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Sierra sat propped up in her bed, her room shrouded in the dim, gray light of early morning. The laptop screen cast a cold, blue glow on her face as she scrolled through page after page, searching for a glimmer of hope amidst her sea of despair. Each click felt heavier, as if the weight of her sorrow was pressing her down into the mattress.

It had been 18 long months since her fiancé, Seth, was killed in a fatal car crash. The dreams they had shared, the future she had envisioned, seemed to have died along with him. The weight of grief, anxiety, and depression felt like an anchor, dragging her deeper into a chasm of darkness.

Her eyes were red and swollen from countless nights of tears, and her heart felt like it was wrapped in layers of lead. With a heavy sigh, she continued her search for something—anything—that might bring her comfort. Just as she was about to close her laptop in defeat, her weary eyes stumbled upon a blog titled Light in the Shadows. Desperation drove her to click the link, hoping that perhaps, just maybe, this time something would speak to her aching heart.

 

Through blurred vision, Sierra read a poem titled A Hope for Tomorrow:

 

A Hope for Tomorrow

Black clouds of uncertainty
leave you no hope;
as you stumble and fall
down a discouraging slope.

Into your valley of
lonely despair,
Jesus is asking you
to meet Him right there.

He’ll raise out from your valley
restoring lost hope,
giving you strength as
you learn to cope.

He is your light of hope
in all of the pain;
joy comes in the morning
so you can dance in the rain.

He knows your sorrows
and just how you feel,
aware you are hurting
and wants you to heal.

He heals your broken places
and calms the fears;
be your light of hope for
all of your years.

Let the Lord radiate your path
for today and tonight,
taking you out of the shadows
and into His light.

Surrender all of your burdens
and broken heart,
Jesus is your comforter
in Him healing will start.

You are wonderfully made
and He loves you,
knowing just when you’re
happy or blue.

One day at a time He’ll help
you to stand,
as you walk in faith toward
all He has planned.

In Him, you have a purpose
and are here for a reason,
the struggles you face
are here for a season.

 

Sierra’s tears began to dry as she absorbed the soothing words of the poem. A flicker of realization sparked within her. It had been too long since she had turned to God, too long since she had sought solace in her faith.

A sense of clarity washed over her—perhaps it was time to reconnect with the faith she had abandoned. Closing the lid on her laptop, she rose from her bed with newfound resolve.

Grabbing her Bible, she opened it up to the first verse she saw. It said:

“You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.”
2 Samuel 22:29 (NIV)

 

Have you ever faced a time when everything seemed to fall apart, and hope felt like a distant dream? What helped you navigate through those moments of darkness? I invite you to share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Your story could be the light of hope someone else needs.

 

Cori Leigh