in the valley. out now.
Hi! I am so excited to announce my first book, in the valley: a collection of poetry. is out now on Amazon.
Many of the poems in the book have been included in my blog posts. This is an overview of my book:
God does not promise we will not walk through the valley. He promises to walk with us in the darkest valley.
in the valley of
heartache
grief
trauma
mental health disorders
addiction
shame
rejection
fear
& more
Christ brings us comfort, peace, and healing.
(Psalm 23)
Each topic in my book is a beautifully broken testimony. Each topic has two parts: the first is about the situation and the second is about the redemptive healing power of Christ. The first poem is pitiful; the second is powerful. You can allow trauma to break you or shape you. You can live as a victim to your circumstances, or in victory through Christ.
When I started writing the book, I questioned if the topics were too depressing and brought attention to darkness. I started praying and asked God to speak. I opened my Bible to the verse Isaiah 61:1-2. It states, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the Lord's favor and comfort all who mourn." We live in a world filled with darkness. He showed me we cannot ignore the darkness. As Christians, we must illuminate dark places. To do so, we must address deep topics and point to the liberating power of Christ.
Many of my poems are about real testimonies of real people. This summer, I heard many testimonies that broke my heart. However, transformative testimonies hold power. They made me realize I am never alone as I feel. Everyone fights battles. To win warfare, it is essential to clothe ourselves in the armor of God.
This is my prayer for everyone who reads my book:
I pray for the person reading this who has been through trauma. Jesus, you wept. You feel their heartache and see their tears. Mend their broken heart and transform their brokenness into beauty. Help them find purpose in the midst of unimaginable pain. Repay their joy, trust, innocence, and freedom. Thank you for covering them in your light which casts out darkness. I pray you will transform their pain into purpose. Change their perspective from pitiful to powerful. Instead of being a victim to their circumstances, help them live in victory through you. When they are hurting, be their comfort and healing. As they walk through the shadow of the valley, remind them they are never alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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