The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirits have been crushed. —Psalm 34:18
I must admit something—I was afraid of the dark as a child, and I still am. My fear started with scary moments from childhood, and no amount of reasoning as an adult could erase it. Even though I knew in my head that nothing in the dark differed from the light, my heart never quite believed it. The real problem wasn't the darkness, it was my fear of it.
Grief has its own kind of darkness. It comes with so many unanswered questions, deep sadness, and overwhelming pain. And it's not just grief—other painful situations can feel just as dark. When life changes in ways we can't control, it's like stepping into an unfamiliar place without a light to guide us. If I'm not careful, that darkness can make me too afraid to move forward.
On my own, I feel helpless. But when I cry out to God, I find strength to face my fear. "When I am afraid, O Lord Almighty, I put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3 NKJV). God doesn't expect me to be fearless, but He does invite me to trust Him even when I am afraid.
Sometimes, as believers, we think admitting we struggle means we don't have strong faith. We might believe that talking about our pain or questions makes God look weak or that we wouldn't feel broken if we really trusted Him. But that's not true. If I pretend I never experience fear or darkness, I not only hurt myself but also keep others from feeling safe to share their struggles. Worse, I might make them feel like something is wrong with them for feeling the way they do.
How many people sit in church every Sunday with broken hearts, too afraid to ask for help? They already feel the weight of their grief, and on top of that, they carry the fear of being judged. The truth is life is full of pain and loss—even for people who love Jesus. Ignoring that, we miss the chance to show how ~ 
God isn't just the God of the daylight—He's the God of the night, too. Admitting that I face both doesn't make Him any less powerful. Instead, it shows how faithful He is. He invites me to lean on Him and walk alongside hurting others. Even when the path is dark, He promises I will never walk alone.
