There is a scene in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” that I really love. Scrooge awakens on Christmas Day after having spent the night with those three spirits, and he flings open his window to let in a ray of brilliant sunlight. Before that he traveled through an awful lot of darkness – the guilt of his past, the isolation of his present, and the fear of his future. He realizes that it is Christmas morning, and he’s been given another chance. The darkness hasn’t consumed him; there is still time, and there is still hope.

In Isaiah’s writing, about 700 years before Jesus, he spoke to the people of Israel during a period of their greatest threat from the Assyrian Empire. The people were filled with fear, hopelessness, and questioning whether God had left them. They were walking in darkness - not just the absence of natural light, but the absence of hope, clarity, and peace, because they felt so lost and alone.

In the middle of all that, Isaiah made a promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” He didn’t say “they will see,” he said “they have seen.” He speaks of this coming light with such confidence that it seems to have already occurred. But Isaiah knew that that is the nature of God’s promises. They are so confident, so dependable, we can speak of them as if they’ve already taken place.

Seven hundred years later, in the same general area that Isaiah prophesied about, a baby is born in Bethlehem. Matthew’s Gospel references this exact verse in describing Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. The light Isaiah spoke of wasn’t simply a desire for better conditions or for political freedom. The light was a person - Jesus.

John Wesley understood this is how God works - He calls it “prevenient grace”, which means the light that precedes us, preparing our hearts, working in our lives long before we’re aware of it. Long before we realize our need for light, God is shining light into our darkness. The Advent message is that while we were still walking in darkness, God brought the light.

Each Sunday in Advent, we light candles in our sanctuaries, and we watch the darkness slowly give way to light. This is a wonderful representation of what God did in human history and what He continues to do in each of our lives. We don’t produce the light, nor do we earn it. The light comes to us. It shines on us.

Are you walking through darkness this Advent season? Maybe it is the grief of losing someone dear, worry about the future, loneliness, or just the fatigue of living in a world that can feel cold and unforgiving at times. Isaiah’s promise is for you. The light has come. Not at some point in the future, not eventually… the light has already shone.

Christmas isn’t about us finding a way to leave the darkness behind. It’s about God coming into our darkness and bringing light with Him. Emmanuel, God is with us, including in the darkest of places.

Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world who came into our darkness. Shine in our hearts today and help us trust that no darkness is too deep for your light to reach. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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