Light is always stronger than the darkness. That simple and beautiful truth has stuck with me over the years. It has deeply encouraged me on some of the dark nights of the soul that I’ve walked through. It’s also been a truth I’ve shared with younger kids in my life.

Have you ever had a restless night’s sleep? I know I have. My precious mother-in-law once told me that when she is really restless at night and can’t fall back asleep, she takes it as an opportunity to pray. I love that perspective so much, and I have followed her lead many a restless night.

What a gift to know that all of our longings, our hearts desires are seen and known by the One who made us. Also a gift to me to know that every time my heart sighs, it is heard by God. I’m not alone in the frustration I feel as a parent, in the disappointment I feel as a human, in the shame I sometimes feel when I fail.

The image of God being a hiding place, a place of protection is so precious to me. I have come to this verse often when I have been afraid, during seasons when I have felt under attack, whether by someone’s words here on instagram, by an onslaught of fears or worries, by an intensely busy schedule that feels like it will drown me, or by the weight of this broken world and the sadness that can sometimes just come crashing down over my head.

So grateful for the image of the love of God being a shield around me. Have you ever felt completely attacked by lies, caught up in a shame storm sometimes of your own making, sometimes coming from somewhere else?

What are the things your mind tends to focus on when you’re trying to fall asleep at night? Some of you might be like my husband. As soon as his head hits the pillow, he’s OUT 😂. But some of you might be like me, and find that when you finally lay down to sleep at night, your mind starts racing…

There’s a documentary called “Look What the Light Did Now” that I’ve heard of. I haven’t seen it yet, but I LOVE that title. I say this phrase now all the time when looking at the way the light makes things beautiful…

I generally love this kind instruction to always be joyful, to pray and to give thanks. These feel like such positive ways to approach life, but in light of the circumstances we so often face: hardship, loss, mistakes we make, sickness, uncertainty, mental illness, these positive practices feel a lot harder. Being joyful in the midst of getting really hard news feels crazy to me .