Would you consider yourself more of a naturally positive person or negative person? Is it generally pretty easy for you to find the good or does it take extra effort for you to sift through the negative first? I have found that the majority of my life, I have been a naturally positive person. It seems that in many cases, being naturally positive is most common. However, this doesn’t mean that those who are naturally negative are doing it wrong.
Lately, I have felt more and more drawn to thinking more negatively than I usually do. This world, particularly most recently, has been pretty bleak in several different ways. It truly has been hard for me personally to see the good. I have really had to challenge myself to find and believe in the good that is still very apparent in the world.
With that said, lately I have wanted to be more of a light within my community. I by no means have all of the answers, but I have felt the Lord encouraging me and placing on my heart that I need to use my voice and be a light. The past couple of years, I have wondered how exactly I would accomplish that. I have many friends and I am involved in my Church, but I felt like God was leading me to reach more people.
In my mind, this only left social media as my platform. I can’t tell you how much I have resisted it because it means that I have to put myself out there. I have to open myself up to judgment and insecurity, which does not entice me by any stretch of the word. Yet, I keep feeling this tug. I want to be a light.
I think many people think that they need to have a big platform of some kind, whether that be on social media or having an important position either at Church or at work, etc. I am here to tell you that this is not the case. In fact, using whatever platform and resources you have readily available, is more than enough. It doesn’t matter who you are in the worlds eyes, it only matters that in God’s eyes, you are His child. He sees you as His Light in this world. Jesus was here for a time, but now we, together as His children, get to take on the honor of being a light.
Mathew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” (ESV) Let us relish in the fact that we are fully capable of honoring the Lord by letting His light shine. We honor Him when we do so. Even the simplest ways such as smiling at someone, showing a new coworker some grace, paying for the dinner of an elderly couple, or mowing the lawn for the person who works 3 jobs. Whatever you can do to be the light in someone’s gray and hectic world, I encourage you to do so.
Not only does it please the Lord and those you are helping, but it will please you as well. Seeing the light spread is infectious and exciting. You cannot help but see how wondrous are the ways of our Almighty God. He will reward you because of your genuine willingness to seek out ways of revealing His love and light to the world. He will show you the kindness you showed to His other children, whom are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now as I embark on expanding my platform in effort of being a better light, I challenge you to find ways that you can use your platform, whatever it may be, to take what has been on your heart and make it happen. Let the Lord’s words move you and please embrace it. I personally know what it is like to fight what you feel you should be doing rather than listen to what God is telling you. Let the control go and see how amazing God’s hand will be in your life. Go! Go boldly into the world because you are a light! 🙂
Gracie James 