Encouragement for Today
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May 15, 2025 How To Hold On to Hope in the Darkness Lee en español |
“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” Psalm 63:6 (NIV)
A swirling summer storm once left me stranded in the darkness with dozens of bewildered children.
My fellow camp counselors and I had decided to surprise our campers with a pajama party in the lodge on the final night of camp. But the real surprise wasn’t the disco ball strung from the rafters or the karaoke contest. It was the raging wind and rain that severed tree limbs and snapped power lines, leaving us huddled in a blackout.
Most kids eventually surrendered to sleep — but not the fretful one beside me. “I hate this place,” she murmured with a muffled sob. “I’m never coming back.”
This girl loved everything about camp: the goofy games and pillow fights, sunrise swims and moonlit hikes. But now the darkness was hindering her sight in the present, and it was dimming her vision of the future too.
So I invited her to roam with me through memories of the past week.
“Remember how we laughed when we tipped our canoe?” I asked.
“And how we cheered when we won the talent show,” she chimed.
We recalled the fun we’d had and the friends we’d made, the songs we’d sung, the pranks we’d played. And though the darkness didn’t instantly lift, my camper’s perspective began to shift.
Decades later, I still haven’t forgotten our little game. Because it’s not just power outages that leave us disoriented in the darkness. The storms of life can do that too.
When I’m peering through a haze of heartache or a fog of fear, I need help to see hope in my future. When my vision is distorted by the gloom of disappointment or the shadows of uncertainty, I need a spiritual practice to sustain my confidence and protect my peace.
Thankfully, in Psalm 63, King David revealed a habit that sustained him in the night.
After being forced to abdicate his throne and flee for his life, he wrote these words about God while hiding in the Judean wilderness: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6).
Like my sleepless camper, David practiced the discipline of remembering. As he peered backward at God’s goodness (Psalm 63:2), he was able to hope forward in God’s faithfulness (Psalm 63:8-11), even before his situation changed.
Friends, we can choose to do the same.
When our circumstances today threaten to dim our hope for tomorrow, let’s roam through our memories and gather glimpses of God’s goodness, recollections of His grace.
As we do, we’ll discover that remembering is more than a playful distraction for children in the dark of night. It’s an essential practice for all of us who long to walk by faith and not by sight.
Dear God, where my vision is warped, restore it; where my hope is diminished, increase it. Help me recognize Your goodness in my past and anticipate Your faithfulness in my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Picture this: a great book, your favorite cozy spot, and a community of women diving in with you. Sound like your kind of summer? Then Circle 31 Book Club is calling your name! Starting June 1, we’re reading The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar — a story so gripping you won’t want to put it down! But this isn’t just any book club. We’re bringing you exclusive videos from the author, Bible study insights, and more! So if you love getting lost in a story, grab your book, pull up a chair, and let’s read — because this one just might change how you see God.
God doesn’t want tidy thoughts from us — He wants a real, authentic relationship with us. Listen to Lysa TerKeurst and Craig Groeschel discuss this and more in the recent podcast episode “Questions and Doubts Don’t Make You a Bad Christian.” Don’t miss this one!
ENGAGE
For more encouragement and a free download to help you practice the habit of remembering, visit Alicia’s website or connect with her on Instagram today.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 77:11, “I will remember the actions the Eternal has taken, reminisce on Your ancient wonders” (VOICE).
How have you experienced God’s goodness in the past? In what ways are you experiencing His faithfulness right now? Share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll buoy one another’s hope.
© 2025 by Alicia Bruxvoort. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org