“The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

Everywhere we drive now, homes we step into, stores we browse through are ablaze with lights. Lights adorn bushes; stars shine atop Christmas trees; twinkling lights showcase the gifts we should buy.  Some displays are unspeakably beautiful, made even more so since we know the reason behind all those lights: they herald the coming of Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 9:5). Isaiah prophesied the dawning of this Light seven centuries before Christ was born, a Light which would break upon a people “living in darkness” (Isa.9:2). How right he was. First century Israel is under Roman occupation, and the Jews haven’t heard from God or a prophet for 400 years. Darkness, indeed. 

Puncturing this darkness first will be John, the miracle baby born to aging parents. Elizabeth has endured her own dark times, being barren for decades. And now, what joy breaks upon both of them! From no hope for a child to a child who will herald an even longer-awaited Child, it’s no wonder the temporarily mute Zechariah breaks out of his literally unspeakable joy into poetic praise (vv.68-79).  

There’s a tension here, though, one we, too, are familiar with. On the one hand, Zechariah joyously rehearses all that God is now doing: redeeming His people, bringing salvation, showing mercy, and remembering His covenant (vs.68-72). But reality still presses in: God is now shining, as Isaiah prophesied, “on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death” (v.79, italic added). A joyous birth, almost uncontainable excitement about the coming Messiah, and yet…and yet…dark times still surround the Jewish people. 

But Zechariah also points to a way to live with this tension. He tells us the “rising sun,” Jesus, will “come to us from heaven…to guide our feet into the path of peace” (vs.78-79). Could not a measure of peace come from knowing God walks with us in our dark times? Zechariah and Elizabeth have dark times ahead of them (we know how John’s story ends). We’re all living in shadows, whatever form they take. But we can appropriate the peace of Jesus by knowing He is with us in our sadness: “though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Micah 7:8). It’s okay, normal even, for both sadness and light to mark our days. What Jesus offers is to guide us into His peace as He helps us navigate between the two…. or as He just sits with us when it’s too hard to even move forward. 

It’s so easy for us to dwell on tough times, and holidays can definitely deepen the shadows. Don’t know how to start navigating toward that peace, toward His light? Try what Zechariah did: shine a light on the goodness of God you have seen and praise Him for what you expect Him to do. This might not dispel all your shadows, so then ask Jesus just to sit with you in your difficulty(ies) and guide you into His peace.