Still Shining

Growing Daily

Still Shining

The other day I was ordering light bulbs on Amazon when I was given an odd choice: new or used.  

What?  Who buys used light bulbs?  How used are they?  Do they come with a money-back guarantee?  The used bulbs were considerably cheaper, but why would I trust a used bulb?

Spiritually, have you ever felt a little like a used light bulb?  Getting dimmer.  Like your best days might be behind you—a bulb nearing the end of its life.  Or even burned out completely.

Praise the Lord, that’s not the way it works with God. Our ability to shine does not come from our own strength or our remaining “wattage.”  It comes from God Himself.  “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7).  “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8).

So, if you feel “used up” today, take heart.  The light within you is not running out.  His light is new every morning, and God delights to let it shine through human weakness. In fact, that’s when it shines brightest (2 Corinthians 12:9).


- Catherine Reid