Watching my four children decorate our Christmas tree is both entertaining and exasperating. Half a dozen ornaments bundle together on a single branch while an entire side of the tree remains bare. I watch with bated breath, restraining myself from lending my stylistic recommendations, as I try to remember that their joy matters more than symmetry. Each ornament held in their tiny hands carries its own memory. Even before the lights are plugged in, you can feel the warmth beginning to build in the space —a subtle reminder that soon, the dark corners of the room will be saturated in a gentle, glowing light. 

A favorite rhythm of my Christmas season are the few precious minutes in the early morning hours when I walk to the living room while the world outside is still muted. As I turn the tree lights on, they scatter warmth to every shadowed corner. It is a quiet reminder of a deeper reality that God often chooses the darkest spaces to reveal His most radiant work. It’s a small foretaste of the wonder Christmas brings, a reminder that light can appear even in the midst of darkness, filling the space with warmth and hope.

We see proof of this from the very first words of Scripture, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3, NIV). At Christmas, we remember that the world was deep in shadow: centuries of silence from the prophets, Roman oppression, hearts heavy with waiting. Yet into that long night, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2a, NIV).

The birth of Jesus wasn’t in a palace or under a blazing spotlight. It was in a quiet stable in Bethlehem while the rest of the world slept. God’s rescue plan began slightly hidden, in a feeding trough turned crib. Could it be that the Savior arrived in the middle of night on purpose? It may be that our Great Light appeared at the darkest moment to show us that He is both present and powerful in our own darkest spaces.

Maybe this Christmas season finds you in a season that feels dull, with questions and anxieties that just won’t lift. The temptation is to believe God is distant when life is dark, but the Christmas story tells a different truth. The darker the night, the more dazzling His light becomes! The quiet glow of a Christmas tree is just a whisper of the reality that Christ brings. He not only decorates the darkness, but transforms it. One day, His light will banish darkness forever. Until then, may every light that twinkles on the branches remind you that God does some of His best work in the dark.

Dig Deeper

Take a moment tonight. Turn off the lamps. Let the tree lights glow. As you watch them chase back the shadows, remember that Jesus is the true Light who “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5, NIV). His presence is not threatened by your pain. It’s revealed in it.

A Prayer for Hope

We come before You with hearts wide open, waiting for your presence to fill our lives. Even in the quiet shadows, we know that You are at work, bringing light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair. We wait for You with anticipation, God, holding onto the promise of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Let our faith not falter in the night, but shine brightly, confident that You are always faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Readings

This article was originally titled “The Great Light” in the December 2025 issue of Peer.