Lent is typically observed by the Church as a season of self-examination in preparation for the celebration of Easter. It is often a time for recognizing the darkness inside of us and in the world around us, with the comfort that this darkness is ultimately defeated by Jesus’s death and resurrection. In this Lent devotional, individuals from the Chapelgate Church community share scriptures that God has used in their lives to comfort them when things were dark. Each contributor has also written a prayer of response to God’s comfort.

Many of the authors also share the specific circumstances in which God met them. These details are offered as a means of drawing all of us closer to our savior who loves us when things are darkest, and gave himself for us to make everything right again. We encourage you to read the scripture for each day along with the accompanying prayer. Sometimes you’ll find the words of the written prayer becoming your own; other times you might be inspired to speak new words of response to God, or maybe to simply sit in silent thanks for the ways God has worked. Our prayer is that God will lead us together to a deep sense of his presence with us in the dark, and a renewed hope in the resurrection of Jesus.

~ Dan Passerelli

Art by Kate Gicking