“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me….” – Psalms 23:4
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
In the hardest moments when I am overwhelmed with pain, God is at work for my good. In the hardest moments when you are overwhelmed with pain, God is at work for your good. In the hardest moments when our community is overwhelmed with pain, God is at work for our good. This belief is unimaginable during the most difficult times to envision and trust. God is with you, draw near to God and trust anyway.
Have you ever asked, How could God allow something so terrible to happen? Of course, we all have. My son, Brennan, when diagnosed with a chronic disease, questioned God’s love for months. Every night he would cry himself to sleep asking. “if God loved him, why did He allow this to happen to him?” I would pray for him, with him and over him, asking the Lord to use this for His greater purpose. Bad, terrible, horrific things happen that make no sense to us. These events can cause us to doubt and even harbor anger towards God. We may ask, Why God? Why me? Why this? Why now? It is as if we had the answers, it would create some peace and understanding. The need to know can be crippling. God is with you, draw near to God and trust anyway.
God our Father leads and protects us like a shepherd leads and protects his flock. This does not exempt us from pain and suffering. What is promised is that God is always with us and uses our Earthly experiences for good. We are called to surrender OUR will to God and trust HIS ways. Psalms 23:2 states, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Are you surrendering to His will and seeking His comfort for restoration? God is with you, draw near to God and trust anyway.
God knows pain and suffering. He sent His son, Jesus, to live and die an unimaginable death on the cross. I cannot imagine any greater pain than that. This pain was not for nothing, it was and is a symbol of God’s love, including suffering. Suffering represents forgiveness for those who serve and love Him. God is with you, draw near to God and trust anyway.
God will never leave you or forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6 God commands our confidence and trust in Him. In a world that encourages us to believe in ourselves and to question everything, it is paramount that we remember who we belong to. When you walk through the valleys of pain, unimaginable loss, fear, depression, anxiety, and more, God is with you, draw near to God and trust anyway.