Now that autumn has officially arrived, one can feel a
chill in the air as leaves are beginning to change. Soon the woods will be ablaze in seasonal colors. I love the sights and smells of autumn. I
love the feel of crunchy leaves under my feet and the smell of warm apple cider
on a chilly night. Despite it being my favorite season, I do not
like the feeling of gloom that sneaks into my brain as the days grow shorter
and the nights longer. The gray skies,
rainy days and blistery weather can often make one feel trapped inside their
home. Scientists call this gloomy change
caused by fewer days of sunlight, seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This effect of sunlight on mood is especially
prevalent in avid gardeners like myself.
One way I fight back SAD is growing plants in my basement under a grow
light. I mix my own medium of soil using
compost from the garden and plant seedlings to transplant under cold
frames. Research has shown that getting
your hands dirty boosts the happy chemicals in our brain called serotonin. Then, you are rewarded with a sense of hope
and accomplishment as you watch your little plants grow from seed into
beautiful vegetables and flowers.
But there is another way to feel secure and happy
without placing hope in an artificial grow light and a few plants. If we walk in God’s light, we can be
confident in our salvation and know that the living God is living in us, guiding
each of our steps. I John 1: 5-7 says: "This is the message we have heard
from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at
all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his
Son, purifies us from all sin."
The light the Apostle John is talking about here
represents God’s perfect righteousness, His holiness and His purity. The darkness represents our sin and the absence
of God. Living in the light requires
that our hearts, actions, words and thoughts align with God's heart and His
character, not with our sinful nature. How encouraging it is to know that we
walk with a loving, forgiving Father who empowers us through His son, Jesus and
the work of the Holy Spirit. When we
walk in God’s light we are never alone.
There are brothers and sisters in Christ to walk along side of us when
we are going through trials.
There have been times in my cancer journey when the
dark shadows seemed to overpower the light.
Having the Word of God hidden deep in my heart gives me the confidence to
face each day. It gives me the physical strength to endure uncomfortable cancer
treatments and the hope to endure difficult news. When the way seems dark, the
Holy Spirit brings a Scripture to mind to encourage me and shine the light of
God’s hope onto a darkened path.
While I will continue to tend my little garden in the basement
during this cold, dark season, I will never lose sight of the beautiful light I
walk in. What hope it is to know that my
sin has been left in the darkness. What beautiful
peace I have to know I walk in God’s light and his truth. As a Child of God, I can shine bright like
Jesus so that others may see God at work in me and I can give glory to my
Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:6). If you are going through a season of
trial, I pray that you will seek to walk in God’s light which renews and
refreshes you within. May you feel empowered
by God’s light to be a beacon of hope to those around us. It may be God’s battle, but
it is our fight! To God be the glory!
