Light dispels darkness. I love to watch the sunrise. It begins with a glow. Then oranges and pinks, tinged with red and lavender, appear on the horizon. As the rays of sun begin to spread over the earth, shapes and colors emerge in the landscape. The darkness no longer hides them. Shadows recede as a fresh new day arrives.
The first time I witnessed a sunrise over the ocean, I was surprised by its suddenness. Inland sunrises occur gradually. Over the waters of the ocean, after a brief glow, the sun pops up with the buoyancy of an orange balloon that refuses to stay submerged any longer.
Whether sudden or gradual, I delight in every sunrise I am able to observe. Every morning gives us a glimpse of the glory that must have been present at creation when God said, “Let there be light.”
When God created the heavens and the earth, the Bible tells us, “The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters,” (Genesis 1:2).
But then God spoke. He said, “Let there be light,” and it was so. By His powerful word, He displaced the darkness that surrounded the earth. Out of the formless, empty chaos, God established order simply by speaking light into the darkness. The rest of the Bible reveals how God shines light into every kind of darkness. His Spirit is now hovering over whatever darkness we face in this world. He is ready to shine the light of His perspective, His truth into it.
The most prominent feature of light is its contrast with darkness. Darkness cannot overcome light. The only way to darken a room is to turn off the light. Any source of light, even just a candle, pushes back the darkness.
When God said, “Let there be light,” it wasn’t the sun, moon, planets or stars that first brought light to the earth. It was the light of God’s presence. God in His essence is light. God is light, there is no darkness in him (1 John 1:5). When He brought light to the formless, empty earth, it began to take shape and have purpose.
God’s light shines into our lives to give shape and purpose. By His word, we gain wisdom and understanding. His light dispels the darkness of confusion.
I am aware of the power of God’s light. I have learned that discouragement and sorrow are defeated by Scripture and prayer. When I look away from whatever causes me momentary grief, to the God who is the Light of the world, the darkness disappears.
Every day the sunrise gives us a glimpse of the glory of creation. It is a daily reminder that God pushes back the darkness in our lives. It also gives us a hint of the dawning of a New Day yet to come when God’s eternal light will dispel the darkness forever. Darkness and evil will be gone, and we will live in His eternal day. In the meantime, we can observe that darkness must yield to light. We see the orderly cycles of night giving way to day, and winter turning to spring. It all reminds us of God’s faithfulness. It all affirms our hope.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
How have you seen God’s light dispel darkness in your life? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Copyright 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer
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