Well said Dan - and I can relate to my own life "disasters". My wife and I run a Christian recovery program and we work with dozens of people every month who are at the end of their ability to cope with the challenges of living through unbelievable hardship. We work with them to move them away from drugs, alcohol, gambling, abusive relationships, and other addictions to the hope and love that can only come from Jesus. But there are so so many of us who are weary of the constant battles and who long for the promise of Heaven. I remember as a 10 year old sitting in church on a warm Sunday morning in August of 1967 and hearing our pastor excitedly talk about Christ's imminent return and often reflect back on that Sunday and all the times that I've cried out to Jesus to come back now. Fifty-two years and so much pain later, I can see why God has waited - so many lives have come to Christ in that half century - but it seems like we're going backwards faster than forwards. I just have to remind myself that the time on Earth will be like a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of eternity. In the mean time I'll keep pouring out the hope and love of Christ on those who enter our program, hopeless and searching for an answer. :prayer-hands: :prayer-hands: :prayer-hands: Hang in there Todd. Your not alone. If we all focus on the time that has transpired and evil before us we often forget that the Lord knows and will remember our struggles. Our struggles of body, soul and spirit will be rewarded. Though it has been long delayed, we shall be recompensed. Quite adequately I might add! TR Remembering every woman who has ever given birth knows the pain that is experienced just prior to birth. But once the birth is accomplished overwhelming joy eliminates the pain. As we wait for our bodies to be born again, we also suffer. Tears through the long night, but joy in the morning. TR Hev - a truer statement has never been said, our longing and struggles will be overwhelming at times, enough, as JD says, I’d loose my mind, but the final joy, as TR mentioned, will make it worth it. :prayer-hands: :prayer-hands:
