An old saying goes something like this: “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”

When I was a little boy, we sang a children’s song at church that had a similar message. It was a very long time ago, but some of the words were: “Jesus bids us shine with a perfect light, like a little candle glowing in the night, in this world of darkness, we must shine, you in your small corner and I in mine.” I may have missed a word or two, but the message was perfectly clear.

A dark and discouraging world

There are enough troubles in life for each of us to give in to discouragement and follow the cycle into depression. If we focus our thoughts and attention on the troubles that assail us, the mistakes we may have made or the hurts and pains we have suffered, we will surely find ourselves “cursing the darkness.”

The book of Job includes examples of cursing the darkness. Job had enough problems to warrant a full-blown depression. He came to the point where he did not want to live (Job 14:13). Added to his weighty difficulties was the poor counsel and “help” of his friends. His friends did not light a candle for Job—they focused on the darkness.

In all of our lives there will be times for tears to flow and for anguish to squeeze our hearts. The death of a loved one, the troubles of our children or the suffering of this world give us enough darkness that we can become cynical and bitter. That outcome, though, is a result of focusing on the darkness and not lighting the candle.

Isaiah wrote about the condition people find themselves in when they are far from their Creator and Heavenly Father. He states that our iniquities (errors and sins) have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). He explains that we look for light, but there is darkness, and we grope for the wall like the blind—as if we had no eyes (verses 9-10).

A great light

God does not leave us to stumble in the dark. He has sent a great light. That light, though, does not penetrate our minds and thoughts regardless of what we do. It requires our efforts to find it and to believe in it.

God does not leave us to stumble in the dark. He has sent a great light… It requires our efforts to find it and to believe in it.

Isaiah put it this way (with God’s inspiration): “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

There is only one true light—everything else is darkness. Jesus Christ is that great light (John 1:4-9).

There is a caution to those who strive to follow Jesus Christ. Luke 11:35 admonishes us to take heed that the light that is in us is not darkness. Some think they have found light but are deceived—and that leads only to further darkness. Followers of God wrestle with the rulers of darkness, writes Paul (Ephesians 6:12-13). They are to take up the whole armor of God against this enemy.

Jesus explained that He was the light and that this light would come to all who earnestly seek God (Luke 11:33-36). The sad tale about mankind is that we have loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Jesus Christ was rejected, mocked, cruelly beaten and put to death. His light was bright and more powerful than anything we can imagine. He was far too bright for this world to enjoy, because He revealed their evil deeds.

Coming out of darkness

What about you and what about me? Coming out of this world of darkness is a little like coming out of a very dark room into a very bright light—it takes time for your eyesight to adjust and for you to notice the things about you. We stumble about as our eyes adjust to light.

The questions we all need to ask are: How do we go about allowing the light from God to enter our minds, and how do we pass that on to others? The task seems huge and daunting—and our normal reaction is to be overcome with the enormity of what we need to do and to lapse back into the state we were in.

Jesus explained that most people have closed their eyes to God’s truth (Matthew 13:15). We do that willingly and easily when we ought to resist the natural reaction. We need to learn to be far more aggressive against darkness and act.

How then do we receive and use this marvelous light? Everything we do in life seems to be a process that takes time and effort. It’s like learning to walk. It starts off in small stages.

A friend and I were out in the woods for a few days. When we wanted to start a fire, we had to first light a small match and nurse the little flame into something that grew until we finally had a larger usable fire. If the firewood was wet or the matches damp, more effort was needed. We found that we also had to tend the fire. We added small pieces of wood to encourage a larger and larger flame and did not put a log on until we were sure the fire would burn.

Darkness will not totally vanish until Jesus Christ returns to this earth and establishes the government of God here on earth. That is a government of light, and all darkness will be banished.

When we reflect the light of Christ, we will strive to make a difference now, by helping those in need. We’ll follow the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). We’ll help feed the hungry and visit the sick and comfort the oppressed (Matthew 25:34-40).

Coming out of this world of darkness is a little like coming out of a very dark room into a very bright light—it takes time for your eyesight to adjust and for you to notice the things about you.

God gives us the candle and the matches. He gives us instructions and also further material to burn. We need to be careful that the match is not blown out by a breath of air. We realize that sin has cut us off from God and led us into darkness. Repentance that God grants is the match and as Jesus Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit, the material that burns brightly is present. The light is the hope in Christ that offers eternal life wrapped in joy, peace and productivity forever.

In time, there will be no darkness—only light. In each of us, all the dark shadows and corners will have been brightly lit. Believe it, but do not despise the little things we can do today. Be a little light in your corner now. Light the candle. This world of darkness needs even the smallest flame.