Advent devotion: When light arrives
It’s been about a year and a half since my fiancé Bailey and I moved to the Quad Cities. This has been a big adjustment for a lot of reasons. For me, the biggest hardship was being overcome by wave after wave of homesickness in this new land of unknown faces. This was heightened by the unexpected loss of a family member back home late last winter, and scrambling to pick up the pieces of the life she left behind. 
It was starting to feel very dark.
I prayed a lot. I knew I needed to lean on Jesus hard to get through all of the challenges that were bringing darkness to my life. I started seeking out connections at St. Paul, and that helped crack a door to let some light back in. Through spending time with Josh and Kelsey (former pastors in residency) and other peers in 2136 (St. Paul’s young adults group), participating in VBS with the little ones, and going on an adventure with Andy (youth director), Katy (pastor), and many other students and awesome adult leaders to Milwaukee; little by little, the door that was cracked flung wide open.
Jesus saw exactly what I needed. He saw the darkness that could easily consume my life, and he helped me find light in the people of St. Paul. I’ve walked through these moments of darkness and used Jesus as a flashlight. He helped lead the way through things that were hard and scary and made them manageable, even shining light on the friends who became allies on my way through this season of darkness.
In life, I’ve realized that darkness can be beat. Darkness runs at the face of light – and that light is found in Jesus.
Madison Wookey is a language arts teacher at Pleasant Valley Junior High. Both she and her fiancé, Bailey Akers, are graduates of Iowa State University, and natives of southwest Iowa.
Eric Kutzli
Madison and Bailey…. It is so great that you have found a place to not only receive the light of Christ, but to share the light God has graciously placed into your lives. It is always my prayer that our young people find a place where God’s grace lives. St. Paul is a great place! This past year surely has seen some dark and painful days, but the light still shines. The darkness cannot overcome it. Some great and wonderful days lie ahead! We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us! Hope to see you at Christmas! – Pastor Eric