Janell Kremer

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Current Episode

You Are the Light of the World

Rediscovering Your Identity and Assignment in Christ

What does it really mean that we are the light of the world?

It’s a phrase many of us have heard countless times, especially if we’ve grown up in the Church. But sometimes familiarity can cause us to miss the weight of what’s being said. This is not just a comforting idea or poetic language. It is identity. It is calling. It is a holy assignment.

Scripture tells us, “Once you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” That means we are not just people who carry light—we have become light through our union with Him. So if that’s true, we have to slow down and ask: what is this light, and how are we meant to live it out?

To understand light, we have to go back to the very beginning.

In Genesis, the world wasn’t just dark—it was formless and chaotic. And when God moved, He didn’t first speak peace into the chaos. He spoke light. “Let there be light.” That moment was more than illumination—it was the beginning of order. Light was the turning point where chaos began to bow to God’s authority.

We see a clear pattern unfold in creation:

• The Spirit of God hovered
• God spoke
• Light appeared
• Light was separated from darkness
• Light was named

Light, from the very beginning, was never just about brightness. It was about order being established where there was none.

Thousands of years later, the world once again found itself in darkness—this time not physical, but spiritual. And once again, the Spirit of God hovered, this time over the womb of Mary. God spoke, and light entered the world as a person: Jesus Christ.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated what light does. He didn’t avoid darkness—He confronted it. He drove out demons, healed diseases, and revealed truth. Everywhere He went, light brought transformation. But what is even more remarkable is that He did not keep that identity to Himself. He said, “I am the light of the world,” and then turned to His followers and said, “You are the light of the world.”

The same light that spoke into chaos in Genesis now lives within you.

That truth changes everything.

But this is where many people miss it. We tend to treat light as something passive, something we quietly carry without expression. But light was never meant to be hidden. The Hebrew word for light, ohr, carries a much deeper meaning—it speaks of order being established in the midst of chaos.

So when Scripture says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,” this is not a gentle encouragement. It is a commissioning.

You are being called to step into places of disorder and release the order of Heaven. To walk into confusion and bring clarity. To enter brokenness and establish truth. Light is not meant to retreat from darkness—it is meant to transform it.

This is especially important in a world where darkness feels increasingly visible. Scripture does not ignore this reality. It tells us that deep darkness will cover the earth. We can see that all around us. But that is not where our focus is meant to stay.

“The Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen through you.”

The story does not end with darkness. It continues with you carrying light.

And this light within you—it is not your effort, your goodness, or your ability. It is Christ Himself. His life-giving light reveals, transforms, heals, directs, and redeems. It reaches into the hidden places of our hearts and replaces lies with truth.

Even Job, in the midst of his suffering, longed for this kind of light. He waited for it, but instead experienced darkness and confusion. He knew of God, but had not yet encountered the fullness of Christ as light in the darkness. And many today are in that same place—knowing about God, yet still walking in shadows.

But we don’t have to live that way.

Maybe you feel like you’re in a dark season right now. Like you’re walking through a valley, unable to see the light because of what surrounds you. But here is something to consider: shadows cannot exist without a light source. If you can see a shadow, it means light is somewhere nearby. It may be behind you. It may be hidden from your current perspective. But it is there.

Sometimes all you need to do is turn around.

This truth became personal for me one night when I woke up at 4:21 and felt led to read Mark 4:21: “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket… is it not to be placed on a lampstand?” As I sat with those words, I began to picture the kind of lamp Jesus was describing—a simple oil lamp, intentionally placed high so its light could fill the room.

No one lights a lamp just to hide it.

And yet, we often do.

We hide it out of fear.
We hide it out of comfort.
We hide it out of distraction.

But when we do, we step outside of our purpose. Because the light within us was never meant to stay contained—it was meant to reach others.

There’s a powerful truth often attributed to Charles Spurgeon: the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians. That means your life is meant to be a visible expression of the truth you carry.

So it’s worth asking: where have you tucked His light away? Where have you chosen silence when He was inviting you to speak? Where have you hidden when He was calling you to be seen?

This isn’t about striving or performance. It’s about surrender. It’s about returning to the source—the Holy Spirit—and allowing Him to fuel the light within you. Because in a world that feels increasingly dark, we are not called to shrink back. We are called to stay on mission.

From the very beginning, God has revealed Himself through light—from creation, to Jesus, and now through you. This is your assignment. Your home, your workplace, your neighborhood—these are your mission fields. You don’t need perfect circumstances or all the answers. You simply need to show up with the light of Christ within you.

Every act of obedience, every word of truth, every moment of courage becomes a declaration: Let there be light.

And this is not a one-time decision. It is a lifestyle. As God exposes areas of darkness in your heart, you respond with repentance, renounce the lies, and replace them with His truth. This is how your lamp burns brighter. This is how His light shines through you.

You are not just someone who believes in the light.

You are a light-bearer.

This is the core of who you are. You have been taken out of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of light. Your identity has changed. Your purpose has been transformed.

So let’s declare it together:

“The light of the world lives in me, and the darkness cannot overcome it.”

Now go and live like it.

Place your lamp on the stand.
Shine boldly.
And let your life reveal Jesus.

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Discovering the Hebrew Months Newsletter

Understanding the Times and Seasons

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Now My Eyes See You

When pain becomes an invitation to encounter God face-to-face

If this episode has stirred something in you, Janell invites you to go deeper with her. Explore her devotional Now My Eyes See You. In it, she shares how suffering, though disorienting, can become the place where we encounter God’s redeeming presence. Like Job, we are not alone in the ashes. Jesus steps in and leads us into healing. The devotional is available on Amazon in all formats. And Janell has a free Bible study to accompany it, link is below.

Download the pdf notes and all seven videos. You can use it forever! Whether you have questions about suffering, this resource will help. If you know of people in your life that do, this resource will be a rich and meaningful addition to your faith toolbox.

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