Sometimes life’s challenges leave you doubtful about your future; in the worst cases you may even question your faith. During difficult times, when you feel as if God has let you down, turn to this verse. Read it slowly and take His Word deeply into your heart.

In the above verse, Blind Bartimaeus asked Jesus for mercy and his vision was restored. Bartimaeus’ testimony opened the eyes of countless others who grew in faith and started following Jesus. So many beautiful transformations were made possible simply because Bartimaeus had faith and asked for mercy.

As you know, God is always with you, not just at a planned prayer time, but anytime and every time you need Him. You can pray out of the depths of your soul, thank Him for the simple pleasures, or simply say, “I know You’re here. I know You’re with me.”

This time of year we begin to notice the change of season, the change in light. One of the best ways to counteract the darkness is to pick up your Bible. Take His Word into your heart and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

Jesus made seven “I am” statements in the Gospel of John: I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the gate for the sheep, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way and the truth and the life, and I am the vine. With these declarations, Jesus went to great lengths to clarify His mission and to help the people understand that He is the Messiah. He is the Light in the darkness.

Some of life’s worst experiences serve as our greatest lessons. Through our struggles, we learn to trust, to have faith and to recognize God’s touch in our lives. Every Christian has a faith story—that “Aha!” moment when they first experienced God’s divine love. When we share how our faith has helped us through tough times, we share His love and offer comfort to those who need a boost of hope.