Salt and Light of the World

Posting this here because I'm a newbie to CC and I have no idea where else to post this!!



Matthew 5:13-16
Sometimes it’s hard to be the salt and light of this world that God has called us to be, especially when we feel like the world is pressing in on us, or when the weight of life feels heavy and hard to bear. I understand these experiences and can relate to them on very real and personal levels. To be Christian (or a believer and follower of Jesus Christ) doesn’t mean that we are expected to always feel as though we are overflowing with Peace and Joy. Yes, we have God’s Peace and Joy in us, but sometimes it doesn’t always feel that way. In fact, God’s very Word in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, says that there are times/ seasons for everything—including times for feeling sad—and not only that, but we can also see all throughout Job and the Psalms, the despair faced by God’s beloved. I’m not suggesting that we stay in these hard and heavy places, but what I am saying is that we should be careful not to shame ourselves, beat ourselves down, or wallow in guilt for having very natural and real emotions and reactions to tough times in life. Sometimes, as Christians, we can be so hard on ourselves, for not always feeling ‘great’ or ‘joyful,’ because somewhere we’ve gotten the message that being sad or feeling heavy is a sin, and a direct reflection of our supposed “lack of faith/ trust in God,”—BUT THAT’S NOT IT AT ALL!! We may very well just be feeling sad because we’ve lost someone we loved, or righteously angry because of the injustices we see, stressed because we’ve lost our job or because we’re worried about our children’s well-being, or lonely because we’ve been isolated from friends and family. These feelings are real, they’re natural, they’re expected, and they’re OK! Once we’ve acknowledged these states of being, then the next step is for us to take these discomforts to God and ask Him for healing, guidance, wisdom, strategy, comfort, etc. God is our one and True Healer. Sometimes God will breathe these blessings of healing in our lives from His throne, and other times, He will bring this healing through the words, presence, and testimony of others. Only through Him will we find respite for our souls, and the revival and refreshing we desperately need. That is how we get through to the other side, and that is how we press on, persevere, and continue to be the salt and light of this world that we’ve been called to be.



I’m so grateful for this space/ forum. I’m a newbie here, and already this community has been a great place of comfort and fellowship.



Sincerely,

~ Light_House




Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”