Illuminating

-Andrea Haughian

I haven’t been sleeping well this last while. It could be hormones, the heat, worry… lots of things keep me up, it seems! So when I can’t sleep, I try to pray, and as I prayed, I got the word “illuminating.”

As I prayed and asked the Lord what it meant, I saw this picture of a dim, dark room, and there was an old oil lamp in the middle of the room that was being turned up. As the light grew brighter, I could see everything.

There was a chair lying on its side, clothing scattered on the floor, and some kitchen items like a bowl and spoon nearby. In the dark, these can all feel like hazards or obstacles, things that could trip you up…

As I continued praying, I felt the Lord impressing this on my heart: that He is illuminating the rooms of our hearts so we can see the truth of things.

The objects themselves were never the problem. In the darkness, a chair lying on the floor becomes a tripping hazard, but once it is set upright in the light, it becomes a place of rest. Clothing on the floor is something to stumble over, but worn as it was intended, it provides warmth and covering. A bowl and spoon on the ground seem like clutter, but in their proper place, they become a means of receiving nourishment.

Light changes perspective. We get to see what is true - that through His perspective, we can have hope in every circumstance.

I wonder if God is doing something similar in many of us right now. He is gently shining His light into the rooms of our hearts - our past, our childhood, our present struggles, and even the patterns we haven’t been able to break free from. Not to condemn us, but to reveal what is true, so we can set those things upright.

God’s light doesn’t just expose; it is made to restore. He shows us what He intends to redeem and how He wants to use even the difficult parts of our story for His purposes.

That illumination begins with seeing Him rightly.

As we grow in the understanding of His character - His love, His faithfulness, and His provision - we begin to see everything differently. We can finally sit down and rest, receive, knowing we are deeply loved, fully known, and faithfully cared for.

This reminded me of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Notice that it doesn’t say all things are good. It says God causes all things to work together for good.

I’ve experienced painful things in my own life that God never called good. Some situations weren’t restored the way I hoped. Not everyone apologized. Not every relationship was repaired. But God was faithful in another way - in that He changed me.

He taught me to depend on Jesus more deeply than I ever had before.

I’ve discovered that peace, joy, and the richness of life cannot ultimately be measured by my circumstances or by the actions of other people. They are rooted in the unshakable reality of God’s love for us in Christ. That is what enables us to stand firm through every trial.

Perhaps that is much of the Christian life: a slow, often unseen transformation into the people God is making us to be.

As Paul writes:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

May God continue to illuminate the hidden places of our hearts - not to shame us, but to lead us into truth, freedom, and deeper rest in Him.