Light in Darkness, Patience in Affliction
Over the last few years, my girlfriends and I have prayed for God to give us a word for the year instead of choosing one for ourselves. It’s altogether lovely to see how the words come to life.
In 2023, one of my friends was confident that God gave her the word “faith.” Six months later, she was moving to Africa to run a ministry with her husband–a leap of faith. Another friend was confident God was leading her to the word “patience” last year. Little did she know that health issues would postpone starting a family for her and her husband.
In 2024, my word was “light.” This word was laughable because, at the time, I was walking through the darkest season of my life. Yet, light shone through and God lit up the darkness for me. Thanks be to God that I’m not in the depths of that place, although I’ll be the first to admit that healing is never linear and that I’m very much a work in progress.
I can tell you from the depths that the Bible is full of beautiful, comforting truths for a dark night of the soul. Darkness is mentioned over 150 times, and light is mentioned over 200 times. Psalm 139 says that darkness is as light to Him, and 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
Psalm 23 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Some versions of this verse say “the valley of the shadow of death” instead of “the darkest valley.” A friend once told me that what comforted her about this passage is that it takes light to make a shadow.
If you’re walking through a dark valley, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. There is a God who walks with you, and I believe He will light up the path for you.
The word “light” also held meaning as I held my camera in 2024. One of my storytelling professors in college defined photography as “capturing light with a box.” A photographer cannot make a picture without light. My camera was therapeutic on hikes and held some of my favorite moments of 2024, capturing families, little ones, weddings, and couples.
“Light” came up again as I cleaned out the closet in my childhood room and found a box of old cards and notes from birthdays and milestones. I read phrases like, “You’re such a light!” And “Emily, you light up every room.”
In that present moment, my best friend Syd said, “Em, even though you’re walking through some darkness, your light is still shining.” I share this with zero intention of boasting, but if you take one thing from this reading, may it be that you dare to speak? Speak good words to the ones you love. Say them with tenderness. Everyone is hungry for good words. Feed them daily.
“Light” was a better word than I could have picked for myself. Therefore, although I had another word I wanted for this year, I’m leaning into what God wants for me in 2025. As I drove home for Christmas, the Lord put “patience” on my heart.
Patience? Who wants that word? I responded by telling God He would have to confirm that this word was what He wanted for me by repeating it over the coming days.
The next day, I opened up my Advent devotional and read about Simeon. Simeon was promised that he would not die before he saw the long-awaited Messiah come. He didn’t know how long it would be, but there was a promise that left him “eagerly waiting,” according to the scriptures. As I sat on the couch and turned the devotional page, I saw the following title in bold letters: “REFLECTION ONE: ON PATIENCE.”
That same week, I watched a sports movie and listened to the coach tell the players to be patient before they took a shot at the end of a big game. On an average day of the week, my aunt texted me a quote that said, “Be patient with the process.” In a conversation with my mom about how healing is hard and slow, she said, “You just have to be patient.”
In the quietness of my mind over the coming days, the words from Romans 12:12 came to mind, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”
These are only a few examples of many, so here I am with a word for 2025: patience.
This word has already served me in a digital age in which Amazon packages are shipped to our doorsteps in 24 hours, double digits of “likes” come in a matter of minutes on social media, and our meals are often microwaved. Our way of life is catered to efficiency and we wonder why we’re so hurried.
Two nights ago, I was shredding carrots, hurrying through the process so we could eat and get on with our evening until the word “patience” came to mind. With one deep breath, I slowed down to notice the gift of being in the kitchen.
In a bigger picture, my counselor asked me, “What would it be like to embrace patience in your healing journey?” I paused and thought about it. My heart softened as I thought about how it could lead me to slow down instead of hurrying, love instead of hating, listen instead of reacting, get curious instead of judging, and be gentle instead of harsh. I would be okay with being human and not having it all figured out.
This conversation was the first time patience struck me as powerful, which leads me to leave you now with one small request. If you practice the art of patience in the coming days, I’d love to know how. Comment or send me a message. I’m all ears for your stories as a student of patience.
