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Not abandoned


These last several months, I've seen God bring comfort and encouragement to me and James in many different ways. But the main way has been through people, specifically the family of God.

Tonight was one such example.

James is out of town with grandparents this week and tonight, after a long, lonely evening, I drove down to main campus and went for a walk with our dogs. I was feeling discouraged because of a few things already. Then, as I was crossing a bridge over the creek, I was suddenly overwhelmed by heavy grief. I could not go on. I leaned on the bridge railing and allowed the tears and sobs to pour out.

In that moment, I felt thoroughly abandoned. Thoughts of how alone and forsaken I was swirled in my head as fast and loud as the roaring creek below.

Eventually, I pulled myself together enough to continue walking.  I was almost to my car when I looked behind me to see some friends not far behind me. I had not even heard them approaching. They immediately could tell I was upset.

 In the next few moments, God used those friends to show me His love. They prayed with me, cried with me and spoke loving words of comfort to me. it changed my entire outlook for the evening.

I went home, praising God for His kindness to me. He did not just hint that He cared about my tears. It was almost like He put it in bold type right in front of my face: "I LOVE YOU. I HAVE NOT FORSAKEN YOU." And he used friends to do that for me.

The reality is, most likely, I will have other days when these thoughts and feelings overtake my heart, telling me I am all alone, that nobody cares, that my life is in ruins for good.

But I have seen that God hears the cries of His child. He won't forsake me when I run to him with my pain and my loneliness. He is good. 

Psalm 4:1 

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer"

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