When the Darkness Feels Heavy, His Light Still Shines

I’ve been quiet for a little while. Thinking, processing, praying.

There’s been so much darkness lately. I've felt a heaviness that’s hard to explain and impossible to understand. 

And yet… there has been so much light.

God’s goodness continues to shine through, just as He always does. Brighter than ever in the darkest moments.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

— John 1:5

I don’t have all the answers. I don’t always know which way to turn. But I’m learning that’s okay. Because it’s not about finding a formula. 

It’s about turning to the One who holds it all together.

He is holding me together.

He is holding you together, too.

Praying on Paper — Even Just Five Minutes at a Time

In this busy season, I’ve barely had a moment to create. My margins are slim, and my days are full.

But I’ve been using a beautiful handmade journal, made by a dear friend, to pray on paper five minutes at a time.

And I’ve seen God move. Not always in big, dramatic ways, but in small, quiet moments. In little everyday miracles that remind me He is here.

Because His life is our light. 

The light that the darkness has not, and will never, overcome.

The darker it feels, the brighter His presence shines. Maybe that’s why we can still rejoice in all things. Because even when we can’t see the whole path, His light is still there. He is guiding our next step.

If you’re new to prayer journaling, here are a few ways I often approach it:

1. Write it all out: your heart, unfiltered.

Sometimes I simply start writing everything that’s on my heart and mind, like a letter to Jesus. I pour it all out: the good, the bad, the messy, the heavy. I don’t try to edit my emotions; I just release them to Him. Then I pause, breathe, and shift into giving thanks. I thank Him for His faithfulness and praise Him for His blessings. It’s in that slow, quiet space that His peace begins to invade my thoughts and remind me of His perspective.

2. Pray through Scripture.

Other times, I start with a verse or passage. I’ll read the chapter for context, then write the verse in my journal. I might look up definitions, note what stands out, or jot down what I sense God is showing me. This method turns journaling into a dialogue with the Holy Spirit. It allows me to invite Him to bring revelation and deeper understanding of His Word.

3. Pray for someone specifically.

Lately, I’ve been using my journal to pray for others. I’ll write a person’s name at the top of the page and begin to ask the Lord how He sees them, and the key here is listening for His heart, His love, His purpose for their life. It’s most challenging when the person is challenging to get along with, but that’s often when I see the most incredible glimpse of the Father’s compassion.

No matter which method you use, the beauty of prayer journaling is that it draws your heart back to Him. It creates space for honesty, reflection, and transformation.

Following the Light, Shining for Others

The light shines.
The light directs our path.

And that same light lives within us.

We can shine without fear because He has already made a way in the darkness. 

His life is our light, and we’re called to reflect it. We're called to hold it up like a flashlight, showing others the path to freedom in Christ.

So even when the world feels heavy, remember: you are not walking in the dark. 

You carry His light. You carry His peace. You carry His love.

Let’s keep following that light together.

Let’s shine it where others can see.

Praise Jesus for being our Light.

Want to Start Your Own Creative Prayer Practice?

If your heart is craving stillness and connection, I’d love to help you begin your own Prayers on Paper journey.

I’ve created a free Preview Bundle filled with printable pages and to help you:

• Slow down and spend time in prayer

• Combine creativity with worship

• Get your prayers down on paper

✨ Click here to download your free Prayers on Paper Preview Bundle ✨

Let’s keep praying on paper together, and letting His light shine through every page.