At times in our lives we overcome difficulties and process through our feelings by praying, leaning, relying, and trusting in God. But at other times- perhaps when we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually weary and continued negative circumstances keep hitting us- we feel beat-down, without hope, and are unable to get up. In this hard place- depression, fear, self-pity, hopelessness, and the lie that God does not listen, love, or care about our struggles keeps us from moving forward in life. But because of God’s great love for us, He will not leave His children in this dark place. Jesus never leaves us alone but pursues us in the dark places as He shares in our suffering. He feels our emotions along with us, even as He helps us carry the burden and process through the pain, hurt, and anger in our hearts. Jesus desires to show us that we are valuable and that He loves each of us unconditionally. This love will bring us to a place of hope again-hope that His love is bigger than all our hurt, pain, anger, and fear- and He is able to bring us out of the dark place of depression. Hope will bring us to a deeper and larger place of faith in God. We will then be able to live with an expectant attitude as we wait for God to work things out, lift us up, and manifest His great LOVE towards us!

“O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]…I will say to God my Rock, ‘Why have You forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?…Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God'” {Psalm 42:6a, 9,11).