If something happens where we can realize an endpoint, that can give us hope, because we know that whatever's happening is going to end. We cling with all of our strength to God and his promises and when the momentary trial comes to an end we feel good that we didn't lose our faith.
However, there are times when the trial is not momentary and our faith weakens. We become weary and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Has God left us? If we depend on our emotions then it could absolutely feel like he has left us! But if we depend on his promises then we know that there's no way he would ever leave us.
Matthew 11:28-30, " “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, " Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Lamentations 3:20-25, "My soul is downcast within me. But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him."
There will come times when our natural energy or optimism will not be enough for us. We will have to lean heavily on God the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit. God's promises will be the mast that we cling to when the storm hits us and we are in the middle of a sea of turmoil in complete darkness.
I encourage you not to let life hit you like a bunch of bricks falling from the sky but to be prepared. Read your Bibles and highlight and rewrite scriptures in your journals that the Holy Spirit speaks to you through. Let them comfort you and pass them forward to those that you know are going through something.
Anguish is such a spiky and poisonous word. No one wants to go near it or have any part of it. But sometimes we are called to go through things. Jesus went before us and like I said he will be with us through everything. Don't lose heart.
1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you."
Not only am I going through this right now but I can think of quite a few people as far as Christian friends and acquaintances that are experiencing this darkness and at even a much deeper level. This is not even to mention the stories that I read on social media. People are suffering and not just what I spoke about above but terrible persecutions around the world. I'm sorry this all sounds like such a downer but we are called to pray for one another. Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for the unsaved and what they're going through without having a Savior to lean on. Pray for your enemies because hurt people, hurt people. Pray for a hurting and lost world.
Psalm 34:18-19, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all. "
Psalm 91:4, "He shall cover you with his feathers and under his wings you shall take refuge; his truth shall be your shield and rampart.
Praise God for his divine protection, comfort, hope, faithfulness and love.
Ecclesiastes 1:3-8, "there is a time for every season.."
The sun comes out after every storm.
