LOVED THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES

When problems arise it's easy to forget that God cares.  We often feel alone and helpless.  Daily life continues regardless of the heartache we are feeling and somehow, we must cope.  We feel like struggling orphans with no one to care for us.  We forget God’s instruction to call on Him for help and assume He also has abandoned us.  However, God does not forget His beloved.  We just need to call on Him and He will answer us.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them. (Psalm 91:14-15 NLT)

In difficult times, rather that running from God, we need to draw closer to Him and let His unfailing love ease the pain we are feeling.  We live in a broken world where sin and sorrow abound and no person escapes its ravages.  Perhaps we’ve wondered where God was when bad things happened to us.  Perhaps we were unaware that God was nearby, ready to provide comfort and help.

Jesus took upon himself all sin, suffering, and sorrow when He died in our place on the cross.  As we put our trust in God’s unfailing love for us, He makes forgiveness, healing, and comfort available to us. Regardless of our circumstances, God promises that He will never leave us and will hold us steady until we can effectively stand strong in the power of His love. 

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.  Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down, and we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!  But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Deuteronomy 33:27, Isaiah 53:4-5 NLT)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I don’t understand suffering, but I know that You do. Because of Your great love for me You offer forgiveness for my wrong doing and wrong thinking.  Thank You for the healing and comfort You provide in my times of need. Hold me close today.  Steady me with Your everlasting arms until I can stand strong in Your power.  Amen