The Guiding Light: It’s Not A Soap Opera
I remember watching soap operas when I was a child. The one I watched was General Hospital. The show was probably way too adult for me to watch, but I loved watching it so that I could talk with my older cousin about it. Back then, we wrote letters—those things that you spend hours writing and then wait for days for one to come in the mail. My cousin was much older than me, and I realize now that she was just being nice to me, but that is such a fantastic memory of my childhood.
I was talking to my husband one day about my memories, and he laughed because he had a similar story. For him, it was his grandmother that he remembered her also loving General Hospital. He said that no matter what they were doing, everything had to be scheduled around the time that the show came on.
There were a few other soap operas around that time. I seem to remember The Young and the Restless and The Guiding Light being two popular shows. Why I went down the rabbit hole thinking about these shows is beyond me. All I know is I spent way more time than I should have looking up characters and dates.
Later that night, I was in bed trying to go to sleep, but my brain wouldn’t shut down. I couldn’t actually remember much about the soap operas, but my brain kept trying. Finally, I fell asleep, but my mind kept churning, but with a twist.
The Guiding Light was in my dream, but not the show. Instead, it was a bright light that appeared in my dream and showed me the path I was on. It was dark, so the light was the only way I could see where I was going, but I could only see a little at a time.
I felt like I was in a maze because I would walk so far and come to a T where I had to choose which way to go. The light didn’t show me the way I should go; I had to make the choice. There were times when I would go in a direction, and the light would stay behind and not come with me. If I turned around and went back in the other direction, the light would shine on the path.
I woke up before I actually reached the end of the maze, so I have no idea would have ended up. As I thought about the dream, I started thinking about how the maze was a lot like life. There are so many times when we are at a crossroads, and we have to choose which way we need to go.
Most of the time, we have an idea of where we want to go, so we choose the path we think will get us to our destination the quickest. Like my dream, I’ve had to backtrack a few times because I chose the wrong path. Where was my guiding light? Did it stay behind because I chose the wrong direction? Maybe it was there, but I couldn’t see it.
John 8:12 NIV
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 1:5-7 NIV
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
The light is always there, but I have to seek it. There might be times when the light is easy to see, and I follow it, even if I’m not sure where it is taking me. Other times, I can’t see even the tiniest hint of light, but I know it is still there; I’m just not where I need to be to see it. I could stand still and do nothing, or I could slowly keep going. During those times, it takes faith to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
Psalms 27:1 NIV
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
No matter how dark it looks, remember that the Lord is LIGHT! He is our SALVATION! In Him, we have no reason to fear, and putting one foot in front of the other should be easy. He is always there for us, even if that means waiting patiently for us to realize we took the wrong path before heading back to Him.
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Thank you for this devotion which reminds me that God is always there with me. Even if I make a mistake he will wait for me to come back to the light. Even in times of trial or sorrow Good is there, always there.
I love this imagery. It is so true. Thank you for sharing this!
What a beautiful post and exactly what I needed to read today!
Thank you for sharing the memories and the scriptural relationship.
Dark Shadows, Ryan’s Hope, and The Edge of Night. how anything ever got done us still a mystery!
Thank you for sharing this post.
I still watch General Hospital.
Now I’m going around the house singing This Little Light of Mine, lol, even though it pertains to a different verse. I love it.
😊❤️
Have a wonderful week!
Thank you for your message today Tania. We lost our only son just a few weeks ago and I am trying to very slowly push myself to move forward. Your words are always encouraging.
I am so sorry, Mary Carol! I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child. Give yourself grace and time to grieve. I’ll be saying a prayer for you and your family tonight.
Oh Tania,
I think this is your best devotion by far!!! This really speaks to my heart. Thank you for sharing God’s word with us!
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I’m so glad you liked today’s post!
God Bless you also Tania. 🙏
Your Sunday posts are so good that you should start a side hustle of writing sermons!!
