The Daily Grind with Matt Clarke

Lost in the Woods

Written by Matt Clarke | April 11, 2026

I had literally just finished writing about being grateful for the little things God provides and stepped right off the cliff into the abyss of self-importance. Being human would be hilarious if it weren't so darn true. 

I had an early morning event that knocked me off my regular schedule, so I started off rushed and anxious. My shoulder was bothering me as I hurried through some morning exercise, which added to the irritation. After making my wife, Susan's, coffee, I frustratingly raced out of the house and hit the road without our normal morning time together.

When I got there, I had to drive around to find a spot, resulting in a longer walk than I wanted. It was raining just enough to cause me to debate with myself on the need for an umbrella. "No" won the argument, and I steamed a little as I entered the building pretty wet. Adding to my frustration, I couldn't find my table, nor could I find the person I was looking for, and they didn't answer the phone. Ughhh!!!

I was at the annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast hosted by Governor Bill Lee. When it was his turn to speak, he took us back to a night shortly after the tragic death of his first wife, the mother of his three children. They were all lying together over blankets on the floor of his bedroom. For hours, they had been talking, crying, and just trying to get through it.

He lay there in the middle of the dark, quiet night, thinking they were all asleep, when he heard his 9-year-old son stirring across the room.

"Are you okay?" he whispered.

"No, Dad, I'm not," Caleb replied. "I don't think I'm going to make it. I'm in the woods, it’s dark, I'm alone, and I'm lost."

Heartbroken, he channeled the same words Jesus had been saying to him and replied, "I know it's too dark to see me, but I can see you. I'm not lost."

"God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light. Yes, God does these things again and again for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life." (Job 33:28-30)

Hope=Power. When we lose hope, everything goes dark. We are lost in the woods with no way out.

   But God sees you, and the light of Jesus will lead you out if you follow it.  

That hope never fails.

What a perspective-changing morning I had. As I walked back to the car, I thought about things differently. The parking spot was actually pretty awesome relative to all the other cars that I noticed were much further away. I had time to go back home and pick up Susan for a drive to work together. I was thankful for the friends who invited me to the event and truly enjoyed the time to connect with a colleague I hadn't had the chance to outside of business. Though earlier than I wanted, I had the time to do everything I needed to, and what is a little shoulder pain, as I'm still physically able to exercise and feel great. We needed the rain, and it had stopped long enough to get back to the car.

Life, while super challenging in many areas, is full of hope. While He laughs at me and lets me walk aimlessly around in the woods from time to time, Jesus sees me, and I know it...perspective.

What are those annoyances you are dealing with today that, with a little reframing, could trigger a little gratitude and hope?

People all around you feel lost and unseen. They are stuck in the dark woods with no apparent way out. See them. Let them know that you do and bring them hope by being the light of Christ that can walk with them out of the darkness and into the light that God promises. And if that is you, cry out to him from the corner of your dark room. It may be too dark to see him, but He sees you. He is not lost.
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