As I was sitting around the breakfast table last Sunday morning, I opened our family’s Advent devotional to a passage that felt freshly written for our moment:
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
All through Scripture, the coming King is pictured as radiant hope – light breaking through the darkness:
- “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” – Isaiah 9:2
- “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1
- “By the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall visit us, to give light to those who sit in darkness.” – Luke 1:78-79
- Simeon’s song over the infant Jesus: “A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” – Luke 2:32
- Jesus’ own promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” – John 8:12
All of these verses remind me of how the children of Israel must have felt – waiting eagerly and desperately for the Messiah, crying out for deliverance. Their longing is captured so beautifully in the ancient Advent prayer we still sing today: “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel… disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.”
That prayer is not merely ancient history; it remains the cry of God’s people in every age, including ours. In a year when our legislature advanced bills that obscure and undermine God’s design for life and family, the promise of God’s light has felt especially precious.
And yet Christmas answers the longing of Advent with astonishing clarity. As Charles Wesley wrote, “Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings.”
In Jesus Christ, the light has not merely flickered – it has arrived, full and radiant!
Where the Glow Was Visible in 2025
This year, my team and I have seen that light shining across California in ways both quiet and profound. Through your prayers and partnership:
- A movement grew. What began as a COVID-canceled dream in 2020 grew into over 2,000 men, women, and children – from newborns in strollers to 80-year-old pioneers – gathered on the Capitol steps for the 2025 California March for Life, declaring that life is sacred.
- Young women found their courage. Dozens of female athletes who should have been celebrating scholarships instead stood at press conferences and filed lawsuits, refusing to let their sports be stolen from them. Through our XXonly.org campaign, over 20,000 Californians added their voices to the fight!
- The Church awakened. Pastors and ministry leaders joined us at the Capitol for the National Day of Prayer, stood with ex-LGBT individuals from the CHANGED Movement at our press conference responding to “Pride Month,” and mobilized their congregations to engage the culture with both truth and grace.
- Isolated parents discovered a community. Through legislative battles, school board fights, and coalition-building efforts, moms and dads learned they weren’t alone in their stand for truth. We even saw the U.S. Department of Education launch investigations, while the Department of Justice rebuked California’s unjust policies. Victory is possible when we stand together.
Each changed life is another lantern set on a hill. Or as we sing at Christmas, “Light and life to all He brings.”
Shining Brightly in 2026
On December 31, the calendar will flip, but our great commission will not change. As Paul told the Corinthians, we are called to “Let light shine out of darkness,” especially here in California! Christ still calls His Church to proclaim Him, serve our neighbors, and let His brilliance spill out through ordinary clay jars like us (2 Corinthians 4:5-10).
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior next week, would you join me in three simple Advent prayers?
- That His Church in California would reflect Jesus more brightly than ever.
- That the Capitol outreaches would be strengthened with both conviction and compassion.
- That our Culture would glimpse the beauty of the gospel through countless everyday disciples.
If the Lord nudges you to include California Family Council in your year-end generosity, we will steward that gift with gratitude and care. It is a privilege to labor together so that Christ’s light continues to shine in places where darkness often feels overwhelming.
But above all, please keep shining right where God has placed you. Your “partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5) means more than you know.
May the Light that dawned in Bethlehem warm your home and brighten every step into the new year.
