lamps and lights

Light has a double property. It warns - when used in a lighthouse, and it attracts - when issuing as a warm glow from a cosy home. 
Light and darkness cannot co-exist as the only property of darkness - the absence of light - is removed when light is revealed.
It is, as the ancient proverb says, better to light a lamp than grumble about the darkness.
In Hebrew scriptures one of the few definitions of the deity is a simple statement that "God is light".
As followers of the light, we are called to be light, interestingly not to bring light. The difference being that light should be linked to our presence rather than our actions and words.
So remember that by simply being with someone, in a hard situation we shed light and just maybe the darkness might seem less enveloping.