About two years ago I watched the documentary ‘Amazing Grace’ featuring Aretha Franklin. There was one song that I noted down back then called ‘How I got over’. For two years I have wondered if I can write anything about that.

When I was putting away my daughter’s notes from a youth meeting yesterday, I saw that she had defined hope as ‘waiting for good things to happen’.That made me sad because I remembered the many times when I tried to wait for things to get better. Even now, I often attempt to survive on that. But the fact is, we can’t get over on a desperate wish. For me, it has got to be by pinning everything I hope for and everything I am going through on God; the Father who sent His Son to die for us. Every day I try to remember that a stronger, eternal presence is holding me.

This isn’t just a crutch. This is everything that I live for. So when I talk about light or birdsong or kindness, they all find their source in my faith. I don’t like to alienate people who don’t share that with me, but today as my heart feels as shaky as I am, all I can do is to hold on to the steadiest thing I know.

How I got over is by reaching my hands up to my Father, helped by the people around me. That is the only, the best, answer I have.

The darkness of Ukraine is weighing us all down right now. But as the old hymn says, ‘My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ name… When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace.’ I pray that for the people in Ukraine today, but I’m also praying it for you, my lovely readers.