True joy comes from holiness and anguish, for the benefit of God’s Plan. Everything that resides in Heaven and Earth is part of the tapestry that is God’s Infinite Design. Peace and love abide within the arms of the Great I Am. We, as part of Creation, live in the abundance of what God gives us.

For even as I walk in the steepest of valleys, I hold God’s hand in mine. The demons hiding in the corners of my mind sneer, mock, and lash out with tongues of vipers. They celebrate my lowest moments and drink in my pain. They knock me down and struggle to keep me there.

In the midst of the winding trails of life, friends I once knew leave me to suffer in the black void. But even without their presence, God remains within my heart, telling me to carry on. He calms the storms in me and beckons me to walk on water with Him. He radiates love and reminds me who I am in His eyes.

In the bleakest of moments, I trust You, Lord of Hosts, to light up my path. For You are all I could ever desire, You who have cared and watched over me my whole life. You never let me fall, not once, while I’m safe within You. As I lay my head to rest, You comfort and reassure me of better days. Amen.

Editor: Shannon Hensley