A Light in Darkness: Stories of Grief and Loss

It is Christmastime. A time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is supposed to be a time of joy. But for some people who are grieving the loss of a loved one, it can be a painful time. 

Whether now at this special time of year or any time when we are presented with the loss of a loved one, we need the support of others. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. When we feel a loss, our brothers and sisters in Christ help sustain us. 

A Light in Darkness: Stories of Grief and Loss, published by Word Aflame Press, is a compilation of articles written by people who can relate to the pain of loss because they have experienced it firsthand. Here is a pre-published article from the Pentecostal Publishing House blog which shares with us the benefits of gaining strength and guidance from others during times of loss. 

A Light in Darkness | Stories of Grief and Loss 

If you have experienced a loss of a loved one or a dear friend, allow A Light in Darkness: Stories of Grief and Loss to offer comfort. 

Maybe you’ve lost a spouse, parent, child, or a dear friend, and you realize you lack strength to make it through the dark valley alone. It feels lonely and scary. What if someone who made the journey before you could help—someone who could share insights from their experiences, the lessons they’ve learned, and things that helped them cope? That’s what A Light in Darkness is all about. 

You will hear from writers who have lost parents, a spouse, a friend, siblings, a child, and more. The same questions you may be wrestling and grappling with right now, these writers also wrestled with. Know this: It’s okay to question, closure comes gradually, and God hasn’t turned His back on you. 

You will want to meet these writers and read their letters. They are addressed to you, dear friend. 

If you know someone walking in the valley of the shadow of death, consider giving A Light in Darkness as a gift this Christmas. These stories of grief and loss will offer comfort and hope. 

A version of this article was posted at blog.pentecostalpublishing.com.

Resources and Links: A Light in Darkness

Photos of Rosh Pina

Rosh Pina

One of our favorite places to visit when we are in northern Israel is Rosh Pina. The old neighborhood, founded in 1882, is on top of a hill. It is a quaint collection of sturdy stone buildings. These restored structures are now homes, restaurants, and art galleries. There is also a synagogue, which was the first public building erected in Rosh Pina. 

This quiet village is never busy or overcrowded when we visit and we always enjoy walking along its meandering cobblestone streets and through the nearby park. The clean, fresh air and natural setting is refreshing. Down the hill is the modern area of Rosh Pina, still very nice. There you find shopping centers and more restaurants. 

Rosh Pina has quite a few zimmers (guest houses) but we usually stay in Amirim when are in the Galilee region of Israel. So, we just go to Rosh Pina to visit for a few hours and to enjoy a good Israeli meal.   

Rosh Pina received its name from Psalm 118:22, which says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Rosh Pina means “head of the corner” or “cornerstone.”

Although Rosh Pina does not appear to have a link to a biblical city, its name indicates that its early Romanian-Jewish founders desired to build something lasting. They succeeded, for the stone structures they erected so long ago are now highly prized real estate, valued for their stability, ambiance, and historical significance. 

There is a simple yet powerful lesson we can learn from the name of this village. In the world of architecture, the cornerstone is the first stone that is laid. All other stones are laid in reference to the cornerstone. A cornerstone determines the direction in which a structure will be built.

Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22, revealing Himself as the stone which the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17). Many people foolishly reject Jesus. As a result, their lives are unstable and lack God-ordained purpose.

To Christians, Jesus Christ should be our cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20; I Peter 2:6-7). He is the one who we should build our lives on. He will determine the direction we should go. He is solid and stable and trustworthy.

We must always be cognizant of the value of Jesus Christ being the cornerstone of our lives. We should not reject Him but rather invite Him to set the course for our lives. As we contemplate what we should talk about, think about, and what we should do, we should always look to Jesus and never the world as our reference point as we erect the structure of our lives. This will guarantee that we are building something worthwhile that will stand the test of time.

Rosh Pina – Cornerstone – is a lovely place to visit. But even more lovely is a life well built upon Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone.