My heart aches today. Several people I know are facing gut-wrenching circumstances – prolonged illness, death of a loved one, a broken marriage, joblessness. Dear friends, if you only knew how much I wish I could ease your pain.

Cliches
I could remind you to ask God “What do you want me to learn?” or “How do you want to change me through this time?” Actually, that’s where this post started. But sometimes these reminders, while true, fall short of providing hope and comfort. Knowing that God uses times of testing to grow us is sometimes of little consolation when you wonder how you’re going to get out of bed or why you even need to get out of bed.

Promises
My heart tells me that my suffering friends need to hear a different message: God has not forgotten you, He loves you and He sees your tears. Believe these promises and own them.

Psalm 10:17 (NLT): Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

Intercession
And not only are people praying for you, the Holy Spirit himself is taking your cares to God. Take heart, be strong in the Lord. And trust in his faithfulness to see you through whatever you’re facing.

Do you have godly wisdom that may help others through some dark days? Please share your comments.

Romans 8:35, 38-39 (NLT): Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?…And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.