The world has been chaotic for a long time. Lately, it seems as though everyone is battling something. Struggles do not care about your gender, age, or social status. It is important that we remember our joy and peace do not depend on our circumstances.

Dark seasons have a way of making everything feel heavier. Thoughts linger longer. Questions echo louder. Faith can feel distant, not because it’s gone, but because the fog is thick. Scripture never pretends these seasons don’t exist. Instead, it meets us in them—honest, steady, and full of promise. Scripture ties us to God, who is our strength to help us carry the load before us. As disciples, it is our mission to point others, especially the children and youth in our care, to Jesus and show them how to proceed through the darkness toward the Light.

Romans 15:13 speaks directly into weary hearts: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Notice the source—the God of hope. Hope is not something you manufacture when life is easy; it flows from who God is all the time. Even when joy feels absent and peace seems unreachable, God does not withhold them. He fills us as we trust in Him, not after everything is resolved. Trust doesn’t mean understanding; it means leaning your weight on Him when you don’t understand. We can count on God to provide us with the strength, the peace, and the love, no matter what struggles we face.

Overflowing with hope doesn’t happen by willpower. It happens by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are exhausted, emotionally spent, or spiritually dry, God is not disappointed in us. He is the One supplying what we cannot produce. Hope is not the absence of struggle—it is the presence of God within it. It is our duty to not only remember that in our own journey, but to be open and honest with those we disciple so that they may also remember to go to God first and repeatedly when they face darkness. Children, though innocent and possibly naïve, also face darkness. They are a part of the same world that we are, hearing and seeing things they do not understand. They may have difficult home lives, trouble at school, or doubts within. Unfortunately, because they are so young, they may not have the vocabulary to express the struggles they find themselves in. They may not even be aware that such things are a form of darkness because it’s all they’ve ever known.

Psalm 42:5 gives voice to the internal battle many people carry quietly: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God”. Even the most seasoned Christian can find themselves in a dark place, questioning why they feel this way or why they feel so far from God. Sometimes we do not know why we feel this way or how we got here. However, we can start from where we are, meet others where they are, and move forward without all the answers. We know the Creator of the heavens and the earth. We know the Savior of our souls and the world. As we cling to Him like an anchor in the storm, He will continue to fill us with His peace, hope, and love. His Holy Spirit will continue to pour through us so that we can take the next step. Regardless of the situations the children or we find ourselves in, God has never left our sides. He has never stopped loving us or helping us. As long as we remain in Him, we have all that we need to conquer the darkness around us and rejoice in hope for a future yet unknown.

Samantha Moser is a disciple of Jesus who has served for over a decade and a half in ministry, from nursery to VBS to youth group. She and her husband, Dallas, homeschool their four children with an emphasis on biblical foundations, world history, and life skills. Their oldest son graduated early, and added a daughter-in-love and grandson to their family. The couple serves in their community by pouring into everyone they meet, young and old, and volunteering and donating to many local organizations. Samantha believes having both sons and daughters gives her a thorough perspective on what boys and girls are facing today. The Moser family is passionate about serving Jesus, seeing and filling needs in all areas of their lives. When they aren’t at church, they enjoy camping, kayaking, and anything that brings their family together.