The other day I passed a small tree, nestled against a brick wall and dwarfed by taller trees. Because of both of these factors, it had a problem: it couldn’t get any sun. It’s solution? Adapt. And adapt it did. It was now growing almost sideways, working its branches around the bigger trees in an effort to reach sunlight. It knew it needed the light to live, so it was intent on finding a way to reach it.
I, too, know that being in the sun is important to both physical and mental health as it provides valuable vitamin D and increases serotonin levels. These and other attributes of the sun, in turn, reduce heart disease, help prevent diabetes, reduce the risk of MS and some types of cancer, can prevent cavities, and increase our happiness. Many of us already knew some of these benefits and because of that we take advantage of sunny days and being outside.
So why is it some of us don’t, or won’t, transfer this to our spiritual health? Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is our spiritual Son. We often make ourselves emotionally and physically ill because of living in the darkness of unconfessed sin. We feel hiding in the shadows will keep us safe, but it doesn’t. David in Psalm 32:3 speaks to this when he says, “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.”
Like David, sometimes our approach to sin is to take comfort in the darkness, when what we really need to do is reach for the light of the Son and rake in all the life-changing and life-giving benefits He provides.
I, too, know that being in the sun is important to both physical and mental health as it provides valuable vitamin D and increases serotonin levels. These and other attributes of the sun, in turn, reduce heart disease, help prevent diabetes, reduce the risk of MS and some types of cancer, can prevent cavities, and increase our happiness. Many of us already knew some of these benefits and because of that we take advantage of sunny days and being outside.
So why is it some of us don’t, or won’t, transfer this to our spiritual health? Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is our spiritual Son. We often make ourselves emotionally and physically ill because of living in the darkness of unconfessed sin. We feel hiding in the shadows will keep us safe, but it doesn’t. David in Psalm 32:3 speaks to this when he says, “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.”
Like David, sometimes our approach to sin is to take comfort in the darkness, when what we really need to do is reach for the light of the Son and rake in all the life-changing and life-giving benefits He provides.
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