Advent Devotional – December 18

God lights up the sky

One of my favorite holiday traditions is taking a day trip to the beautiful North Carolina mountains. My husband and I began this tradition nearly 10 years ago. We packed a picnic lunch, and spent a couple of hours driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoying the beauty of the changing seasons. We drove until we reached Asheville, enjoyed the rest of the day there, and then headed home at nightfall.

Once out of the city lights, the darkness would truly settle in, and I remember wondering how anyone could even see in that darkness, to get back to their starting point.

On one of those early trips, years ago, it was unseasonably warm, and we were able to drive home with the sunroof open. As I looked up, I suddenly noticed what a clear night it was. The moon was shining brightly, and there were thousands of beautiful stars, lighting up the night sky. I quickly realized that even in the midst of the darkest night, there was light all around us, and all it took for me to notice it was to look beyond what was right in front of me.

Sometimes, I still crave that experience, because it was so incredibly beautiful, and meaningful. I long for the world to pause, if just for a moment, so I can bask in that brilliant light. The truth, however, is that each moment of every day is an opportunity for us to bask in that same brilliant light, because God is the one true light, which can never be extinguished. He is always with us.

Father in heaven, even when we are surrounded by darkness, give us the courage and strength to lift our eyes, to look beyond the horizon, and bask in your glorious light. Amen.

by Ondria Witt