Dear Friend,

I received my first Bible when I was eight or nine years old. My parents didn’t attend church, but a friend invited me to Vacation Bible School, and after the week was over, the teacher handed me a King James Version with a blue cover. Have you ever read a King James Bible? As a young child I couldn’t get past the first page because of the formal thee and thou old-style language. Thankfully, I’ve found different translations, and it’s more convenient than ever to read on my phone with the YouVersion app.

Yet it never ceases to amaze me how the word of God speaks to us, how the words we read many times will suddenly come alive and we’ll see something we’ve never seen or understood before. It’s wild!

For example, Genesis 1 tells us about God creating the heavens and the earth. I’ve read this chapter at least a dozen times. Verse 16 says, “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day [sun] and the lesser light [moon] to govern the night. He also made the stars” (NIV).

This means that God, in his infinite wisdom, provided light for the darkest hours.

Our souls may be distraught over the condition of our country. We might be hard-pressed to fully understand what’s happening. The weight of it all might burden us to the point of physical symptoms. The hatred. The conflicts. The division. The confusion. The heartache. Fear that tries to bury our faith. And then there’s the basic responsibilities of everyday living like paying bills and cooking. Yikes.

But God.

He gave us light. And as we fix our eyes on Him and rest in the truth of His word, His light will shine—even in these dark times. Take heart my friend, the Creator of the Universe has got you. He will not forsake His people.

May the light of love guide you and keep you full of hope, joy, and peace.

Blessings to you and yours,

Julia Kay