Even as a grownup, the dark can kind of wig me out. I think it probably is due to the unknown nature of what awaits. Maybe you are walking through a dark house at night as you climb out of bed to use the restroom for the millionth time and you rake your pinky toe on the edge of the furniture. Or you are having to take the dogs out and you can’t see what lies in the grass ahead of you so you force them to stay close to the sidewalk. You could get nervous as you head back to your car from a local store whose parking lot lights are not working. No matter the situation, the dark can be a scary place.
Our world can seem “dark” right now and this has nothing to do with the physical presence of darkness. There is so much turmoil between people. There is so much hate towards each other. Honestly, there is so much evil all around. The news is full of violence, sadness, and heartbreak. You can’t help but sometimes feel the heaviness of our world. On any given day, we probably face more darkness than we do truth.
In the book of the Psalm, the author of Psalm 119 gives hope for the darkness as he describes the light that comes from God’s word.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
This one verse describes how God is two sources of light for us. God’s word has dual purposes for us. The first description is that God’s word is a lamp to guide our feet. This lamp is represented more like a candle or oil lantern in those times. In our time it could be represented by a small flashlight or maybe even the light on your cell phone. The “lamp” illuminates immediate steps. It helps us avoid immediate dangers and mishaps. God’s word should be used to help guide us in our daily decisions and choices. It should illuminate the darkness right in front of us to help us avoid those immediate pitfalls and dangers. It gives us the practical advice we need for daily decisions.
The word is also described as a light for our path. This type of light illuminates much further down the path. This would be viewed today probably as a large spotlight, a headlight, or maybe even bright street lights. This type of light provides a broader perspective, revealing overall direction and purpose for the path. This type of light is showing long-term purpose and the reason for the journey ahead. It can give us a sense of understanding for the days ahead.
The key to having the lamp to show us our daily steps to take, and the light to give us direction down the road is up to us. This verse says that the word of God is a lamp and a light. In order to have these tools at our disposal, we have to actually be in His word. If we want the guidance to help us in our daily and immediate decisions and to help us down the road, we must be spending time in Scripture to equip us for the darkness we face. God has provided us with the tools to help us daily and in the future. Will we use them?
This devotional was written by Amy Carrico of Making the Moments Matter. Click HERE to follow her on Facebook!
Last Updated on August 29, 2025
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