Some lessons do not arrive in light.
They come quietly, shaped by absence,
revealed only when the noise falls away.
Words of Light
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” — Psalm 23:4
Reflection
We spend much of our lives trying to avoid the shadows—those seasons marked by loss, uncertainty, disappointment, or grief. We pray our way out of them, plan around them, and often measure our progress by how quickly we can return to what feels bright and familiar. Yet the shadows are not wasted spaces. They are teachers.
When life strips things back—roles, routines, relationships, expectations—we are left with what truly sustains us. In these quieter, darker places, clarity begins to emerge. What remains when distractions fall away? What matters when appearances no longer hold us up?
The shadows invite honesty. They reveal where we’ve been relying on what cannot last and where our deepest values actually live. They ask us to listen more closely—to God, to ourselves, to the quiet wisdom that surfaces when we are no longer performing strength but learning it.
This does not mean the shadows are comfortable or easy. Growth rarely is. But even here, you are not abandoned. God walks with you through every valley, not rushing you through it, not shaming your pace, but staying present while meaning takes shape.
Instead of resisting the shadows, what if you allowed them to teach you? What if this season—however unwanted—was refining your discernment, strengthening your compassion, or clarifying your direction?
You are not lost here. You are being shaped.
Journal Prompts
What has this season of shadow revealed about what truly matters to me?
What distractions or expectations have fallen away—and what remains?
Affirmation
I trust that even in the shadows, wisdom is unfolding and I am not walking alone.
Peace,
Rita
Rita Lynn Berry, EdS, LCMHC, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of NewVision Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC. She is also the creator of the Journey to Me™ program and Mend n Muse Media™, where she shares tools and reflections that support healing, resilience, and self-love.