In him was life,
and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4–5

When I was still in junior high, there was a sad song that talked about Christmas that came on the radio. As a piano softly and achingly hinted at the melody for Jingle Bells, Joni Mitchell sang:

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

The reason for the sadness in Joni’s song was a relationship that had ended. She would go on to acknowledge her part in the breakup.

I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

The Christmas season, with its promises of joy and peace, is actually, for many, a sad and dark time of year.

Through the years, at our church, we have made it a practice to light advent candles in our worship service each week as we prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

When we light a candle, we’re saying that we live in a dark world. We’re also owning up to the fact that our own hearts and minds are darkened. That our selfishness drives other people away. We’re acknowledging that we need light in our darkness.

The advent candles are there to remind us that light is coming. They point us to the one who can banish the darkness in our world and in our hearts.

In recent years, another song has been released that offers an invitation for everyone to find light in our dark world.

O come, all you unfaithful
Come, weak and unstable
Come, know you are not alone

O come, barren and waiting ones
Weary of praying, come
See what your God has done

O come, bitter and broken
Come with fears unspoken
Come, taste of His perfect love

O come, guilty and hiding ones
There is no need to run
See what your God has done

Christ is born, Christ is born
Christ is born for you

Prayer: Lord, I need you to be the light in my darkness.




River. Music and words by Joni Mithell © BMG Rights Management, DistroKid, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management Inc, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

O Come, All You Unfaithful. Music and words by Bob Kauflin and Lisa Clow © 2020 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. worldwide by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.