I AM WITH YOU

Taken from the devotional I'm reading called "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young.  February 18.

I AM WITH YOU.  These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair.  Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience.  But the promise of My Presence limits how far down you can go.  Sometimes you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down.  Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically.  Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help.  You recall that not only am I with you, I am holding you by your right hand.  I guide you with My counsel, and after ward I will take you into Glory.  This is exactly the perspective you need:  the reassurance of My Presence, and the glorious hope of heaven.

I felt this was appropriate to write because just as God has His time, He couldn't have been more perfect in sharing words that would relate to what I have just experienced...and to now have words to share with a soul that is struggling.  I remember the time I spent purging my heart of an unhealthy love & feeling.  It was painful, sorrowful, gut-wrenching, nauseating, lifeless, lost & very dark.  But in all of that, I do remember that God was there, as He still is, listening to all my rantings, screams, whispers, thoughts-wiping all my tears-comforting my weary body-restoring my broken soul.  Because of His unfailing presence & love, I was restored & renewed.  Tho life still throws curve-balls & fast balls at me & around me, I am more able to take them as they come.  I'm prayerful for my friend to find the peace I have come to find.  Mine is my own tho,that God has granted me through OUR relationship.  I know He will deliver my friend out of the darkness.  And through their renewed relationship, they will be restored.  In the Bible it says we must deny ourselves so that we may focus on God.  God never denies us tho.  And sadly, many times we deny God.  I'm so glad He didn't us....and that He never will.  The promise that pulls me through anything, is the promise that Jesus died for our sins so we may live.....and  soon He will return to receive us.  So what happens on this earth, let it be.  I'm going home one day, where I can't be hurt or I can't hurt anyone, to live with God eternally.  Remain faithful.  Talk with God.  Nourish your relationship with God.  You will find the peace that surpasses all understanding.