THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 20TH SEPTEMBER 2025, SATURDAY MESSAGE
Needing the Light
Jill Collins Spencer (North Carolina, USA)
Today’s Reading
Matthew 5:14-16
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16 (NRSVUE)
My infertility journey was an incredibly long and lonely time. Friends and co-workers were all having babies seemingly on demand. Even those that needed medical assistance were able to conceive, but I wasn’t. My mom cared, but she had three children so I never felt like she could relate to my pain. I tried a Christian support group, but the leader had four children. There was no way she understood my struggles. I looked to books, including the Bible, but all were full of stories of women who struggled with infertility, held on to faith, and eventually had children. I longed for a light to let me know I wasn’t alone.
A complete hysterectomy in my early forties forced me to realize I would never have a baby. I felt like a failure, and I was grieving. Then one week my adult Sunday school class had a lesson teaching us that God sent us to be the light. This made a big impression on me. I was already volunteering in the community, but the lesson reminded me that others struggle with their own darkness. I tried remembering all the blessings I did have. I looked for ways to shine light for others. On tough days I still grieve and wonder why I wasn’t given children, but I count my blessings and look for someone who can benefit from a little light from me.
Today’s Prayer
Loving God, give us strength to handle loss and to look for others needing your light. Amen.
Thought for the Day
God will show me someone who needs my light today.
Prayer Focus
Those experiencing infertility
The Upper Room Devotional 20th September 2025 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More