Our pain and suffering is felt deeply, things are not what they ought to be. We want to say we’ve arrived, that we’ve accomplished our healing journey. But we are not yet fully healed, still in our darkness, our suffering. (1/7)

The reality is, our journeys are dynamic, moving. We continually become more healed and more whole, we aren’t meant to arrive at static places. God has created a world, a reality, that is always moving towards restoration. (2/7)

Imagine with me that we're on a journey in a canyon. Canyons are deep and layered. As we descend, we may feel as though the layer we are in is the bottom. The unchanging view may cause us to feel stuck. Though we are as far as we feel we can go, we are still not whole. (3/7)

How do we still hold onto hope when we are lost here, still not fully healed, and our suffering persists?

We enter the canyon with promises that there is more life the deeper we go - a river, plants, thriving life. But where we are feels barren and dark. (4/7)

Yet in the darkness, our healing is occurring.

(5/7)

Hope is subtle, a soft glow. Sometimes lightning is too bright, a conquering battle cry too abrasive. Sometimes an ember is enough to see and a breath is enough to gain strength. When we don’t notice it, this thread of life and creation is pulling us through our darkness.(6/7)

If you can today, find a candle and light it. Notice the flame, how it is subtle, soft, maybe small, but it pushes the darkness back enough for you to take a breath in the light.

Written by Chelsea Van Essen

(7/7)