Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled A Great Light was written by Wyn Collier.

In 2018, 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach descended into a maze-like cave, intending to enjoy an afternoon

adventure. Due to unexpected rising water that forced them deeper and deeper into the cavern,

it was two and a half weeks before rescuers led them out. Dive teams thwarted by rising water

attempted the rescue as the boy sat on a small

rock shelf with only six flickering flashlights.

They spent hours in darkness, hoping that somehow light and help would break through.

The prophet Isaiah described a world of brooding darkness, one overrun by violence

and greed, shattered by rebellion and anguish, nothing but ruin, hopes candle flickering and fading,

sputtering before succumbing to dark nothingness. And yet Isaiah insisted this dim despair was not the end.

Because of God's mercy, soon there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.

God would never abandon his people in shadowy ruin. The prophet announced hope for his people then,

and pointed to the time when Jesus would come to dispel the darkness sin has caused.

Jesus has come, and now we hear Isaiah's words from chapter 9 with renewed meaning.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, Isaiah says.

On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.

No matter how dark the night, no matter how despairing our circumstances, we're never

forsaken in the dark.

Jesus is here.

A great light shines. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading

is from Isaiah chapter 9, verses 1 through 3. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past,

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