Finding Jesus: In the Darkest of Days, God Sends the Brightest of Lights

What if the very hope and strength you’re searching for could be found… not just in the light of Jesus Christ… but in the people He places along our path?

We all face bitter storms of life. We all find ourselves from time to time tossed about on storm-tossed seas or lost, hungry, and helpless hoping for a Shepherd to find us.

Thomas S. Monson said, “There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gales so strong, no mariner so lost but what the beacon light [of Jesus Christ] can rescue” (April 2010).

The light of Christ will cut through the storm and the darkest night.

The songs, Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy and Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd are two of my all-time favorite songs. I know our Heavenly Parents love each of Their children.

No matter where we are on the path of life, our Heavenly Parents and a loving Savior, Jesus Christ seek to connect with every one of us. They want a relationship. The Light of the Savior ever shines, inviting us to come to Him, to safety, to peace, and to a place of eternal love. Jesus invited, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

We are promised the bright beams of God’s mercy and the Light and Power of Jesus Christ. Like a lighthouse, Jesus invites and beckons us to come home. Home to warmth, peace, safety, and the welcoming arms of Heavenly Parents.

You Are My Lights Along the Shore

Often however, the first person we encounter is a mortal. We are the lights along the shore that help struggling travelers past dangerous and troublesome rocks to the safety of the shore. We are those who go out to the desert to seek out the one who has wandered.

Our lights, along the shore, helps the struggling traveler find the shore and access the Light.

We are all needed… the strong, the weak, the feeble. Our commission is to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5).

If we should find ourselves on storm-tossed seas, go towards the light. Accept the feeble hands of simple people along the shore who are just trying their best. Look for the Light in others and accept it.

To those on the shore, “Let [our] light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). Let us extend our hands in a token of fellowship to all who come to the shores seeking safety, peace… seeking Jesus.

Finding Jesus

The apostle John invited us to “walk, even as He [Jesus Christ] walked” (1 John 2:6). Jesus loved the “humble, talked with and never down to people. He walked among [the humble, the meek, the sick, and the lonely. He ministered to all those with afflictions of any sort]. Ministering to them and offering hope and salvation” (Dieter Uchtdorf, April 2010). Jesus showed love to all each day of His life.

During His mortal life, Jesus spent His time with the sick, the afflicted, the lonely, the outcasts, and those who were struggling with sin. Jesus ministered to those afflicted in any manner and encouraged His followers to do the same. If Jesus were to show up today, I don’t think He would show up in the church but would be out seeking for and ministering to people in the same circumstances.

So, if we want to find Jesus today, if we want His power in greater abundance in our lives, then go search out those in darkness, the lonely, the wounded, the sick, and those otherwise in the storms of life. Let the light within us shine bright. Let us extend our hearts and hands in a token of love and friendship. In the process, we will find Jesus.

The truth is, on the darkest of days, God sends the brightest of lights. He sends you and me.

Together, as a community, as we stand side by side along the shore, our lights become one massive light. We seek those on stormy seas. We search for those who are struggling. Those finding themselves on storm-tossed seas, will see our lights and be filled with courage. They will see others, just like themselves… just doing the very best they can.

On the darkest of days, God is not absent… He is sending His brightest lights… the light that shines through you. Every small act of kindness, every moment of encouragement, every prayer whispered for someone in need becomes a beacon guiding others safely to the shore.

Please send me to storm-tossed coastlines to be a light to struggling seamen. Send me to the desert to rescue those who are hungry, helpless, and cold. Send me to the battlefields of life where the wounded wait to be rescued.

Strengthen my feeble hands and feeble light with the strength, power, and love of Jesus Christ. Give me a love for others that is deep and never ending. Please give me the heart of the Shepherd and help me find the one who is searching today.

Action Steps:

1.        Shine Your Light Today

·      Take a moment to think of one person who may be going through a storm.

·      Reach out with a simple act of kindness, encouragement, or prayer, and be the light God is sending their way.

·      Perhaps a name or a picture popped into your head…do something today for them.

·      Remember: God often answers prayers through people just like you.

2.        Look for Jesus:

·      If you are longing to feel God’s presence more fully, go where He would go.

·      Instead of waiting for comfort to come to you, go seek out someone who is lonely, hurting, or struggling.

·      In reaching out to others, you will discover the power and presence of Christ alive in your own life.

3.        Join the Shoreline of Lights:

·      Your light matters. Together, we can shine brighter for those searching for peace. Embrace the heart of the Shepherd and seek out one who may feel lost.

·      You are not alone. Together we can create a brighter, stronger community of faith and hope. Share your story and your faith with someone today.

·      Share this message with someone who needs a reminder that God still sends His brightest lights.