Listen

Have mercy on me, Lord, because I’m depressed. My vision fails because of my grief, as do my spirit and my body.

My life is consumed with sadness; my years are consumed with groaning.

Strength fails me because of my suffering; my bones dry up.

Psalm 31:9-10

Think

What is the last thing you faced that was really hard? Perhaps you are in the midst of a difficult time right now. Sometimes it feels like we might always feel sad or disappointed or angry. In those times we might turn to the advice of friends, to our phones, or to unhealthy habits to offer us relief from those feelings.

But, our scriptures remind us that we can always turn to God in those tough times. We can go to God with any of our emotions and trust that God will hear our prayers. While God doesn’t promise to take away the hard things, God does promise to be close to us.

Next time you are sad, what might it look like if you asked God to be with you in your sadness? How might that turn your stress and disappointment into peace?

Remember that God wants us to draw closer when life gets tough, and God promises to be there.

Courtney Jones Willis

Pray

Dear God, life is so hard sometimes. Thank you for always being present when I’m sad or frustrated.

Help me to remember that you are always close by, and that all I have to do is call out to you and you will give me strength.

Amen.

Go

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Fanny Crosby in “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” (1869)