Where do you place your identity? Where is your security? It’s so easy to let the things we do or the relationships we have in life to determine our purpose but when we look to something other than God for our security, we are likely going to be disappointed.

It makes sense – we spend a lot of time doing, accomplishing, serving, working, caring for others. We can see ourselves and our worth in the reflection of what we do. But when our security is in how God sees us, that never changes. When Jesus was about to be born, Zachariah the priest proclaimed what Jesus would do (Luke 1:78-79). He said, "The morning light from heaven is about to dawn upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide us in the path of peace.”

Wow, what a beautiful description. Jesus came to guide us to the path of peace! That’s the path I want to be on. I don’t want to be consumed with what I am doing to make myself feel valuable. I have been saved from the darkness and shadow of death. I want to focus my eyes on my guide, Jesus. That’s where I need to find my security and purpose. I spent some time contemplating these verses in Luke. I wrote this poem to describe how our security can rest safely in Jesus.

I got used to the darkness - isn’t this all there is?

Don’t all people see the same shade of black and grey that I do?

Until the light came.

Kindness, forgiveness, love underserved, a listening ear in a busy world

light comes in - His light.

The Maker of all things good.

I was sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death until light shone in.

His light.

And like a torch - it shines a way forward.

I have a path when before there was only darkness.

A path… dare I say it… can it be real…

A path of peace.

Not shaking - here one minute, gone the next - happiness but real

something truer, something stronger that weathers the worst storms life brings my way,

that kind of peace, real peace

It’s priceless

I want that, I need that,

An unshakable kind of peace.

It’s unworldly - must be from above.

It’s His peace and it’s offered freely.

It’s offered to me.

The day in history in between BC and AD, He came.

He lights up the darkness.

Because of the tender mercy of God, the morning light -

Jesus - the morning light from heaven broke through!

Why?

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.

He came to us.

He broke through the darkness to shine His light on us.

Now my reality is different

Before I only saw in shades of grey - now I see in colour!

Jesus has come!

And He has changed everything

He has changed me.

Now I can say no to fear

No longer I sit in darkness

No longer the shadow of death looms ahead of me.

No longer.

God’s tender mercy - for me, for you, for us - brought Jesus.

And He shines His light of hope and invites me, invites you, to His path of peace.

Yes! Be my guide on Your path of Peace, Jesus.

I follow you.