Lenny LeBlanc - A Shadow In Your Light Lyrics
Lyrics
Let me be a shadow of Your light
Just a small reflection of a greater love
Let me be a shadow in Your light
That falls on the lost and the lonely
All that I am I lay at the cross
No sacrifice too great a cost
So down on my knees
Lord I ask You please
That falls on the lost and the lonely
Let me be a shadow in Your light
Video
a shadow in your light - Lenny LeBlanc
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on May 10, 2015, as part of his *Above All (Live)* album, Lenny LeBlanc’s "A Shadow In Your Light" is a profoundly moving prayer of surrender and purpose, immediately drawing us into a deep aspiration for Christ-likeness. This isn't merely a song; it is a sincere declaration of intent, a heartfelt offering of self, and an earnest request to be utilized by the Divine. It bypasses any triviality, cutting straight to the essence of Christian discipleship: a desire to diminish so Christ might increase.
The central petition, "Let me be a shadow of Your light, just a small reflection of a greater love," articulates a profound humility. It's not about being the light itself, for Scripture clearly states that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12, John 1:4-5). Instead, the imagery of a shadow is potent: a shadow is cast *by* the light, indicating its presence and direction, yet never overshadowing the source. It is an extension, a consequence, a silent testimony. This echoes the sentiment of John the Baptist, who proclaimed, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). To be a shadow is to be a faithful, albeit humble, witness, reflecting the glorious light of God's love without claiming any of its brilliance for oneself. It calls to mind Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where we are transformed into Christ's image "from glory to glory," reflecting His light.
The purpose of this reflection is immediately clarified: "That falls on the lost and the lonely." Here, the song shifts from personal aspiration to missional intent. The desire to be a shadow isn't for personal comfort or recognition, but for outreach. It is an active prayer for God to use the individual as a conduit of His love and truth to those most in need of it. This directly aligns with the heart of Jesus, who declared His mission to "seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10) and instructed His followers to be "the light of the world," a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, so that their good deeds might cause others to "glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). The call to minister to the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those suffering from isolation is a recurring theme in Scripture, from the commands of James 1:27 to care for orphans and widows, to Christ's teachings about visiting the imprisoned and feeding the hungry in Matthew 25:35-40.
The foundation for this profound request is laid bare in the lines, "All that I am I lay at the cross, no sacrifice too great a cost." This is the ultimate act of surrender, a complete abandonment of self-will and personal ambition at the foot of Calvary. It recognizes that any meaningful reflection of God's light must first begin with a death to self, an emptying that makes room for divine indwelling and purpose. This powerful statement echoes Jesus' call to discipleship in Luke 9:23: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." It resonates with Paul's exhortation in Romans 12:1-2 to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Understanding the immense cost of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our redemption compels a reciprocal offering of our entire being, deeming no personal sacrifice too significant in comparison to the love shown to us.
The concluding plea, "So down on my knees, Lord I ask You please," reinforces the song's nature as an earnest, humble prayer. The posture of kneeling signifies reverence, submission, and desperate dependence on God's grace and power. It acknowledges that such a life of surrendered service and impactful reflection cannot be achieved through human effort alone but requires divine enablement. This act of drawing near to God in prayer aligns with Philippians 4:6-7, which encourages us to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, and James 4:10, which promises that if we "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." "A Shadow In Your Light" is therefore an invitation to embrace a life where one's identity is found not in personal brilliance, but in faithfully casting the light of Christ into the darkest corners of the world, all by the grace and power of God. It stands as an inspiring anthem for any soul longing to live a life wholly devoted to reflecting God's magnificent, redeeming love.