Encouragement Devotional: Show Up and Shine

This encouragement devotional - Show up and Shine - is part of our Free Daily Devotionals series.

There is a street light on the street which I live in which is still shining yet it is leaning at an angle of 30 degrees to the ground. 

This street light is shining though it is about to fall and it has taught me the following life lessons:

1. Persist in Fulfilling Your Life Purpose

This street light is persisting in fulfilling its purpose which is to shine and light our street because it is still lighting our paths even though rust is consuming it on one side and gravity weighing it down on the other side.

Therefore persist in fulfilling your life's purpose regardless of the problems trying to consume you or the burdens weighing you down.

To be able to continue working on your God's given assignment even if you are surrounded by problems, you have to decide to believe that All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28) 

2. You must show up and shine

Our street light is still shining as brightly as it can from its unfortunate position even though its wires may be stretched to their maximum tension. 

Therefore do your best regardless of your situation and do not use your uncomfortable circumstances as an excuse for doing a mediocre job for God. 

Do not also put your life on hold because of the problems you are dealing with. Decide to show up every single day and shine as brightly as you can regardless of the problems and people who are trying to bring you down.

Let your light shine before people so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16) even if doubts and fears gnawing at you.

3. Your problems may "enhance" you

The problems that our street light is dealing with have enhanced its effects on the street because now that it lights our street from a different angle, the street and shadows look ethereally different. 

Therefore, do not stop fulfilling your life's purpose because of your problems. Work through the challenges because you cannot tell how they enhance your giftings for instance, by making you more creative.

In addition, I had also never noticed this street light before it begun to have these problems with rust and gravity. Its problems have made it "different" and this difference is what has made me notice it and write this blog post to encourage you.

So continue fulfilling your purpose even when times are tough for the rough times may refine you just as coal is refined into a diamond by heat and pressure.

4. God can still use you

The company that manages our street lights has not switched it off and it is still using it to light our street.

Therefore understand that even when you are facing problems God can still use you for We are all God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) 

So do not switch yourself off and stop serving God because of the problems you are dealing with.