God Is With Us in the Hard Times

We all go through times when life seems to overwhelm us. The Bible reassures us that God’s presence is with us to help us, even when we don’t realize it. The Book of Psalms is full of reminders that God is a shelter from life’s storms, a

refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble — Psalm 46:1

while Ephesians 5:8 reassures us that even though we “were once darkness,” we can now “live as children of light.”

Moments of darkness in our lives may be caused by the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or a home, or another great tragedy of life. Yet there is a greater darkness than these tragedies: the darkness in the eyes of one who has not felt God’s love, grace, and the assurance of His hope. There is hope for all of us. There is light. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our hope and light in darkness.

Our dark times may also be times when God wants to teach us something more about ourselves and His love for us. Romans 12:12 advises,

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Our faith can be strengthened if we will wait patiently and trust God’s heart-desire to make us more like Himself.

Tragedy or testing, dark days or dreary nights, God knows what we are facing. He is in touch with what is happening to us, and He is concerned.

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. — 1 John 1:5-7

When have you been overwhelmed by life?

How did God reveal His presence to you in that time?

God may use our dark times to draw us nearer to Him.

What has God taught you about yourself or His love for you during a dark time?

Read Isaiah 43:2.

What does this verse teach you about God’s response to our suffering? How can this verse be an encouragement to you in trying times?

In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry. — Jonah 2:2

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12

“For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.”

Excerpted with permission from Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers, copyright Margaret Fishback Powers.

* * *

Your Turn

Jesus Christ is the hope of all of us who know Him. He knows what you are facing right now. He is walking with you through it. Are you overwhelmed? He is with you! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full