That is too funny! I might starve if I did that.
Love your message today!
Wonderful post!
GREAT message. My Mom taught me…”If you don’t know what to do, do nothing”.
It always works out as God leads us.
We used to sing a song at church called “The Lighthouse”. It was a beautiful song about Jesus being our light!
I’m thankful for you and the light you share with others! God is so good!
Thank you so much for this message today. I am in a transition and I am very thankful that the Lord is my guiding light.
All through our Life’s journeys we seek that pathway. I prayerfully absorb that feeling of comforted guidance and reap God’s Blessings. HE IS our shining light! Happy Sunday, Happy St Patrick’s Day, Tania!
wonderful verses. I remember my mom watching general hospital too
My Grandmother would plan her day around General Hospital. I miss those days. thank you for such a a great post!
Love your Sunday posts Tania! Sometimes we aren’t where we need to be to see the light… beautifully stated.
Wow! How beautiful! It’s so true; we all wander away from the light at some point during our lives but The Light brings us back! God is so good to all of us!
Thank you for sharing this message! It is the encouragement I need as my family is moving forward in several uncertain situations. I will keep this analogy front of mind to ensure we stay on or return to the right path.
Great post!
what a wonderful post. God bless you.
what a wonderful post. God bless you.
Thank you, Tania! I’m wishing you and Joe a blessed day.
Thank you for always inspiring us, a meaningful post.
On a lighter note, I also watched General Hospital at too young an age. I very clearly remember , after one episode, asking my grandmother what a hysterectomy was. She freaked out, lol. Funny the memories that are so vivid.
Have a blessed day.
Lol! That is too funny!
Beautifully said!!! Your Sunday posts are my favorite🙏❤🙏
Wonderful post. I look forward to reading them every Sunday.
God Bless.
PS. I remember General Hospital 😊
Love reading your Sunday messages. Thank You ! 🙏🥰
Just love that you incorporate Scripture. So forgotten and left by the wayside by many today.
Thanks for always making “over 50” the new “over 30”.. We don’t have to look frumpy and never wear makeup again or just give in to it. Love this channel. So happy I found you
So good!
So Thankful that God is our Light and turns me around when I choose the wrong way! Wonderful post!
Thank you for all your encouragement. I always look forward to your Sunday posts.
A very meaningful message.
Great post. I liked soap operas too when I was a teenager. I liked Days of Our Lives and the Doctors. Once I started working I didn’t watch them anymore and don’t care to now. If they had adult topics back then can you imagine now.
There is something about the way you write that I read it even when I don’t intend to. The subject is short, simple, succinct. You get right to it so it often draws me in. I wanted you to know I appreciate your little doses of encouragement.
Deb, I appreciate that. I’m not a writer, so that might be why it is so short and simple. Lol!
Thank you for this lovely devotion. I love that you share your faith. To God be the glory!
A beautiful Easter message this morning. I have had to backtrack in my maze more times than you can imagine.
God leads the way always, you just need to follow him.
Happy Easter everyone!!
A beautiful analogy of the Lord’s light.
This post brought back memories of my Mom watching her soap operas too!
Beautifully said❤️
Great message! The one I liked was Another World.
And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear not be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Perfect verse! Thanks for including it.
Thank you, Tanya.
Wow that brought me back! I remember those shows so well and how they truly did guide some peoples daily schedules. My husband and I are going through a season of change and uncertainty with the loss of my job. I have been leaning more and more on God for his guiding light. Praise God that he never leaves me!
Jennifer, I hate going through times like the loss of your job. It is scary, and so many changes will occur. Just remember, things like this can turn out to be your biggest blessing, so keep looking for the rainbow.
Very true! Thanks for sharing your inspiring message!
Our God is long suffering, patient and merciful as HE deals with HIS children as HE guides us. I can look back at my life and see HIS guiding hand.
Thank you for always bringing to the forefront our lives and God’s timing and His words.
Great message!