Yeah, I know how it is. It honestly seems like it won’t end sometimes. It’s all that you can see, all you can hear.  It is so overwhelming that it could sweep over you and carry you away, so thick and heavy that it weighs you down and could crush you. It is really hard, but in those times, hang on to the truth that you know deep down. Hang on to Truth Himself, Jesus, because God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He doesn’t change, ever.  Even when we change, or our circumstances do, God is our Rock. He is steadfast and sure. (Psalm 18:2) He is good, always. When everything else has fallen apart or faded away, we can hold on to that one simple truth. Hebrews 6 says that truth about God’s unchanging faithfulness is our hope, and that hope gives us an anchor to weather the storms of life, which is this: God is faithful, and I know that if He is my Anchor I am safely secure and held. That is true for you, no matter what you are facing.

Another beautiful verse, Hebrews 4:14-16, tells us how Jesus is able to sympathize with our struggles and weakness because He has walked on this earth and has been there Himself. Whatever we go through, whatever we feel, Jesus is there with us in that moment, and He more than just knows, He understands deeply.  He feels our pain with us.  We are never alone or invisible.  Jesus loves us and wants us, and He is with us through everything.  Even when it doesn’t look or feel like it, we can believe that He is still there because we know it to be true. God carries us on His shoulders; He pulls us through the hardest times, and He walks through every moment with us. Our hope can be confidently set on Him and He will not abandon us. Even if we can’t see Him there, we can believe that He is.

Feelings don’t change what reality is.  And this is a very good thing!  Even when we feel hopeless, alone, worthless, or like God is gone, the reality is that He is still right there holding us, loving us, pursuing us tirelessly, seeing us deeply. So no matter what we feel, we can remind ourselves of Truth, and know that our feelings do not change who God is or what His promises to us are.  He is faithful. He is here. He is good. He is love. He sees us. He provides for us. He is making something beautiful. (1 Timothy 2:11-13, Deuteronomy 31:6, Nahum 1:7, Romans 5:1-8, 1 Corinthians 13:12-13, Matthew 10:29-31, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28, Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We can call out to God at any time and He hears us. I know this is true because He says He will. (Psalm 34:4-7) I believe one of the most powerful things we can do during those times when we can’t see God and we are so convinced that we are alone and forgotten, is to just cry out to Him. Leap out on pure faith alone and pray. It likely won’t change the emotions and feelings right away, but even when we feel so disconnected, God is still there. He hears us just as closely, and He answers! You may or may not see the answer right now, but rest assured that He always answers. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

Friend, there is hope. There is always hope, for you and for me, because there is always God. He is unchanging, firm and sure.  He alone is our unfading Hope.  God is with you, pulling you through even the darkest night.  Even if the journey is long and slow, trust in God’s timing.  He is writing the story of your life exactly as He wants it to be.  Just keep your eyes on Him.

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬

~ Amanda