Reflection: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness.

Imagine a small village where, for weeks, a dense fog had settled, hiding the sun and making it nearly impossible to see. The villagers stumbled through their days cautiously, unsure of the path ahead. Then, one morning, a bright lantern was lit at the village centre. Its light spread through the fog, guiding people safely and giving hope once again.

This is the power of God’s light in our lives. Isaiah spoke these words to a people surrounded by despair—threats, injustice, and uncertainty loomed over them. Yet God promised a light that would break through the darkness. This prophecy points us ultimately to Jesus, the Light of the World, who enters even the darkest situations to bring hope, clarity, and life.

Even in our own times of uncertainty, fear, or grief, God’s light is present. He illuminates the path, guides our steps, and gives courage to keep moving forward. Darkness is not the end; it is the backdrop against which God’s light shines most brilliantly.

Leading by Spiritual Covering and Prayer.

Job is one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of a parent who understood spiritual covering. The Bible tells us that Job regularly interceded for his children. He didn’t wait for crisis or rebellion. He stood in the gap preemptively, praying that God would purify, protect, and guide them.

He “did this continually,” meaning prayer was not an occasional gesture—it was a lifestyle, a habit, a rhythm. Job wasn’t praying out of fear but out of love and spiritual responsibility. He understood that behind every visible challenge is an invisible battle only God can win.

In a world where children and teenagers face spiritual, moral, and cultural pressures daily, parents—especially fathers—must take up the mantle of being spiritual protectors.

There’s a powerful story about an old man who kept a small wooden box on his bedside table. Every morning and every evening, without fail, he opened it and looked inside with tears in his eyes. When asked what was in the box, he said:

“Inside are small pieces of paper—each one recording a moment God came through for me.”

Some notes said, “God healed me.”

He said, “Each time life feels heavy, I open this box to remind my soul that God has never forgotten me. So I cannot forget His benefits.”

This is exactly what David is doing in Psalm 103. He is commanding his soul to remember—not his problems, not his disappointments, not his fears—but the benefits, blessings, and tender mercies of God.

When we forget God’s benefits, we naturally drift into discouragement and ingratitude.

God’s benefits are not small:

He forgives every sin.

He heals our brokenness.

He rescues us from pits we dug ourselves.

He crowns us with love and mercy every morning.

He satisfies our lives with good things—spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Remembering is not optional; it is a spiritual discipline that anchors the soul.

There’s a story about a missionary couple who lived in a remote village where life was extremely difficult. Food was scarce, sickness was common, and resources were minimal. Yet the people of the village had one remarkable habit—they sang songs of thanksgiving every morning.

One day, the missionary asked an elderly woman, “How can you sing with such joy when you have so little?”

Her answer echoes Paul’s teaching: give thanks in all circumstances.

There’s a well-loved story of a woman who visited an elderly man known in her community for his constant joy. She asked him, “How are you always so grateful? Don’t you ever have bad days?”

He smiled and pointed to a notebook on his table. “In here,” he said, “I write down every blessing from the moment God woke me up. When storms come—and they do—I read through these pages and remind myself that God has been good, God is good, and God will continue to be good.”

David does the same in Psalm 103. He talks to his soul and says, “Forget not all His benefits.”

Today—Thanksgiving Day—is more than a holiday; it is a spiritual posture. It’s a moment to pause, breathe, and look at the countless ways God has provided, protected, carried, strengthened, forgiven, and restored us.

There is a story about a potter who shaped clay vessels. One day a young boy visited the potter’s workshop and watched in confusion as the potter placed a beautifully shaped pot into a burning kiln.

Many times, we are like that pot in the kiln. We feel the heat of trials, the pain of disappointment, or the weight of waiting, and we wonder why God allows it. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is not wasteful.

Joseph’s life is a powerful example. Betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, forgotten in prison—yet through every painful moment, God was weaving purpose. In the end, Joseph could say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

There was once a woman named Mara who volunteered every Saturday at a community kitchen. She had a demanding job, a busy home life, and often felt exhausted. One Saturday, she arrived at the kitchen feeling overwhelmed and quietly thought, “Why am I even doing this?”

As she served a bowl of soup to an elderly man, he looked up with tears and said, “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means. This is the only warm meal I have all week.”

Like Mara, we all go through seasons where serving feels tiring or unnoticed. But Galatians 5:13 reminds us that serving is not just a task—it is an expression of love. When we serve with gratitude, we reflect Christ’s heart, who came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).

True service flows from remembering how God has served us—through His mercy, His patience, and His daily provision. Gratitude transforms our perspective, renews our strength, and turns simple acts into spiritual seeds that bless others and honour God.

A couple once shared how a simple shift changed their entire marriage. For years they focused on each other’s weaknesses—unfinished chores, forgotten dates, differences in personality. But after attending a retreat, they were challenged to list five things they appreciated about each other daily. At first, it felt forced. But within weeks, gratitude softened their tone, deepened their connection, and restored warmth where frustration once lived.

Gratitude in marriage is not a denial of real issues; it is choosing to see the gift God has given you in your spouse. The Proverbs 31 woman models a life of goodness toward her husband—not perfection, but intention. Likewise, every marriage thrives when appreciation is spoken, trust is cultivated, and honour is intentionally given.

Gratitude shifts marriages from criticism to celebration. It helps us remember that marriage is not two perfect people—it’s two people learning to love like Christ.

A small village had a tradition: when a new house was being built, everyone—young and old—joined in to help. Some carried stones, others mixed clay, some fetched water, and others cooked meals for the workers. One elderly man said, “A house built by one may stand for a while, but a house built by many stands for generations.”

In our faith journey, God has called us to be builders—not necessarily of houses, but of hearts, dreams, and destinies. A word of encouragement can strengthen a weary soul. A simple act of kindness can restore hope. A prayer spoken in faith can lift someone from the edge of giving up.

Think of Barnabas in the book of Acts, known as the son of encouragement. When others doubted Paul’s transformation, Barnabas stood beside him, spoke on his behalf, and helped open the doors of ministry for him (Acts 9:26–27). His encouragement didn’t just comfort Paul—it helped shape the future of the early Church.

Two friends walked through a desert. During a disagreement, one friend slapped the other. Hurt and silent, the one who was slapped knelt down and wrote in the sand: “Today my friend hurt me.”

Later, they reached an oasis and began to swim. The same friend who slapped him began to drown, and the other friend saved his life. When they reached safety, he carved into a stone: “Today my friend saved my life.”

Puzzled, the friend asked, “Why did you write it in the sand when I hurt you, and in stone when I helped you?”

He smiled and replied, “When someone hurts us, we should write it in sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it. But when someone does good to us, we must engrave it in stone where nothing can erase it.”

Forgiveness is a resting place for the healed heart. Gratitude is the anchor that keeps peace at the center of our lives. Together they free us from bitterness and open our hearts to the peace Christ promised.

Paul calls us to forgive as the Lord forgave us, and to let thankfulness flow through everything we do. When forgiveness becomes our posture and gratitude becomes our perspective, God’s peace rules within us.