Agony. Death. Pain. Fear. Sorrow. We will experience these things and more as we go through life. Do I have to just grit my teeth and endure? In the middle of the deepest and darkest valleys, God will help me to move beyond my wailing question, “Why me?” I look to see God in the middle of the pain–never doubt it, He is there! And I ask Him to show me what He has for me in the middle of all this pain. Will there be a day when I can praise God and thank him even when my circumstances are deplorable? Could I praise and thank him as I bury a loved one? Could I sing songs of hope and love from the depths of a death camp? What if I lost my job, my home, my health? God tells us that He will give us the strength to endure with joy and thanksgiving.
Colossians 1:9 (The Message)
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

GOD strenghthens always! So sad was I to make a teenage relative leave the home due to negative circumstances which had just gotten ridiculous. GOD sent another grown grandchild only a few days later who will strengthen the household in his ways. My beloved cat was found other world beneath the living room table. We had been searching and thought he was just enjoying his 3 or so days out of the house he sometimes nurtures. This beloved owned a piece of my heart and still does. A co-worker had given me a journal with scriptures a few days earlier. These daily scriptures and place to write out all of my feelings help me in my daily life travels! What a blessing the gifts from our LORD and GOD,
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God takes our broken hearts and binds them up with his peace and comfort. Joni Erickson Tada talks about a time when her back was up against a wall, and she despaired. A friend told her, “Jesus walked through walls to be with his disciples in the upper room. He can give you the strength to walk through walls, too.”
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