These last few weeks have been tough for me. A few weeks ago I lost a friend of mine, Zane and mourn the loss. It seems like yesterday that I lost my friends Skip, Marcia and Sandy, who passed after a long bouts with cancer. As well as my mother, father-in law and my stepdad….all whom I loved deeply. A lot of times I need someone to lean on. A good friend of mine lost a best friend to suicide and is having a hard time finding any joy in her own life as she mourns the loss of someone so close to her heart. She needs someone to lean on. At any time in our life, we are only a few steps away from deep pain, from deep loss and sorrow. But, we are closer than we think to a loving God that wants to be with us in these troubling times. He wants us to lean on Him.
Sometimes life’s pain is overwhelming. Sometimes we are affected by the actions of others and are overwhelmed with the pain it has caused. How do we cope? How do we navigate the path we are on with such obstacles? Go to God in prayer–He listens. Ask God to help you heal, allow God to be your refuge and ask God to give you strength.
God is there with the strength you need. God is there to help. By trusting in Him daily and allowing Him to be your refuge–we drown out difficulty. He will lead us out. We must be strong in knowing that we will recover in this pain with God’s help. With God–even tears, grief mourning and sorrow–we can pull through and live again.
The Psalms are a storehouse of inspiration in times of pain:
Psalms 61:1-2 1 God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. 2 From a place far away I call out to you. I call out as my heart gets weaker. Lead me to the safety of a rock that is high above me.
Psalms 71:14 But I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more.
Psalms 55:22 Turn your worries over to the Lord. He will keep you going. He will never let godly people fall.
I have a love that runs deep for my wife. When times are good I appreciate her and celebrate each day that we have together. When things are tough, I turn to her and am thankful that she goes through my pain with me. She also gives me strength in tough times. I likewise do the same with her. You see, in times of pain, it is important that we lean on those we love………Jesus AND those around us.
Many years ago, as my father tried climbing the stairs in his last days of life, my wife and I would put our arms around him and sing, “Lean on me, when you’re not strong……..”, he was comforted and we were blessed to share many moments with him.
When times are good….thank God and praise Him. Celebrate each day that you share together. When times are tough….thank God that He is there with you..and praise Him. I am thankful and believe that He goes through our pain with us. God can give us strength in tough times.
God is what good is. I love you, Jan.
Yes he is indeed Al ! Love you to brother! God bless ya man! 🙂