Camping in a tent is fun. It’s kind of primitive. It’s neat to be surrounded by the woods instead of four walls for a change. You usually have a fire to roast marshmallows or even keep you warm. Camping is all about your personal survival. You don’t have the accessibility to the options of home to meet your needs easily. For instance, you can’t go to a faucet and turn on the water. You have to rely on filtering water from a source near you. You can’t adjust the thermostat so you have to prepare your clothes accordingly. And when that fire finally dies down, you are in the dark. It’s hard to do anything without light. Even going to the bathroom can be a stumbling block if you’re not equipped with a light source. 

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬) He’s The Light. What exactly does that mean for us? Exactly that! There is no darkness in Him whatsoever. We, even if you’ve walked with Jesus one hundred years, still have darkness in us. Yes, God’s children are free from the spiritual death that sin leads to, but we still deal with sin. Darkness clouds our thinking sometimes. The Lord is lighting up His truth to us but we choose a different path based on the desires still lurking in us. These paths are dangerous. It’s rocky terrain that can lead to stumbling and a crash! This is why we need Light. “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬) This is why taking a different direction than the one God has for you is certainly going to end up badly. You get hurt! The Lord says you’re stumbling around in the dark without even knowing what’s around you. 

In the natural, you would never take off on an unknown trail in the woods when it’s completely dark. The rocks, the tree roots, the water etc. could literally take your life. You don’t know where you’re stepping because it’s completely dark. Why do we step out into unknown territory in our lives when The Lord is saying not to? We are all drawn to different things. My temptations may not be yours and vice versa, but temptations are real and we have to acknowledge that. There’s an enemy out there setting traps for each of us on our individual life journeys. Wouldn’t we be better off to spend some time with The Lord and get His perspective on the situation before diving in? He literally wants to shed Light on the areas that we’re in the dark on. For instance, you want that shiny new car. It’s a “want” not a “need” and you really can’t afford it. The Lord is trying desperately to get your attention but all you see in your mind is how awesome this new ride is going to be. You’re probably not looking about a year out when it’s no longer new, it needs new expensive tires and you’re still making large payments on it. At this point, it’s not so awesome. It’s now a burden. Thank God there’s grace to help us in our time of need but what if we would have listened to the Lord to start with? His Light was shining on the situation already, but we chose to ignore it. Now we’re stumbling around trying to get out of the trap. God is so gracious. He will help you. 

We all are going to stumble in this tainted world we live in. Things are not how they should be. We are all susceptible to taking whatever “bait” is laid out for us. We also all have the opportunity to consult with the Light Source and get His directions beforehand. Stay alert and be conscious of this. The Lord doesn’t want you getting hurt. He wants the best for you in every area of your life. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬) Utilizing His Light is so much better than stumbling in the dark.

Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.