"Let your light so shine! In the absence of light." By Annette O. Brown, Author

Natural sunlight bursts through window and curtains. (AOB Creations.)

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16 (Amp)



Let, not prevent or forbid, but allow your light to shine. 
 
When it becomes dark we need light.  The action of turning on “the light” or light switch has become ingrained in our modern day life. When the Sun goes down and the sunlight begins to fade…on goes the light switch or light sensitive lights are activated automatically.

We are encouraged, in Scripture, to let our lights shine.  Unlike light sensitive bulbs, however, our lights may not come on automatically when dark situations descend on us.   

Dark situations take on so many different forms.  Dark, defined as the absence of light in a place, is used here as a metaphor for challenges and difficulty.  Daunting and merciless difficulty usually comes when we are  least prepared for it.  Unexpected tragedy, wars, loss of life and outright evil mindedness…

How do we shine in such darkness?  

Deliberately and without qualms.  We are to LET our light shine, to give way for light to burst free.  Let suggests choice and also provision.  Light is available to us, however, we need to allow it to shine.  Just as darkness can fall upon us, our light has the potential to suppress the dark.   

When we light a candle in the dark, darkness is suppressed.  In the same way, light representing hope, holiness, God-likeness, happiness, joy, justice and peace has great potential to be supreme.  As a human race we have great potential to let this type of light shine.

I share this to encourage someone…and myself.   Light overcomes the dark.  We must LET our light shine today.