The Bible Pierces Darkness
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5
Sumu didn’t want to have anything to do with Christianity. But in 2017, Sumu’s best friend shared her testimony at her New Zealand church. Sumu showed up to support her … and kept coming back. She gave her life to Jesus later that year, just before moving to India.
Navigating a new faith in a new country without a Christian community was exhausting, and Sumu eventually became so depressed that she struggled to get out of bed each day.
“I was so lonely and I found it really hard to connect with people. I lost a lot of my autonomy and independence when I moved to India, and a lot of toxic thoughts entered my mind. But it wasn’t until I was able to connect with Scripture in YouVersion that I was able to change the way I think.”
YouVersion provided Sumu with a way to stay connected to other Christians and learn from them through Bible Plans. And since 2018, she’s completed over 428 of them.
Anytime Sumu has a question, she opens her YouVersion app and searches for Plans on that topic. And the more Plans she reads, the more her faith grows.
“Some days I’ll start 11 Plans just to try and immerse myself in truth. It’s an opportunity to learn from people who’ve walked in your shoes and get encouragement from them. I’ve been learning that I’m not alone in my struggles. I can hear from people who have gone through depression and come out on the other side, and it’s helped me realize that followers of Jesus struggle with mental health, too.”
Now, whenever Sumu feels lonely, depressed, or isolated, she’s able to cling to God’s promises and hold up every thought she has against what Jesus says about her.
“Sometimes, when you’re depressed, you just need a word. The app was a ‘shortcut’ that helped me figure out the Bible and my faith. Technology is such a cool tool that we can use to connect with our faith. I don’t think I would be around had I not had a way to be connected through Christ, because those times were really dark and He was the only source of light that I had—and still have.”
Because of the power of God’s Word, isolation can be transformed into connection, and hope can be discovered in the midst of adversity.
Reflect on Sumu’s story for a moment, and then spend some time talking to God about the season you’re currently in. As you do this, ask God to reveal to you what is true about your situation, and then search the Scriptures for His words of hope and encouragement. Allow His light to pierce any darkness in your life.