Have you ever gone through a difficult time in your life where you were worried, stressed or filled with fear of the unknown? Did it feel like you were all alone in your darkest time? Are you going through one right now? Life is not easy, nor is it fair. Losing a loved one, going through a divorce, having a sick family member, watching a child make wrong choices, financial difficulties...sometimes the things we are going through make us feel hopeless and alone.
It might feel that way, but we are not. The thing is, when we are in the "midst of the maelstrom" it is very difficult to see anything other than the situation. Depending upon the severity of the circumstances, we may, truly, only be able to focus on that situation. (And, sometimes, that is what we need to do). But we are not hopeless. And we are not alone.
There is one who came to give us hope, one who will always be there for us, one who will walk through the "maelstroms" of life with us. His name is Jesus. He came not only to bridge our way to the Father through His sacrifice on the cross, He came to be with us...each and every day...in good times and in bad.
I have been through times in my life where I could not see the light through the darkness. Where, although I believed in Jesus, it was hard for me to see hope. I would pray as I went through it. I would cry out for help. Although I couldn't see the light or feel the light, deep down I knew He was there. When I looked back, after coming to the other side of the darkness, I could clearly see that He was with me the whole time. I knew I could never have made it through on my own.
I have a necklace with a "Footprints" charm on it. I've had it for many years. The charm is worn from all the years I've held it between my fingers when going through a difficult time. The charm has footprints on the front and an excerpt of the Footprints poem on the back. It says, "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
The Footprints poem is about a man who had a dream that he was walking along the sand with Jesus while scenes from his life flashed across the sky. For awhile, there were two sets of footprints, side by side. When it seemed that there was only one set of footprints during the hardest times of his life, he asked Jesus, "Why when I needed you most, were you not with me?" And Jesus replied, "My son, during those hard times, it was then that I carried you."
There is a verse in the Old Testament that comforts me. It is Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.
We will go through some of the most difficult things in this life, but we do not go through them alone. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
If you are going through something hard right now, I pray that you will reach out to the One who will walk beside you, who will carry you through it. He is hope. You are not alone. He will not leave you. You are not alone.
I am including a link to Kari Jobe's song, I Am Not Alone. Please listen to the words, and be encouraged.
