Few of us look for adversity, but it finds us nevertheless. The Bible promises us that God goes with us through each adversity and offers us a way through. I trust God to keep this promise and help me with the wisdom and courage I need to face what comes up in my life.

Recently, this has been health issues that seem to come in waves. As I meditate on God’s promise, I see how people in my life support me with prayers, assistance and wisdom. For example, I have a doctor who works with me and accepts my limitations and a healthcare I can use at a price I can afford. I also have found others who have struggled with similar health issues and learned to cope. They give me courage to keep trying. God’s peace keeps me calm, which also helps my health to improve because stress levels diminish.

Prayer has been helpful in all of this. I can lay my burdens at the feet of Jesus and receive peace that passes understanding. I can ask God to give my doctor wisdom and give me strength. Each prayer is answered. I can see God’s hand in my path.

If you feel alone in adversity, reach out and ask for help. God will place people in your life to come along side you. The pastoral counselors at the Bless Me Network will listen and pray with you. You may have options you don’t know about. Open your ears and your heart and let God speak and show you how to get through what’s most affecting you today.

The lyrics to one of my favorite songs says:

And He walks with me

and He talks with me

and He tells me I am His own.

Whether my life is in sunshine or shadow, I never walk it alone. God goes with me, beside me, carrying me when I can no longer make it under my own steam. I have an assurance that I face nothing in this world or the next alone. I take great comfort in that.

Each year we come through Lent and arrive at Easter. The dark days of Holy Week include Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday before the grace and joy of Easter arrive. Walk with me a moment as we look at how these days play out in our lives.

Maundy Thursday: Jesus spent this last night with His disciples. He knew what was to come. A close friend and follower sitting and eating with Him would betray Him and turn Him over to His enemies. His disciples would fail to support Him as He agonized over His coming ordeal and scatter when He was taken. Was there ever a time in His life when He felt more alone, more unsure or more sad? Probably not!

Many of us have felt betrayed, abandoned, unsure of the future, afraid of the coming ordeal and caught up in the drama of the dark night of the soul. Jesus gave us these words of home in John 16:32

“Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (The Message)

In the next chapter, He continues to pray for His Disciples and for US!

“I’m praying not only for them (the disciples), but also for those who will believe in me, because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— just as You, Father, are in me and I in You, so they might be one heart and mind with Us.” John 17:20-21 (The Message)

When we go through the dark night He goes with us. We are not alone. We have company when things are at their darkest.

Good Friday: On trial for His life and convicted, beaten, mocked, hung on a cross and left to suffocated a long and horrible death. Even on the cross, His concern was for others. He went through this for us – so that we would not have to live without power and love that can lift life from the pit of Hell into the joy of Easter Sunday! Our debt paid by Him so we could be free.

Holy Saturday: The fear and the agony of the disciples was thick on this day. Jesus was dead! All that they had hoped and lived for the last three years was gone! They might be hunted and suffer the same fate! How would they cope without Him? The promises He made them about the outcome were lost in the sorrow and fear of this day.

Easter: Still in fear, but wanting to serve and love Him, Mary Magdelene came with Mary, the mother of James, and Salome to anoint the body. They came early, despite knowing soldiers guarded the tomb and the stone was too heavy to move. They came out of love!

An angel awaited them to share the good news: “He is not Here! He has risen, just as He said.” But it wasn’t enough for Mary. She looked for Him and found Him! He spoke to her and she knew that Voice! Her Master was alive!

She couldn’t wait to share the news with the disciples. She ran to tell them Hope was not dead! He truly had conquered death, hell and the grave.

He is alive for us today. He brings hope and light at the end of our darkest days and night. He promised never to leave us and to provide a Comforter! We need never go through life alone! We have access to His power, love and hope.

Joy can come in the morning! We can emerge victorious! We reach out to Him and allow Him to show us the joy and the hope of an Easter morning.

If you need hope, comfort, someone to walk with you through your darkest days or nights; speak to one of our ministers and allow us to share with you the same love and comfort we ourselves have received. We are only a phone call away!