You are NOT alone...

You are NOT alone...

Danielle Joyner Kelley

March 19, 2009

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

When we are going through bad times, we often get angry that we are having to suffer. Many of us even get angry at God. How often have you yelled aloud, "Why me?".

This scripture tells us that God daily bears our burdens, but all too often we grow impatient with Him because we know He can do anything He wants. We tell ourselves if He can do anything then why can't he stop our pain.

The Bible is filled with stories of "why". One of the most well known is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. He knew all along he was going to bring Lazarus back to life yet did not tell his friends who were so upset at the fact Lazarus had died. Yet knowing He was going to raise him and end their pain the Bible tells us that when He saw His friends in pain, "Jesus wept." John 11:35. Why would Jesus cry for them if He knew He was about to end their pain?

The answer is actually simple. He wept because His friends were hurting. He talked to them through this time and could have told them His plans but He did not because He was trying to grow their faith in Him and God. He needed them to believe.

God teaches us lessons in life to grow our faith in Him. But He is always holding you and crying with you. And sometimes these things are happening not just to grow your faith but others as well. Lazarus died yet Jesus was using Him to strengthen His friends faith.

Just as parents discipline their children, He does the same with us. When I discipline my child and he looks at me and says "I'm sorry" I want to end the discipline and say "No it is okay.". Yet I don't because I know it is best for him to learn and not act that way again. So I tough it out while he is crying cause he can't watch TV and I hurt every time he cries. I want to give in but I don't. That doesn't mean I am not crying inside with him.

God's relationship with us is much the same. We are His children. So when you are hurting let Him know that you know He is hurting with you and that He is building you with discipline for something great. Feel His arms around you and know He hurts for you as well. Imagine how He feels knowing He must do this because He can see the big picture and knows what He has in store for you. You cannot see it, but lean on Him and rest assured that you will. He will lead you through.

Everything that happens to you use it. That becomes part of your testimony. After you come through a bad time look for that person to come along in your life bearing your same problem. Then reach out and help them with your own story and know that God is working through YOU. Yes God will use you to strengthen someone elses faith. Think what an honor that is. By staying the course and strengthening your own faith He can use you to change the world. Now that is true love in the purest of forms!