As you read Issue Seven, you’re going to see battlegrounds. Many times, you’ll see these battlegrounds from the perspective of those feeling defeated, even numb. In some writings, the battle is against God Himself. The writers wrestle with Him, drenched in the pain of loss and struggle, but like Job, sit and scratch at their wounds in contemplation. For other writers, they wrestle against the problem of evil, against sin, unable to fight darkness and doubt on their own as the truth calls out to them from some far distance. Often, their subjects fail to feel His presence and get lost in the pieces of the wreckage, looking for vestiges of His goodness and grace. Others are ground into the dirt as they face the reality of their unworthiness in the magnitude of His being. And then, every once in a while, like a breath of sweet air after being held underwater, we see God peek in, carefully hold our hearts and carry us toward Him.

That is my prayer for you today as you read through these pages. To see Him. To feel His presence in the dark moments, as well as the lighter ones. And to realize He’s been there all along.