“Why are you so annoying?” I asked a string of unruly Christmas lights through gritted teeth. It wasn’t my finest moment, I admit, but anyone who’s dealt with those crazy lights up close and personal knows how frustrating they can be.
They get tangled so easily! No matter how carefully you wind them up at the end of the season, they clearly spend 11 months of the year in a wrestling match with themselves. Whyyyyy?
A single bulb will start flickering, and you gently twist and turn it around, hoping it reconnects to the source rather than burning out completely. Like I said, annoying.
But, oh, how beautiful those little lights are when all is said and done! They bring a sense of calm, peace, and joy to everyone who gazes at them.
Perhaps you’ve heard the popular Sunday School song that says:
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” ⠀
When I sang this song as a child, I would give a big thumbs up to represent my light shining to the world.⠀
A few years have passed since then (just a few!), and I feel like a string of lights better represents my light shining to the world rather than a single bulb.
I, too, get easily tangled up, especially when I singlehandedly try to manage all life throws my way. I wrestle with myself over issues I should take straight to Jesus.
I get tired and weary. I’ve made many mistakes on my journey, and some dimly lit bulbs on my life’s so-called string of lights are reminiscent of my struggles. Look close enough, and you’ll find a few bulbs utterly burnt out when I ignored God and tried to do life on my own.⠀
I used to worry that my past mistakes would keep others from seeing God in me now. That perhaps my light had been permanently darkened.⠀
Can you relate?
The good news is, when I look at a string of lights, I don’t see the imperfections. My focus isn’t drawn to the bulbs that are dimly lit or even burnt out completely. No, I don’t even notice all that when the string has been untangled and arranged so the brightest lights are those most noticeable.⠀
And that’s what God does for us! He helps us untangle the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into (without calling us annoying) and covers our past sins in such a way that they become barely recognizable. Oh, thank you, Jesus!
No matter what your past looks like, you don’t need to live in shame. Maybe you’re in a situation right now that makes you feel like hiding from God and everyone else in your life.
Just give it to God. Reconnect to the source of all light, Jesus Christ. Let Him gently twist and turn your life around so His love will once again shine brightly through you!
The next part of the song says, “Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine!”⠀
Now more than ever, the world needs you. Shine on, Friend!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)