A Light in the Dark

Have you ever experienced a difficult time in your life? One where the situation gets progressively more difficult, not better? Maybe you are there right now. As the waves of disappointment and unmet expectations roll in, how do you stop from giving up hope, from sliding into darkness?

Is it even possible? Yes!

When we lose our footing, if we slide on a wet floor, we instinctively reach out for something to save us: something to stop our fall. When we feel like our world is shifting because of circumstances out of our control we reach out for stability.

The stability of who or what we reach for can drastically affect where we end up. In the case of the slippery floor, we can end up astonished, smiling and standing upright. During life’s hard circumstances we can end up feeling peaceful and more optimistic in our circumstances.

The key is reaching out and clinging to the right things.

As I tried to make sense of my mother’s death, as a young mom myself, I reached out to diversions that were not secure. Eating, watching TV and diving into new projects left me exhausted and overweight. My descent into depression was neither slowed nor stopped.

I also reached out to friends who reinforced to me how dark things were. How unfair the situation was. Their words were gratifying at the time. But soon after our conversations concluded emptiness and hopelessness consumed me. Have you had that experience?

We all have times of challenges in our lives; difficult times. Slowly, as I navigated through life I learned strategies that help me walk through and ultimately out of dark times.

I learned to reach out to friends who help me stand.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

These are friends who are well rooted in faith; who know Jesus and the Bible well. They not only keep me standing but keep me focused on Him. They are compassionate and patient.

They pray for me and with me.

They don’t have to live close-by. It is not their physical presence, but their message of truth that is critical. I am not abandoned. I am not forgotten. I am loved by the One who created everything.

A well-timed text or call can be life-giving.

They can make the ground under our feet feel more stable, even though our circumstances don’t change. I re-read the texts, replay the words when I am alone. Yes, at times, I cling to them.

How would this work for you? Can you think of someone to reach out to? If you don’t have a friend you can talk to, you can pray for that support. I have.

But, even, more importantly, I learned to reach out to Jesus. I call out to Him in prayer. His love for us is so great that he does not want us to deal with our problems alone.

He wants us to take our worries to Him. He does not get exasperated or impatient.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Prayers do not have to be scripted, or rote, just a heartfelt cry of what you are feeling.

After praying, wait expectantly, knowing that He will answer. Does that sound strange?

What does the answer to prayer look like?

It may not be an immediate change in your situation. In my experience, it often is not. But the answer is always encouraging and peace-giving. The peace that does not make sense in a hard situation.

The kind of peace that is only from Jesus. The peace that is rooted in His love.

Sometimes I find an index card wedged in my Bible. A card that I had copied an encouraging Bible verse during a different time.

Occasionally a song will flood the car or fill the kitchen with just the words that I need to hear. Words that remind me of God’s love, His power or of His sovereignty.

Can you think of a verse or song that has helped you stand a little more securely this week?

I cling to those words and truths as circumstances get less secure.

Clinginess in relationships can be unhealthy but clinging to Jesus and words of Truth can be life-changing.

Be encouraged, your circumstances may seem insurmountable, but you have a God who wants you to reach for Him. A powerful God who loves you and who will hear your prayers.

With Him, you can walk forward, out of the darkness and turmoil of your situation into His light. His light that breaks through the darkness.

You are not alone.

You are loved.

Photos by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash and Kate Tandy on Unsplash