Faith in the Dark: When God Doesn't Fix It
A Drawn in the Dark Companion
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV)
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
In chapter 2 of Drawn in the Dark, we’re introduced to Carter’s school life. Right away, we notice that Carter isn’t just fighting nightmares — he’s fighting distraction and discouragement in the classroom too.
Carter has something called Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which can make it hard to focus or sit still. Some kids zone out like Carter does; others fidget or move around a lot.
He also struggles with dyslexia, which means the words and numbers sometimes get mixed up in his brain. It can make reading feel like trying to solve a puzzle that never stays still.
It’s hard to admit when something feels different about you.
What will people think? Will they believe you? Will they understand?
“Why would God make me this way?”
That’s such a valid question — one that even grown-ups ask.
There are many verses we can turn to in the Bible, but let’s look at one moment in Jesus’ life. Before He died on the cross for us, He also asked for the hard thing to go away.
Matthew 26:39 (NIV)
“Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me…’”
While Jesus’ “cup” meant the cross, our cups look a little different.
Your cup might be:
Fear
Moving to a new school
ADHD
Dyslexia
Pet allergies
Illness
A loved one in prison
Or something else that feels too heavy to carry
But Jesus wasn’t done praying. He finished His sentence by saying,
“Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus trusted God so much that He believed even this painful journey could bring glory to God — and open the way for us to live with Him forever.
God meets us in the hard places.
That’s the part I don’t want you to miss.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t ask God to take your cup away — Jesus asked, too.
But even when the answer is no, He stays.
He takes what’s hard and turns it into something good.
He doesn’t pull you out of the hard place so you can find Him.
He meets you right there.
So pray. Cry if you need to. Ask God, respectfully, why?
Then let Him comfort you and walk with you through the storm.
Let Him take your struggles and turn them into something beautiful —
like Carter does with his doodles and comics.
Art may not be your thing, but you were made for something.
You were made with purpose. Don’t ever forget that.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
🕯️ Think About It
What’s something difficult that you’ve asked God to fix?
What helps you to remember that He’s still with you if it doesn’t go away?
Carter enjoys drawing comics. What helps you cope with fear- drawing, writing, dance, playing sports, etc?
🌙 Week 2 Challenge — My Cup, My Calling
Think about something you’ve prayed for God to change — your “cup.”
Write or draw what that “cup” looks like for you on one side of a card or journal page.
On the other side, write how God has helped you through it (a friend, creativity, strength, patience, humor, courage).
Keep it somewhere you’ll see it this week as a reminder:
“God doesn’t waste my pain. His power shines through my weakness.”
Optional extension: If you’re doing this in a group or classroom, create a “Grace Wall” where kids can anonymously post cards that say: “God is helping me through ___.” It keeps the focus on God’s grace rather than the problem itself.