All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

When you are feeling low

When you’re in the valley . . .

What does God say to those who hurt?

Listen to this podcast here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1d4ca9a2/when-you-are-f...

In our heart of hearts, of course we know looking for the light is good, but sometimes life is just plain hard! For instance, this-- the adoption process seemed to be coming to a close... baby boy was well loved and cared for, papers all signed, and the young mother, child and her parents literally on their way to court to get it finalized after three long years. And then, the phone rang. 'Further investigation is needed.' What had been a day filled with anticipation came to a screeching halt. The sweet baby's 'grandma' told me about it, as tears filled her eyes. 'What if they take him now? We love him so!' I hugged her, held her, listened and then prayed for all of them. O, the hurt. Then I know several others trying to make sense of loss and pain in their lives. Does the hurt ever go away? And in the meantime, how to keep putting one foot in front of the other?

Heartache is part of our human condition. We will experience it in lesser or greater ways throughout our lives; of that, I am sure. Could be any number of causes, including sheer discouragement, but hard times do come. People try to understand, but only God can truly know, only God can heal and restore our hearts.

"So, Lord, if I could carry my friend to you, what would you say to her?"

“Child, I am with you; you do not walk alone. I know what it is like to lose someone you love. Come to me, and I will give you rest.1

There is nothing that you will face or feel that I have not already experienced2, so I can help you through your troubled time.

So often it seems that you can live your life without Me—you think you are self- sufficient and manage most everything by yourself. I appreciate your ‘can do’ attitude, but you see, when that is how you think, then prayer is just a nice little add-on to your daily habits; it is not your life’s breath.

On the other hand, when life gets hard~

when you are in the valley David spoke of . . .

when you are unsure how you will go on,

when it feels as though your heart may just break in two,

when you are so tired or discouraged that life just doesn’t seem manageable. . .

when you are overwhelmed by circumstances,

certain there are no easy or ready answers…

then, please remember that I, your loving God, never slumber and I do not sleep.3 And I am close to the brokenhearted—that is a promise.4

In reality, my child, sometimes, it is when you are in pain that you are able to hear Me. It is when you cannot reason or talk things out, find a place to make each fit … when you are unable to find neat little boxes or tidy packages in which to tie things up … that you turn to Me, and give Me a chance. Sometimes it is when I am all you have that you realize I am all you need. ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."5

Friends, maybe the prayer that is answered more often than any other is just eight words—two words, repeated four times: “Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God!” It is when we come to the end of ourselves, the end of what we are able to manage and control, and turn heavenward realizing that God is mighty to save, that he alone is truly able to save!6 As long as self is in the way, there is not much room for God to come and do the miraculous, whether we pray or not.

Perhaps when our hearts hurt, God has his greatest opportunity with us. Rather than just struggling along, we can ask God to come and meet us, and heal our brokenness.

"You won’t face anything, Child, that I have not, so I understand … I get it. I understand the depth and breadth of your emotion. I’m not just big enough to bear it all, I am also BIGGER than all of it. I am outside of time and space and can rescue you. If you look to me, I will give you what you need—the grace—to make it through one day at a time.7 I love you.

Your Father"

The Good Shepherd never leaves his sheep alone.

When they are weighed down by life,

he picks them up and carries them.

When you’re in the valley, God is with you.

By the way, take note that when you are in the valley,

the grass is the greenest.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me, Lord. Psalm 23.4

I know I will "find you here": listen--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rRsRlYPrw