Hope in Seasons of Suffering

I have a message for those who are experiencing a painful, overwhelming situation. I am not speaking to those who now enjoy a time of rest from suffering, who are not in any kind of pain or sorrow. Thank God for those times of quiet rest.

I receive so many letters from precious followers of Jesus who are living with incredible inner sorrow and crisis situations: divorce, children on drugs or in jail, the death of a spouse. A woman who is so in love with the Lord grieves over the death of three of her children who all suffocated in a fire. A pastor grieves for his wife who left him and their children for a lesbian lover. It goes on and on as so many godly people are burdened with grief and pain.

I have a message for you who live with pain. In the psalms, David cried, “For innumerable evils have surrounded me…. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 40:12-13, NKJV), and “Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you… But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me; you are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God” (Psalm 40:16-17).

I have been so blessed and comforted by this one line: “The Lord thinks upon me.”  Imagine that. The Lord God who created all things, the God of this universe, is thinking about me.

Even at this very hour, his thoughts are about you in your hour of need.

When Israel was captive in Babylon, mourning over the loss of homes and families, God sent word to them through his prophet: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). God said to his people, “Your nightmare is going to end. I have only good, loving thoughts toward you, and if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me” (see Jeremiah 29:11-13).

God is not mad at you. Saintly people do get afflicted, so do not waver in your trust in him. In times of stress and feelings of loneliness and regrets, go to prayer. Pour your heart out to the Lord. He is thinking of you, and he is at work for you.