February 4, 2026 Devo

I was reading a really interesting article today about the impact of the war in Ukraine. One fascinating story was from a hospital that was having to learn how to operate with the impact of the war going on all around them. One day, in the middle of a surgery, the power went out, and the operating room was plunged into darkness. The surgeon told everyone to remain still and pull out their cell phones. He then asked them to turn on their cellphone lights and point them toward the point of surgery on the patient. Then he said, “Keep calm and carry on.”
The last couple of days, we’ve been unpacking this verse from Isaiah that points to the coming of Jesus, who was the “Light of the World.” But Jesus was only on the earth for a short while. Where does the world see His Light now? The answer? From US! In Matthew 5, Jesus said, “YOU are the light of the world.” He had spent 3 years pouring Himself into His Disciples. Knowing that He would one day leave and go back to the Father, He wanted to make sure we understood our role. “Keep calm and shine on.” Though we will never shine as brilliantly or perfectly as He did, our job is to allow His Spirit to shine through us, bringing hope and help to those who are walking in dark places.
What an incredible responsibility and yet, what an awesome opportunity! When we see someone who is walking in the darkness of loneliness, we get to shine the light of the Lord’s friendship upon them. When we see someone grieving from a loss that has shattered their world, we get to shine the light of God’s comfort by coming alongside them. When we see someone struggling, we get to be His light by sharing words of encouragement. When we see someone hurting, we get to touch them with the light of His Love and bring healing to their lives. And when we see someone who is lost, we get to be the light of His Grace and Hope.
Yes, we’ll never shine like Jesus. But we can be His Light in all the dark places of this world where we find ourselves. Carry this thought with you this week. And when you find yourself somewhere where the light has gone out, don’t panic, don’t curse it, and don’t walk away. Pray that Jesus will allow His Light to shine through you. God has prepared you for this blackout moment. So, keep calm and shine on. That’s God’s Word for you today.