Unveiling The Light
Spring is here. Light is everywhere. The dark winter has passed. There is no longer any room for it, no matter how hard it tries to stay.
That phrase alone can be taken in multiple forms.
So let me ask you...what fears have been hiding in the shadows of your mind for awhile? What have you not faced? Truth can be the most difficult thing to face, no matter what it's about.
Myself? I was a coward. I spent most of my life running away from my fears. Up until 4 years ago, I didn't want to sing in front of people. I had terrible stage fright. I was literally pushed up there by a very good friend who saw God's potential in me. I am very thankful for that shove. Now I get to do something every week that I absolutely love to do...without fear. To worship God with the gifts and talents He has given me is liberating in a sense I've never known or experienced before. It's changed my life forever. I believe it's brought a freedom to a heart that has spent half its life held in bondage to fear and brokenness. When I put on that garment of praise, it replaced my heaviness. It didn't happen overnight. But when I began to open my heart in praise and worship to my Father, it broke the hard outer covering of my heart that I had carried around for years. God unveiled me. And for the first time of my life, I could see the real me.
Fear hides you, the light of God unveils you. When you trust Him, He will either bring all the light at once (Genesis 1:3), or a little at a time. And I promise that if you are willing to open your whole self to God, His light will overtake all your dark. Even those sneaky little shadows that try to hide behind your heart like bitterness or insecurity. His light covers all.
That phrase alone can be taken in multiple forms.
So let me ask you...what fears have been hiding in the shadows of your mind for awhile? What have you not faced? Truth can be the most difficult thing to face, no matter what it's about.
Myself? I was a coward. I spent most of my life running away from my fears. Up until 4 years ago, I didn't want to sing in front of people. I had terrible stage fright. I was literally pushed up there by a very good friend who saw God's potential in me. I am very thankful for that shove. Now I get to do something every week that I absolutely love to do...without fear. To worship God with the gifts and talents He has given me is liberating in a sense I've never known or experienced before. It's changed my life forever. I believe it's brought a freedom to a heart that has spent half its life held in bondage to fear and brokenness. When I put on that garment of praise, it replaced my heaviness. It didn't happen overnight. But when I began to open my heart in praise and worship to my Father, it broke the hard outer covering of my heart that I had carried around for years. God unveiled me. And for the first time of my life, I could see the real me.
Fear hides you, the light of God unveils you. When you trust Him, He will either bring all the light at once (Genesis 1:3), or a little at a time. And I promise that if you are willing to open your whole self to God, His light will overtake all your dark. Even those sneaky little shadows that try to hide behind your heart like bitterness or insecurity. His light covers all.
Job 12:22 says..."He reveals mysteries from the darkeness, and brings the deep darkness into light".
The Message version says that "He hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun".
He moves the darkness. Almost like He is saying, "hey you, darkness...you've just been evicted. Now get out". We are instructed to be salt and light upon the earth...tasteful and noticeable. Our light should be as obvious as a city on a hill. The purpose in that is to glorify the Father. But if we hold these convictions and judgements on ourselves...or refuse to go to The Lord when we face difficulty and temptations, darkness will begin to reside in our hearts, therefore putting out our light. Fear smothers our flame.
Being in the constant light means complete exposure, and some of us would rather not take that risk. We would rather not let people see who we really are inside. The world is full of critics, and it seems as though they are always waiting right around the corner to judge us. I have even thought to myself in times past..."well if I am rejected for pretending to be someone I'm not, how much more will I be rejected when they see the real me?". That is the whole point my friends. This world needs a lot more transparency from us Christians. Transparency allows the light to come through...allows complete exposure. Websters dictionary defines transparency as something viewed by light shining through it, like a picture. And since we were created in the "image" of Christ, we are to carry the light. It all ties together. When we allow our dark shadows of fear, insecurity, brokenness, and sin to take over our lives, we are not being the image of light that God created us to be. And if we are not the light God has intended us to be, then we are not being a city on a hill. We are not allowing ourselves to be set apart to bring glory to our God. Being set apart sounds kind of lonely if you ask me, but my Father in heaven said that He will never leave me nor forsake me.
So unless we are tasteful (salt), and bright (light)...the world will not see Jesus. These are the two things we've been instructed to be. Be an outcast for Christ. Be set apart. We are not to be like the world, but of God...who is the source of light. Let God unveil you. All of you. Let Him bring you into the light. Toss aside your insecurities and inadequacies....your fears and doubts. Your worries and stress. Your struggles and conflicts. Whatever is holding you back from being all that God has called you to be...lay it down. Let His light overtake all of that. Together, let's be the city on a hill that the lost will want to come to. No more hiding. Come out, come out wherever you are. :)
Love,
Amanda B
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