A Prayer against Shying Back and Hiding Your Light
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 NIV
Scripture clearly teaches that we are to shine our light before others. When our light shines, God is glorified. That’s how it is supposed to work, anyway… But why does my reality often feel far different than God’s truth? Why does it feel like when I shine, people hate it?
- I release my teaching gift; they get jealous.
- I tell a testimony of God’s goodness; it appears that I am showing off.
- I go all out in my gifting; eyes glare and rarely cheer God.
- I stand strong in how God made me; I am seen as self-centered.
- I release a testimony of God’s goodness in my life; it appears I am boasting.
It is hard to shine bright when people don’t think it looks humble. It is hard to go big for God, when you have been repeatedly taught to stay small, go low, and to stay in the hidden place. The judgment feels tangible; it crawls up one’s arm.
Ever been there? Have you ever felt that tangible feeling of a person’s presumptions on you? Have you ever wanted to share things of God yet held back out of the fear of man? Have you ever wanted to step out in a big way yet remained hidden because you didn’t want to be called “too big for your britches”? Only when we cast off man’s judgment will we ever obey God’s Word to shine bright!
Let’s dig deeper…
I can’t help but notice that there are two parts to Matthew 5:16:
- “Let your light shine before others.”
- “That they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In dividing these verses in to two parts, we can find freedom. Notice that we have a role, and others do too. Our sole role, in part number one, is to: “let our light shine before others.” That part is a command given solely to us. In the same way, part two belongs entirely and solely to others. The hearers of our testimony, the seers of our light, are entirely and solely responsible for noticing and recognizing the good deed and for glorifying God. This part is their business, not ours.
We cannot force them to do it, and we are not responsible for their actions. This scriptural calling is for them (or for us when others shine brightly). What does this mean for us as we shine? Just because others aren’t doing their part doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do ours. We must still shine! This is freeing. Why? Other people’s sins should not block our obedience to God. We should still proclaim His Word if our gift is teaching. We should still set our tables beautifully if our gift is hospitality. We should still tell His truth if we are teachers. We should still tell that testimony if He showed up in an awe-inspiring way. We should still be bold in our personality if that is how He made us.
In this, we personally take responsibility to guard our hearts against pride, self-absorption, and wrong motives; it is not the hearer’s job to judge us or to set us straight; the hearer’s job is to glorify God. Only when we step out of fear of man will we shine bright God’s testimony. Only when we release the beauty of how God made us will others get the chance to release the glory of God through their praise. Let’s give them the chance to do this. We are responsible to shine; they are called to give God glory. Let’s meet God in doing our part!
Let’s pray:
Father, it is scary to shine my light bright. It feels like I am too much. I am afraid I am taking up too much space. Everything in me tells me that I am making things all about me. But, Father, will you heal these fears? The truth is that I have more fear of man than fear of God. I don’t want to hold back or step back from letting you shine. I want you to get all the glory. I want your story to be made known. I want people to be encouraged by the good things you are doing. In this world that doesn’t see you, let me be like a city on a hill.
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
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Originally published Tuesday, 27 August 2024.
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