Quote:

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the world darkens." -Gimli(The Lord of the Rings)

Context:

As a lover of all things fantasy, it's no surprise that I am a huge fan of J.R.R Tolkien's epic tale, The Lord of the Rings. There are so many things I love about this story, the intricate plot, dynamic characters, and amazingly rich world-building that captured my imagination and left me in awe.

In our journey through life, we often encounter moments of darkness and uncertainty. These are the times when our faith is truly tested. It is easy to believe and have faith when everything is going well, but it is during the dark times that our true character is revealed. Though the Lord of the Rings is a form of enjoyment, I believe we can learn from this quote. As the quote states, it takes a strong and faithful person to not bid farewell when the world around us is dark. It is during these moments that we must hold on to our faith and trust that there is a greater purpose and plan for our lives. We must cling to our faith and on to God, holding on to the hope that it provides. Just as Gimli and the other characters in The Lord of the Rings did not give up in the face of darkness, we too must persevere through our own struggles and challenges. Though this may seem like a silly comparison, it truly does hold value.

Faith is not just about believing in something when everything is going well, it is about trusting and holding on to that belief when everything seems to be falling apart. It is during the dark times that our faith is strengthened and we are able to grow and learn valuable lessons and strengthen our relationship with God.

In the same way that Gimli and his companions relied on each other and their unwavering faith to overcome the darkness and defeat evil, we too can find strength in our faith and in support of our fellow believers.

As a 17 year old girl with lots of uncertainty about my future, it's easy to allow my thoughts to carry me away into stressful places. Holding on to my hope in Jesus and the promises from his word brings much peace and comfort even in the face of uncertainty.

So let us remember Tolkien’s words and not be faithless when the world darkens. Instead, let us hold on to our faith and trust that the light will eventually shine through the darkness. For it is in these moments that our faith truly shines and we are able to rise above the challenges and emerge victorious. Let us be like these daring characters, as a symbol of unwavering faith and strength, even in the darkest of times.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

- Aubrey Claire