Even the Night is Dawn

Life has its way of bringing night into our lives. These are the times when challenges seem too big, when the burdens feel too heavy, and when the path ahead seems lost in darkness. We all have moments like that—moments of uncertainty, grief, or pain—both personally and as a nation.

But even in that darkness, even when the night feels endless, there is a Light that never goes out. There is a flame that continues to burn. St. Gregory of Narek, our great spiritual poet, captured this beautifully when he wrote, "When there is the torch of your hope, even the night is dawn for me.”

What a profound and powerful truth. Hope is not a vague desire that things might get better. It's not naive optimism or positive thinking. True hope is rooted in the promises of Almighty God. It is a divine light, lit not by our strength, but by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. When that flame burns in our hearts, even the darkest night begins to glow with the light of dawn.

As Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” The night is only temporary. The dawn is inevitable. Our struggles and sorrows are real, but they won’t last forever. The morning is coming.

What keeps us going is the hope we carry, the trust we have in God’s faithfulness, even when it feels like everything around us is falling apart. That hope becomes a torch in our hands, lighting the path one step at a time, warming our hearts, and gently whispering to our souls, “You are not alone. God is with you.”

And that torch of hope isn’t just for you. There are people around you who are walking through their night, feeling lost, and they need to see your light. Your faith might be the encouragement that keeps them going. Your words, your prayers, your kindness could be the spark that reignites someone else’s flame.

So, let’s lift high the torch of hope. Let’s walk through the night with faith in our hearts. Let’s encourage one another, strengthen one another, pray for one another. And when the dawn comes—as it surely will—we’ll look back and see that God was with us every step of the way.