“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah‬ ‭9:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is one of my favorite verses in the Isaiah prophecy, foretelling Jesus’ birth.

Light is so powerful. Especially when the days are dark. In Toronto, November was an extraordinarily gloomy month. The days were grey and dull. There wasn’t a tonne of rain, but the clouds hung low and were ever present. There were some clear skies, but they mostly happened at night, after the sun had set.

And it seemed like everyone felt in in their bones. There seemed to be fewer smiles, less energy among the people of the city. For myself, I know I walked less, struggled to get my exercise. I mostly wanted to nap. Dark, damp days affect me that way.

We were not made to live in darkness. We were made for the light.

And so, when today dawned bright and fair, the sun shining from the morning until it set in the late afternoon, it felt like reprieve. It felt like blessing. It felt like hope.

It is no mistake that Jesus is called the light of the world. It is no mistake that Isaiah wrote these words about the Messiah, long before Jesus was born.

Jesus is our blessing. He is our hope. He is the light that shines upon our world.

(I hope, if the sun shone brightly where you live, you joined me in a quiet, whispered, “The Lord has done this for me.” And may you enjoy these photos I took while breathing in the last light of this beautiful day!)