Last night I awoke at 2:30 AM to make a trip to the bathroom. This is a frequent occurrence and I am usually very good at maneuvering in the darkness of night. I can’t explain what happened or how it occurred, but I managed to nose-plant into something that knocked me on the floor. From where I landed, the inanimate object that I walked into could not be identified. The pain in my nose was severe and it intensified as I tried to fall back asleep. In fact, it hurt when I woke up this morning and has left me with a dull headache all day.

As guttural moans of agony woke my husband, he turned on his bedside lamp and asked, “Why didn’t you use the light from your phone?” It’s a simple solution, yet I was too tired and lazy to put out the extra effort to use it. Although I walked with my hands out in front of me, I still couldn’t make it safely without light. Maybe I thought I was smart enough to feel my way through the obstacles and arrive at my destination safely?

Many of us walk in darkness all the time and wonder how we land ourselves in tough situations. In the Bible, Jesus talked about following him because he is the light of the world.  The truth is, when we don’t rely on Jesus to light our lives and direct our steps, we will always end up in painful circumstances. I learned a valuable lesson last night and let me tell you… sometimes the truth hurts.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NIV)