The Bible tells us in James 1:17 that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (NKJV)

As I read this verse recently, I remembered the other night when I was walking Maya, our five-year-old rescue dog, in our yard before bedtime. As we started our nightly walk around the front of the house, she darted off, chasing after something she heard scurrying in the bushes. In the flash of a second, I had no idea where she was and could no longer find her with the flashlight.

I felt a mix of worry but mostly annoyance and anger. Maya has done this before, and when she is following a scent, she chooses not to hear us when we call for her. So, now, I could not see our dog, and I knew she wouldn’t answer when I called.

So, when I read in James 1:17 that God is the Father of Lights, I immediately compared his light and power to my frustrations and inability to find our dog in the darkness. Thankfully, unlike me, God is always able, his patience is infinite, and his love is a deep, life-changing, agape love.

Many times in my life, I have been like Maya, leaving God’s protection to walk in darkness. It is said that there is no place so dark that the light of God cannot shine, and I know that is true! God found me in horrible places, when I felt lost and hopeless. I was able to step into freedom and safety because God was my light, shining bright and leading me with grace, patience, and wisdom.

1 Peter 5:10 says God is “the God of all grace.” Not just some insignificant or temporary grace that depends on our actions or worthiness…not at all! He promises an eternal grace through salvation that will sustain us in life’s darkest and most difficult times.

There have also been times when I have been like Maya, refusing to listen when God has called out to me. Yet, every time I needed him, he answered me! EVERY TIME! 

Instead of being like us, who often feel angry, prideful, or even resentful, God’s guidance and rescue come from his selflessness, kindness, and all-encompassing graciousness.

We can find peace and joy when we are in darkness, whether it is because of unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances or our own choices and rebellious natures. We can be confident, knowing that God himself IS light. We can have faith that he will rescue us when we call him and that he will always lead us in ways founded in his love for us.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” -Psalm 119:105