I shouldn't forsake my eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain. My very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen me moment by moment. My troubles should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I should realize that there is purpose in suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. So I need to see my troubles as opportunities. 

How to Turn Suffering Into Service

In 2 Corinthians 1:6 it says, “Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.” (NLT)

Everyone is going to face problems and difficulties in life. I find that God will give me all the grace I need to endure those hard times. But he also wants me to be willing to use my experiences to help others. God doesn’t want me to waste my hurt!

The Bible says, “Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT). 

Did you know that God sometimes allows us to go through problems for the benefit of others? He may let us go through a period of darkness, depression, or discouragement so that we can comfort others with the same comfort he gives us.  

In fact, our greatest life messages always come out of our weaknesses, not our strengths. 

Who can better help somebody who’s in recovery for alcoholism than somebody who’s also walked through recovery? Who can better help somebody who is going through the pain of a divorce than someone who has healed from divorce? And who can better help the parent of a seriously ill child than another parent who’s experienced the same heartache? 

The things in life I wish I could change are often the very things God wants to use to help me grow in spiritual maturity and as a ministry. While God is at work in me, he also wants to work through me to help others.

The Bible says that love never gives up. It is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. Love considers others. Love turns other people’s problems and needs into our problems and needs. Love looks at other people like God sees them and gives them what they need, not what they deserve.

That’s what Jesus did. He suffered all kinds of problems and shame and went to the cross—not for his benefit but for our salvation. I can follow his example, and use my hurt to help others. 

How God Uses Grief to Help Me Grow

In Romans 8:28 I read, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (NIV)

Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. God uses these things to help me grow. He does it in three ways.

First, God uses pain to get my attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. I rarely change when I see the light. But I do change when I feel the heat.

Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT).

Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV).

When I experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. I can’t control the pain I go through, but I can decide whether it’s going to make me bitter or better. I decide whether it’s going to be a stepping stone or a stumbling block. Remember that, even in my pain, God is working for my good.

Third, God prepares me for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

I won’t be taking money or possessions to heaven, but I am taking my character (me). God is more interested in my character development than in my comfort. This is because when I get to heaven, I’ll have plenty of time to be comfortable. But life on Earth is the get-ready stage; it’s the learning phase or the warm-up act. God uses my troubles here on Earth to get me ready for eternal glory. That’s a comfort.

So when I’m in pain, I need to ask, “What is God doing?” Is he trying to get my attention? Is he trying to bring good out of bad? Is he preparing my character for heaven? I can trust him through it all.

God works in "everything", not just isolated incidents, all of this is for my good. God is not working to make me happy, but to fulfill his purpose. I am learning to trust in God and not in life's treasures. My security is in heaven, not on earth. My faith should not waver in pain and persecution, because I know that God is with me. 

Every Storm Is a School, Every Trial a Teacher

In 2 Corinthians 4:17 I read, “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.” (GNT)

When I experience difficulties in life, the first thing I’m inclined to do is blame somebody else. However, regardless of where my problem came from—God still has a purpose for it in my life. 

Even when I do something foolish, God can use it. Even when other people hurt me intentionally, he can use it. Even when the Devil tries to mess things up, God can bring good out of it. 

God’s purpose is greater than my problems and pain. He has a plan! I need to look past the temporary pain and look instead at the long-term benefit. 

Romans 5:3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that . . . they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (TLB).

What’s the purpose of my problems and difficulty? God wants me to learn something. Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for my development.

I’m a slow learner. If I don’t learn something the first time, God will bring it up again. It will come back because God is more interested in my character than he is in my comfort. He is more interested in seeing me become more like Christ than he is in making things easy.

When facing a major difficulty, does God have a word for me while you’re going through it? God is essentially saying, “Don’t give up; grow up. Let me make you more like me through this painful situation.” 

Through this difficulty, let God fulfill his purpose—to transform me more and more into the person he created me to be. 

Trust this truth: “This small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble” (2 Corinthians 4:17 GNT).

My troubles should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I need to realize that there is purpose in my suffering. My problems and limitations have several benefits: (1) they can remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they can keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities!

I need to realize that there is purpose in my troubles and they have several benefits: they remind me of Christ's suffering for me, keep me from pride, cause me to look beyond now, give me opportunities to prove my faith to others, and give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities! This life is preparation for the next. I’m only here for less than a hundred years, but I’ll be in eternity forever. Today’s problems get me ready for an eternity I can’t even imagine right now. Even though today’s problems may seem to be a heavy burden, they’ll seem like nothing later on in heaven. So I need to hang on to that hope, for God is preparing me for eternity with him in heaven!