I believe that everyone of us has
sometimes faced a hard road in life with many challenges and decisions. You can be a housewife with a handsome husband; you can be a
Minister with a loving wife and kids; you can be a successful businessman or woman with
your achievements and goals met; or you can be a struggling teen trying to provide for and
raise a family. I have struggles everyday and challenges in my life. Sometimes I just want
to give up. Ever feel that way? I am sure we all feel like that sometimes. But I have
found a safe haven in Jesus Christ. I was raised a preachers kid in the Bible Belt of
South Carolina. I went to church every time the door was open. I always knew about God...
but never had a Real relationship with God...but now I thank Him that I finally do. I
always had hard times. But now, I have the comfort and peace of a relationship with Jesus
Christ and I know He has a plan for me--for all of us.
The Word of God promises us that He will
never give us a burden or situation that we cannot handle. He has an ultimate plan in
everything we do...even when we stumble and fall short of His Amazing Grace. That is why
it's so amazing...His love is unconditional and compassionate. And His Grace is so
abundant and FREE.
I have listed a few scriptures below that I find comfort in when I am down. If you are
having a difficult time, please read them and remember...He loves you. And so do I.
PSALMS 37:3-5
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily though shalt be
fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him and He shall bring it to pass.
ROMANS 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to His purpose.
ROMANS 8: 31-31
What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against? He that spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also give us
all things?
PROVERBS 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all
thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
ISAIAH 40: 29-31
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even
the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
SALVATION PLAN
 YOU AND I MUST BE BORN AGAIN.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
YOU AND I ARE SINNERS.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
OUR PENALTY OF SIN IS DEATH.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
OUR PENALTY FOR SIN WAS PAID BY JESUS CHRIST
But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us. (Romans 5:8)
WE MUST REPENT OF SIN, THEN AND CONFESS AND TRUST
JESUS
CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
WE CAN BE SURE OF SALVATION.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life… (I John 5: 1,13)
IT'S DARK...
Lord , it's dark. Are you here in my
darkness?
Your light has gone out and so has its reflection on all things around me.
Everything seems grey and somber as when a fog blocks out the sun.
Everything is an effort, everything is difficult, and I am weary.
Every morning I am overwhelmed at the thought of another day.
I long for an end to all this, a way home.
I want to leave, run away, flee, anywhere. Escape.
Escape what? You, Lord, others, myself...I don't know.
But leave. Flee.
I go along haltingly like someone addicted
From force of habit, unconsciously.
I go through the same meaningless motions day after day
I walk, but I know I am getting nowhere.
I speak, and my words are dreadfully empty.
Even mere thoughts escape me and I find it hard to think.
I stammer, confused and feel ridiculous and abashed.
People shake their head at me.
Lord, am I losing my mind?
Or is this what You want?
It wouldn't matter, except that I am alone.
I feel so alone.
You have taken me far, Lord--trusting, I followed You
And You walked right by my side.
And now, in the middle of this exile, it seems You have disappeared.
I call and I seem to get no answer from you.
I search and I do not find You.
I have nothing to lean on and now I feel left alone.
Your seeming absence is my suffering at its tragic height.
Lord, it's dark.
Lord, are you here in my darkness?
Where are you, Lord?
Do You love me still?
Or have I wearied You also to the point of giving up on me.
Have I used up my seventy times seven times of forgiveness?
Lord, please answer.
Please answer.
It's dark....
RWL
August, 1997
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