In the valley, Jesus is there.

Mental illness can be debilitating and often isolating. Many times, those struggling with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental and emotional disorders feel like they are walking alone, which often exacerbates the issues they battle daily.

But for many people, faith has played a major role in their healing journey. This is not to say trained counselors, psychiatric medication, and other treatments don't help. But encountering Jesus-sometimes on their knees in prayer and sometimes in the form of another authentic and loving Christian walking beside them-can bring tremendous comfort, peace, and hope like nothing else.

The fourteen stories in this slim book, Darkness to Light: Finding Jesus in the Valley of Mental Illness, compiled by editor and mental health advocate Jessica Brodie, offer a look at the personal mental health journeys of a number of people, sharing in many cases how faith helped them on their road to wellness.

Whether you are struggling with your own mental and emotional health or you are supporting someone who is, we hope these stories will be a source of inspiration.

Together, we can journey from darkness to light ... the light of Christ.