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This week for #MusicMonday, Jon covered On the Road to Beautiful by Charlie Hall. On the surface it seems like a random throwback, but this song is dear to our hearts. It was one of the songs Jon played at a coffee shop show the night he proposed in 2005. A song he knew like the back of his hand but would stumble over the words as his nerves got the best of him.

A song that carried us through many of our early seasons together. A song we kind of forgot about until New Year’s Day.

We were home, finishing up our usual traditions, looking forward to a fresh start and renewed hope. Our kids were just getting to bed when … the power went out. What a way to start to 2021. There was nothing to do but sit in the darkness. My husband got his guitar and started strumming. We sat there for a while, room lit by a camping lantern, singing worship songs from the last twenty years. Without internet, he played completely from memory, out of the overflow of his heart.

“On the Road to Beautiful” was such a timely reminder of the Father’s love, and our commitment to following Him – even in pain and darkness.

As I reflect on the last 16 years of walking with God, the only thing more constant than change is Jesus. He’s been my foundation, the One I’ve tried to keep eyes fixed on.

The heart of this blog is to encourage you as you run the race God has marked out for you, as you walk this earth with Jesus, embracing the journey Heavenward.

Our citizenship is in Heaven; our Savior is there (Philippians 3:20). God has planted eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

We’re called to follow Jesus. To act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God. To draw near, to stay close. To learn from His example; to live and love accordingly.

“But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. “God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 (MSG)

I believe God wants us awake. Alive. Aware. So we can walk with Him, our Light. So we can encourage others to walk with Light.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'” – John 8:12 (NLT)

We don’t have to walk in darkness; we have the true Light – Jesus – and He leads us to life.

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT)

There’s not even a hint of darkness in Him, and He’s not afraid of the dark. He meets us in the darkness and He shines bright. He invites us to live in the light with Him.

His light overwhelms the dark; His love drives out the fear found there. He goes with us through the valleys of life, through the shadow-sides of the mountains. Sometimes the darkness is just His shadow, and we can find rest and refuge there (Psalm 91:1).

Psalm 18:28 says, “Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me.” (NET)

I stumbled across Isaiah 50:10-11 this morning and it’s a new favorite: “If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires.” (NLT)

Are you in a season that feels dark and lonely, without a ray of light? Look to God. He is trustworthy in the dark because He is light. He’s reliable because He’s radiant. His faithfulness shines bright, illuminating every page of our story.

We must learn to rely on God more than ourselves. Our self-sufficiency will not outshine His glory; our manmade light is prone to extinguishing. We can only keep warm with our own fire for so long.

But God’s light?

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” – John 1:4-5 (NLT)

Jesus is light, and His life brought us the very light we were craving. Darkness cannot overcome or overwhelm Light.

In Luke 1:78-79, Zechariah prophesied: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (NLT)

You’re on the path of peace, on the road to something so beautiful. Keep going. God is with you, guiding you home. He’s lighting up your pilgrimage with His presence. Keep walking with Him.