The Power to See the Light

Reflection

This is the time of year when children are heading back to school. While I’ve never been a teacher myself, I can imagine the challenges that come with it, not just managing the various personalities in a classroom, but also the concern of whether the students will truly understand and succeed in their studies. For educators, there must be a deep sense of satisfaction when they see their efforts paying off, when their lessons reach the hearts and minds of their students.
But even outside of education, we all long to see our labor bear fruit. A lawyer wants to win the case, a contractor wants to build a solid home, and a mother wants her home to be a safe haven for her family. We want to know that our efforts matter, that our work makes a difference.
What happens, though, when it feels like our best efforts don’t succeed? When we don’t see the results we were hoping for? I can imagine that this feeling is something the early church leaders also experienced. They preached the gospel, but many didn’t listen or believe in Jesus. That must have been discouraging. But, as we see in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul assures us that the gospel is not truly hidden, but that those who are perishing are blinded by the god of this world, Satan. Their eyes are covered, preventing them from seeing the glorious light of Christ.
It can be discouraging when it feels like others are not receiving the message, but we must remember that it is not our power that opens their eyes. It is God's! He is the one who reveals the truth, the light of the gospel, to those who are blind to it. We may not always see the immediate fruit of our labor, but that does not mean the seeds we’ve sown are in vain.
Take heart, believer. God’s power is at work, even when we cannot see it. He is the one who opens hearts and minds to the truth of Christ. It is by His power that the light shines into the darkness, and His work is never in vain.