By Alison Zeller
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2 ESV).
The nights are really, really long this time of year. The shorter daylight hours and less sunshine during the Christmas season can hit us hard. Nearly three million people in the US suffer from seasonal affective disorder, aptly abbreviated SAD. Even if you don’t have SAD, most of us have some dark days when we feel lonely, sluggish, and just plain blah.
This was certainly true for God’s Old Testament people. They walked in darkness for hundreds of years, awaiting the great Light God had promised to send to them. This Light would rescue them from the all-consuming darkness of sin. This Light would shine on them through all eternity.
Have you noticed that the longest night of the year comes just a few days before we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus? Just when it looked like darkness might win, God sent the promised Light. He came down to dwell with us, to walk among us. That was Jesus—love’s pure Light brought down from heaven on Christmas.
Editor’s note: Today’s devotional thought is slightly adapted from Love’s Pure Light Scripture Cards. CTA offers additional coordinating products in this line of Christmas products, as well as free, downloadable resources. Visit ctainc.com.
