Just a Porch Light

It only took a porch light.

My two year old son spends hours on our front porch. He plays with his cars, races tiny tyke vehicles with his baby sister, and watches the wide variety of birds adorning the pine trees across the street.

It’s a tiny patch of green indoor-outdoor in our almost heaven state.

He loves the front porch, but a couple months ago, my son became afraid of the front porch at night. Afraid because it was dark.

Me too, buddy. I think to myself. I’ve had my own darkness to fear lately. From the headlines sending me into sobs at the thought of kids torn from their parents, of shootings, of wars, to the very near darkness of my own health struggles, I’ve been afraid of the dark in more ways than I’d care to admit.

It seems it’s always been that way. Darkness and chaos threatening to swallow up the sun. Every night, taking over the expanse above us, causing us to shut our eyes tightly, hoping for rest.

For those living in the times between the testaments, the silent years, of the Bible, it probably seemed like darkness would never end.

The prophets had gone silent, the brief hope of the Maccabees had been dealt a heavy blow, and even Hakkanuk’s light had been snuffed out by the Roman Empire.

Many of them had lost hope of ever seeing light again.

My son’s fear of the dark didn’t last. It only took a porch light to convince him that he didn’t need to be afraid. Why?

Because God said, “Let there be light.”

My mom taught him those words as she turned on the light. Those four simple words have been enough for every fear since.

When it thunders— “God, light.” When it’s dark— “God, light.” When it’s something new— “God, light.”

It’s amazing what four small words spoken into the heart of a two-year-old can do. And what they’ve done for me.

At the dawn of creation, in the darkness and chaos of nothing, God said, “let there be light.”

When the Israelites were experiencing the exile, God told the prophet Isaiah that one day, for people living in darkness, a light would dawn. (Isaiah 9:2)

When Jesus, the light of the world, finally took his first earth-filled cry, shattering the silence, a light shone in the darkness above, and Matthew later repeated Isaiah’s words.

Although your people
live in darkness,
They will see
a bright light.
Although they live
in the shadow of death,
A light will shine
on them.
~Matthew 4:16 CEV

Into a world of darkness, God has always spoken light. Pure, beautiful, light radiating from his person, Himself, because he is light itself.

[tweetshare tweet=”Into a world of darkness, God has always spoken light. Pure, beautiful, light radiating from his person, Himself, because he is light itself. ” username=”l1Mvxn@FHuRJuD(9KnNrndv&uI%9C@eN:1:1″]

It only took a simple, one-bulb porch light to convince my son that we don’t have to fear darkness because God created light.

It’s taken a two year old’s faith to show me what a little light can do. What a simple little light in the crazy darkness of the world trying to invade my worn-out heart can do.

So, excuse me if you hear me humming “This Little Light of Mine” while I listen to the morning news. While I read the doctor reports. While I digest all the chaos and darkness this cruel world has to offer.

I’m just simply learning to believe that “God, light.”

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Rachel Ellis

Rachel Ellis lives in the beautiful state of West Virginia with her husband, two kiddos under two, and a constant cup of coffee—cream, no sugar. She spends her time as a freelance journalist by night and a Hot Wheel collector by day. Her passions include Jesus, coffee, and Daniel Tiger—daily.

Latest posts by Rachel Ellis (see all)

• From Pride to Purpose - September 5, 2018
• A Friend for the Seasons - August 14, 2018
• Just a Porch Light - July 27, 2018