Considering the disappointments of our past, the uncertainty
of our future and the unexpected surprises which meet us with each new day, we often
feel frightened by a world that can be very overwhelming.
We always wonder why God allows bad things to happen to good
people. We search our soul to discover if we did something to deserve the
trials we are experiencing. We shrink from the pain and suffering inflicted
upon us.
Regret and anger over our past mistakes, depression and
loneliness in our current experiences and hopelessness and fear concerning the
future make us regret the day we were ever born.
Yet, when we allow God to open the eyes of our understanding
and to open our hearts to His eternal love, our life takes on a whole new
meaning (John 3:16-17).
Our compassionate Lord experienced the same degree of
suffering and degradation, which we do; and He understands how we feel. He
suffered so much more than we ever will, and He did it all for us.
He uses the sin-caused circumstances of daily living to
strengthen our character, perfect our patience and draw us ever closer to His
bleeding heart (James 1:4-8).
He is our hope, and our expectations are in Him alone. Apart
from Him, there is no joy and peace in this life. He satisfies our longings and
fills our empty soul (Psalm 107:9).
He heals broken hearts, answers our doubts, calms our fears,
strengthens our endurance and gives us hope for a tomorrow filled with His
presence, regardless of our circumstances.
Prayer:
Father God, we depend on Your mercy to see us through this
life, on Your grace to make us victorious over every negative experience, and
on Your goodness to give us a miracle from every trial. From Old Testament
examples and New Testament encouragement we realize that You are the same
yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
You help us to remain faithful regardless of our
experiences, to never lose hope, to never slander Your name and to always walk
in Your righteousness; so we do not cause anyone to doubt Your goodness.
Nothing can ever separate us from Your love except the distance that we put
between You and us (Romans 8:35-39).
Thought for the Day:
As we are fully aware and present in each moment of life, we
see how God is weaving them into a beautiful tapestry for us to enjoy.
