The Comforter in the Darkest Valley

When the valley felt dark, God’s presence found me.

By Aimee from CaringBridge Post (Oct 8, 2025)

It’s been one month today since that hard day etched in our memories, and I’m grateful to say - we have come so far.

One month ago, we sat at the Mayo Clinic hearing discouraging news. Jon’s brain was too swollen to assess progress from his scans. That night, after we returned home, everything changed. He blacked out, fell, and hit his head, sending us to the ER.

From that moment, Jon lost most of his function on his left side. His face drooped, his words came slowly, his left arm was lifeless, and his leg could barely move without significant support. He slept through most days, completely exhausted. We even kept a wheelchair in the house just to help him get from the couch to our bedroom.

That first week after his fall was one of the darkest I’ve ever known.

It felt like the ultimate test of faith:
Do I still trust God? Can I say God is still good if my husband continues to decline and possibly die?

I had already watched Jon decline for over two months, and then this setback came. It felt like more than I could bear. But the Lord knew exactly what I would need.

Just before that doctor’s appointment, a verse appeared on my phone: Psalm 23:4.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…”

And that week, the Comforter truly comforted me.

In the dark valley, His presence became my peace. I came through that place with a deeper conviction: Jesus is enough. No matter what happens to Jon, my hope is in Jesus alone. In the deepest shadows, God draws near. His goodness is not dependent on our circumstances.

I’m learning to release fear, to rest in His faithfulness, and to trust that He is always good. Even when everything I love feels at risk, I’m choosing to trust Him, that nothing is truly lost in Him, and that all will one day be restored, if not in this life, then in Heaven. It’s a difficult truth to face and to walk out daily.

God always breaks through the darkness.

Since his fall, Jon has faithfully followed his healing protocol, precise nutrition, supplements, daily hyperbaric therapy, detox, exercise, lots of water, and daily faith. We’ve celebrated small victories and held tightly to the hope of complete healing.

Exactly one month after that fall, Jon is doing so much better.

He’s talking like himself again. He’s using his left arm and hand more. And today, he walked a mile and even jogged twenty feet.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for Jon’s resilience and for God’s steady, healing hand that continues to guide us. We’re not out of the valley yet. But we’re learning something beautiful: Flowers grow in the valley. And so does our hope.

God is good. His promises are still true. And our story is held securely in His loving hands.