Shine Stories: Light in the Tunnel
- Marla Waldron
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
Shine Stories | Real life. Real faith. Real shine. A weekly series of personal reflections from people in our community who've walked through Boldly Shine. This week, Marla shares how the loss of a 30-year friendship pulled her into a dark tunnel of grief — and how God's truth became the light that led her forward.
A relationship with my best friend for over 30 years had just fallen apart and left me questioning my identity. I felt untethered and lost in a sea of betrayal, jealousy, anger, and loneliness. I had spent so much of my life walking alongside this person that the thought of facing the world without them felt like sudden death. I could not figure out what my purpose was, or if it was even worth putting forth the effort to examine it further.
Life has a way of crushing our God-given vision for ourselves. What once felt clear and full of promise slowly became buried under disappointment, delay, and circumstances I never would have chosen. It felt like all the light in my life had been snuffed out and I was sinking in a deep, dark pit of grief. This was my “tunnel” as I contemplated taking the Boldly Shine class.
I was intrigued when I heard about a Bible study called Using What’s Broken to Boldly Shine, which emphasizes learning how to move forward without letting the dents and bruises of life define you. It highlights God’s ability to bring light into dark places and take us through tunnels by replacing hurt and bitterness with joy and peace. I signed up for the class because I wanted to continue my healing process and find out more about the life-guiding principles the author had experienced firsthand.
The class consists of six life-guiding principles that work together to lead toward a transformed, renewed life: Vision, Connection, Bravery, Intentionality, Consistency, and Boldly Shine. Each principle helped me learn how to tie into God and push past fear in order to begin healing. The class also helped me establish specific, concrete steps to change my situation and develop healthy habits as I refined my vision and listened for God’s ongoing direction for my life.
What impacted me most about Boldly Shine was the way the class seemed to be an ongoing conversation that wove together biblical Scriptures, devotionals, and practical steps grounded in everyday real-life experiences. I was reminded to focus on what God can do through me rather than what I can’t do on my own. Although God never asks me to stuff my emotions away, God does not call me to act out of my emotions either. God calls me to look up, focus on truth, and remember that God walks with me and that everything I experience has a purpose.
The most challenging steps for me, beside realigning my vision with God, were bravery and intentionality. I had formed a habit of allowing fear to dictate my actions and then failed to take the steps necessary to change my situation. My biggest doubt about God’s ability to change me was my own hard-headed ways getting in the way of myself and my progress.
But then I imagined God saying, “My child, I’ve held back seas and raised the dead. Your hard head is no match for my power.”
God is the only one who really gets me — the me I “was,” the me I am at this moment, and the me God intends for me to become. Through Scriptures that point out how God feels about me, I was able to realign my vision and renew my identity. That is not an easy task when you’ve spent years defining yourself based on being someone’s friend, sister, daughter, parent, or spouse. I have learned that I cannot continuously give away pieces of who I am to appease other people. The priority has to be, first and foremost, “I am God’s child, God’s prize possession,” and I have to accept who God tells me that I am.
Some of the Scriptures that provided light in my dark tunnel include the following:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” (Proverbs 13:12). There is an ache that comes when prayers seem unanswered and dreams remain out of reach. We make plans and try to move forward with intention, and yet “many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). That truth can be both comforting and unsettling, especially when God’s purposes unfold in ways we do not understand.
Scripture does not ignore the reality of our circumstances, but speaks right into them. We are not abandoned in the crushing. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Notice the nearness of God here — not distant, not indifferent, but close. Close to the very place where your vision feels shattered.
Because even here — especially here — God is at work. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Not just in the successes or the moments when the vision comes to life, but in the confusion, the waiting, and even the loss. What others, or even life itself, intended for harm, God can redeem for good (Genesis 50:20).
And in the meantime, we hold on. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The vision may look different now. It may feel smaller, hidden, or even lost. But our lives are still God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), and God is not finished with us.
These verses helped me refine my vision based on who God says I am, and they provided light in the darkness. They not only provided light, but guided me out of the deep pit and placed my feet on solid ground. God restored my soul and showed me that there was still purpose for my life. I no longer needed to let other people’s expectations or my circumstances define me. What felt like the end of my story became the place where God gave me light in the tunnel and reminded me that my life still had purpose. The tunnel did not get the final word; God did, and God’s truth became the light that led me forward.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
No matter what I face in life, I have come to recognize that vision is crucial, and often our mindset shapes our vision. If we only look at things from a fixed mindset or from our own viewpoint, and if we try to work out problems in our own strength, we often see only the obstacles or what we can’t make happen. But God places the Holy Spirit, a pivotal part of God’s presence, within us to help shape our identity when we allow that work to happen.
As our vision begins to shift toward God’s vision for us, we can access God’s strength and experience renewed purpose in life. We can begin to imagine what life would look like if God’s vision became the truth we chose to live from instead of the fear, disappointment, or labels that have tried to define us.
God’s vision is revealed through Scripture. Consider writing down or memorizing a Scripture that you personally connect with, then post it somewhere visible or carry it with you so you can remind yourself of God’s vision of who you are. This can be especially helpful when you feel emotionally drained, challenged, or unsure of your next step. And even if you are not in a dark tunnel right now, having Scripture at the ready can help prepare your heart for the moments when life inevitably feels heavy, confusing, or hard to see through.
Consider the following questions:
Where have you felt your vision for your life begin to slip or break down?
How might God be present with you — not after the struggle, but in it?
What would it look like to trust God’s timing, even when it does not match your own?
We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own." Trust that God has a vision for you and can use your dented, bruised, and broken places to create a masterpiece for God’s glory and your good.
ABOUT MARLA WALDRON
Marla Waldron is a devoted daughter of the Heavenly Father, and she embraces her roles as a sister, wife, mother, teacher, and friend with grace and dedication. For 35 years, she has served as a public school educator, mentoring countless beginning teachers and currently working as an Intervention Specialist with Kindergarten students. In her local church and community, Marla faithfully contributes by volunteering at food and clothing banks, participating in fundraising events, and actively engaging in, as well as leading, small group Bible studies for The Dented Fender Ministry. A mother of three grown children, Marla has also taken on the responsibility of caring for her 50-year-old brother with multiple handicaps since their father's passing. Despite facing dark tunnels of grief and self-doubt, Marla has learned to lean on God’s grace, holding tightly to His truths and trusting in His guidance one step at a time. She and her husband live in Ohio, embracing the unpredictable ride of life with faith and resilience.
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