There was a time, a few years ago, when I was struggling with very serious issues in my marriage. I thought we would undoubtedly end up as a statistic. How could that even be possible? I was shattered. I couldn’t see the end of it back then, but God could. He had the full picture and knew our troubles would have a different outcome than I thought. Going through that crisis, which seemed unending, and overcoming it made us a better couple. It made me a stronger, more compassionate person. I felt closer to God than ever before.
I’m sure you can think of a time when you thought your burden was too much for you to handle, but with God’s help, you got through whatever issue was facing you. You see, we can’t avoid trials and troubles and James even tells us we should consider them joy (James 1:2). I’m not sure if I’ve reached the spiritual maturity to find joy in them yet (although I’m working on it!), but I know that whatever it is, it will pass eventually and the Lord will heal me. I know I can cry my heart out to the Lord, I know I can ask for the help of others and I don’t need to walk alone – God will always be on my side. And I also know that sometimes the pain may be too much and it very well may end up changing me, but God’s love for me will remain the same no matter what.
These days whenever I’m going through hardships, I try to remember these experiences that I have under my belt. Oddly enough, they bring me comfort and help me to stay strong. They are great reminders of what God helped me to overcome and they made me into who I am today. With these memories in mind, as I go through my day, I recall God’s promises for those who suffer and repeat them to myself constantly. These are some of my favourites:
Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 147:3 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
II Corinthians 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Deuteronomy 31:6 – I will never leave you or forsake you.
Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
When you are facing trials, what promises does the Lord bring to your mind for you to hold on to? He can and He will sustain you once more. May our Lord bless you and keep you as you overcome whatever you are going through today!
This is such a human story. I love the scripture verses.
Thank you for sharing. You quoted several of my favorite verses. Isaiah 41:10 was shown to me in my early days as a Christian. It continues to be comforting to me in difficult times.