Many times, we believe that the presence of suffering means the absence of God. On the contrary! When God’s children are suffering, the Bible tells us He is then close to us, not far away. Psalm 34:18-19 says:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalms 34:18-19 ESV)
God is not the cause of our suffering and does not delight in our pain. He does not take our hurt lightly. As I would run to my children’s side even at the smallest scrape of the knee, surely our Heavenly Father is with us when our hearts are crushed, and despair has taken over. The gift of God’s presence is not dependent on how well our life is going, but on His love for us. Since He loves us all the time, even sending His Son to die on our behalf, He will always be with us during the good and the bad. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is His presence. Though we sometimes have to walk through the valley, we do not walk alone.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for always being present with me when I am going through suffering or difficult seasons. When I am overwhelmed with grief or don’t feel Your presence, remind me that You will never leave me or forsake me. In Jesus’ name, amen
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