I have talked about going through hard times before. We all go through them. I’ve talked about how these difficult times can be self-inflicted, caused by others, or caused by things that are out of our control. These hard times may linger for a short time or go on for a long period of time. Whatever the case may be, the solution can be found in the loving grace of God.

            There are times, however, that rather than putting our faith in God, we instead keep lingering on in the darkness. We feel that we can find the solution to our problems on our own. We think that we can bring ourselves out of the darkness on our own. However, haven’t you noticed that by doing things on our own, all we find is more darkness, confusion, and sadness?

            This happens because we are doing things out of the will of God. We have strayed from the path. When we do that, all we find is darkness, confusion, and sadness. However, when we lay it all at His feet, He takes care of us and all those things that were burdens in our lives go away. He helps us overcome those hardships so that we may live the life He planned for us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

            Do not be afraid that He will not help you through those hard times. He never leaves our side. It doesn’t matter how far you stray. He will call you back to Him and bring you back home. As we see in the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus will come and find you, even in the midst of the darkness, He will bring you back to light.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” – Matthew 18: 11-14

            In all honesty, recently I fell back into my old habits. I was lazy and I started slacking on reading my Bible the way I used to. I allowed my emotions to take over my daily routines and they left me saddened and dismayed. I allowed the scars of my past to haunt me once again. The peace and happiness I once had, felt like a distant memory. I strayed ever so slightly from the path and I saw what it leads to. God reminded me of what life used to be like without Him.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15: 4-5

            I have chosen to continually seek the Lord. I have seen my life with and without Him and can honestly say that I am nothing without Him. It is because of His love and His grace that I am worth something. I am a child of God. I am redeemed. I may not have many possessions in this world, but I have everything I need in Him. He is my light, my strength, my redeemer, my Lord and Savior. He has put me here so that I may comfort you all in what you go through as well. Know that you are not alone. He is there to love you and comfort you, always.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5