Some days I feel the joy of Jesus filling my life. My light burns bright, making a big impact on those around me. Those sweet, productive days leave me feeling like I did good work.

Then, some days leave me feeling less than worthy. My joy feels inadequate. I feel my light is dim and blurred. I think to myself, there’s no way my life is impacting anyone when I feel that way.

I wonder how my dim light could possibly be of any use. Daily, I want my life to reflect all that Jesus has done for me. I desire that my words, actions, and habits cause others to want more of Jesus, too.

A powerful realization came to me today, though, and it encouraged my heart. Even a dim, blurred light brings a welcome glow to the darkness. It is still helpful and useful.

Reading Proverbs 13:9, I felt the sweet spirit embrace my thoughts. I sat in it for a moment and received it. He, the Holy Spirit, softly entered my thinking, revealing an eye-opening and comforting new revelation. I knew it was Him because these were not my thoughts.

Comparison is the thief of joy, and it is a liar. Here I was feeling useless when my joy was lacking. When I have days where my light feels less than super bright, it is actually bright to others. Even still, God uses my less-than-bright light. We never know what someone else is going through. My dim day may be bright to someone else. How twisted of me to think that my bad day is everyone else’s bad day. Some might prefer my bad day to their bad day.

Even on what I would call a dim, blurred day where my joy feels lighter and less than, to someone else they see something helpful and encouraging. They still see joy, faith, and perseverance. How enlightening to know that even on my perceived dim days, my light shines bright to someone else. He is using me. He is using you.

This is human. We are not perfect. Our messy days encourage others because we endure, press on, persist, and overcome. Others see that. He uses that.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out. – Proverbs 13:9 (CSB)