When the Darkness Deepens: Finding God's Presence in the Valley of the Shadow

There are days, aren't there? Days when the script just completely flips. One minute, you’re feeling the steady warmth of the Spirit, feeling the solid ground beneath your feet as you study the Book of Mormon or prepare for a mission interview. The next? A phone call, a sudden loss, a relationship that fractures unexpectedly. Suddenly, the peace we thought was permanent feels like a fragile illusion.

And in that sudden shift, the questions hit you like a wave. “What did I do?” “Where is God right now?” “Does He even understand this weight I’m carrying?” “Why does it feel like He’s let me down?”

If you’ve ever felt that profound sense of abandonment—the feeling that the light has dimmed and you’re standing in the deepest valley—I want you to know that you are not alone in that questioning. In fact, the Savior Himself walked through that valley. Think back to the Garden, or even to the foot of the cross. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

It’s okay to ask those hard questions. It’s part of the process of becoming more like Christ. When our sorrow is deep, our natural inclination is to question the presence of the Divine. But here is the anchor we cling to, the truth that never wavers:

“Thou wilt me invocar, et ego tibo respondeo: in tribulatione es, et te copio gloria.” (You will call, and I will answer; you will say, I am here, and I will deliver you.)

The Lord doesn't run from our distress. He doesn't wait for the storm to pass before He notices. He sees the depth of your pain. He knows the specifics of your heartache. He confirms it today: When you call, He answers. He promises to be with us in times of trouble and to deliver us and cover us with glory.

This isn't just feel-good platitude, friends. This is divine covenant. We are taught in the missionary discussions, and we learn it in the temples, that the Atonement is comprehensive. It covers the moments when we feel most alone. We don't have to carry the weight of our suffering in isolation. The Lord's ear is not deaf to our cries; it is attuned to them.

Be Christlike: Trusting the Process

The key takeaway here, as we gather our strength and prepare for the next call to service, is to trust the promise. Don't let the immediate pain convince you that the promise is conditional. When you feel the urge to give up, remember the promise of deliverance. Remember that the Lord sustains us through the process, not just at the end.

This is the heart of being a disciple, whether you’re in the MTC, serving in a stake, or right here in your living room—being an internet missionary, being a disciple anywhere, all the time. We learn to anchor our testimonies not in the *absence* of trouble, but in the *presence* of the Savior within the trouble.

If you need to wrestle with these concepts—how to answer tough questions from investigators, or how to apply these principles to your own struggles—I highly recommend diving into a study. Check out the Book Club options in HolyPlaces, or if you prefer a deeper dive into doctrinal concepts, the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook can connect you with insights from others who have walked this path.

For those of us preparing to go, or those who have recently returned, remember to lean on the wisdom of our leaders. Talk to your District Leader, or even better, utilize Davee. He’s excellent at walking through the hard questions an investigator might ask about suffering, helping us formulate answers rooted in scripture and testimony.

Keep holding fast. Your liberation is near. The Lord keeps what He promises. Let’s proclaim this day a day of victory!