Old lighthouses have always captured my attention. They stand firm against the crashing waves, the driving rain, and the thick fog that hides treacherous rocks from view. Many were built centuries ago, yet they still shine a guiding light for ships trying to find their way to safety. We must be the living lighthouses to help people navigate through the fog, storms and darkness.

We live in a time when the world is shrouded in its own kind of fog—wars, natural disasters, mental health struggles, crime, violence, and deep division. It’s easy to wonder, “What in the world is going on?” Sometimes it feels like darkness and storms are closing in from every direction.

But the Lord is still a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:105). And in these challenging times, God has called us—His people—to be lighthouses. To shine His light so others can navigate through the storms, the confusion, the unexpected detours, and the fear that grips so many.

God Has Not Forgotten You:

“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” (2 Samuel 22:29-31)

Jesus warned in Luke 21:26–28 that men’s hearts would fail them for fear of what’s coming upon the earth. Yet, He also told us, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

We cannot allow ourselves to be “asleep from sorrow” as the disciples were in Luke 22:45—overwhelmed, exhausted, or “drugged” by grief and anxiety. The challenges of this world can be suffocating, but they can also lull us into spiritual slumber. That’s why we must stay alert, anchored in God’s promises.

Three Things We Need in the Fog:

I believe God wants to give us three things that will help us be lighthouses in this hour:

1. Perspective: The storms may be big, but God is bigger. When the spies in Numbers saw the giants, they saw themselves as grasshoppers. But Caleb and Joshua saw from God’s perspective and believed His promises. We need that elevated vantage point—“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

2. Peace: The peace of God is not the absence of storms but the presence of His steadying hand in the middle of them. It’s the stillness in our spirit that comes from knowing He’s the true Captain of the ship.

3. Purpose: Every storm and every season is an opportunity for testimony (Luke 21:13). When we shine in the darkness, we point others toward the safety and hope that can only be found in Jesus.

From Weapons to Harvest Tools:

Micah 4 gives a prophetic picture of laying down our weapons against one another and turning them into tools for harvest. The world doesn’t just need us to condemn the darkness; it needs us to light the way to hope.

Haggai 2 reminds us that even when the shaking comes, God’s glory will fill His house again. That means He is not finished with you, your family, your city, or this generation.

Be the Lighthouse:

Storms and fog will come. But when they do, may people see the light of Christ in you—steady, faithful, unshaken. You may never know how many lives are steered away from danger because you stood firm and shined the way.

The darker the night, the brighter your light can shine. Hold fast to God’s promises. Keep your lamp burning. There are many tossed in the storms, fog, and darkness – and they need your light to shine to help them navigate to find their way.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and bring glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

People need hope. And they’re not going to find that hope if you and I don’t step up and let His light shine in us so they can see what we have is real.

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth; Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity], The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8 Amplified Bible)

By Doug Stringer