His embrace
I woke up and the reality hit me like a boulder, I wanted to run. I remember just screaming and my cousin holding me, trying to get me to calm down. My husband was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. I’ve never felt so helpless in all my life.
I didn’t fully understand the peace that God brings until I remember lying on the sofa crying a couple of days after, as a wave of hopelessness consumed me. What occurred on that day shall forever be imprinted on my mind. I felt comforting arms embracing me and for a while everything was fine. I felt a peace in the middle of my storm that can’t be fully explained. If I didn’t know God was real before, I surely knew now.
He understands
God through his comforting embrace reminded me that he is there. He enabled me to recognize that I am not alone. He understands us more than we understand ourselves.
I’m not saying that from then on everything was smooth sailing and that I trusted God more than anything. No, the sadness and helpless feeling came on continuously. Yes, at some point I felt hopeless, but deep down I knew he was there. Every time I felt like giving up, I was reminded of his embrace.
You are never alone
God's word stated that “he will never you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse 6). Like the songwriter states, “if you can’t see his hand trust his heart”. If we cannot physically see him working in our lives, we must trust that he knows what’s best for us. The trying situations in our lives were not developed for us to fail but to strengthen us. They were designed for us to recognize on whom our strength lies and for us to know that with God by your side we are already overcomers.
You may have a momentary lapse where you feel like all hope is gone but be aware that God knows us inside out and he knows our capabilities. Hence, he is not going to give us more than we can bear.
Though we hope for everything to be smooth sailing it is through our difficulties we identify God’s character. It is through wanting that we recognize that he is the provider, through being sick we recognize that he is our healer.
There are times when you may feel like giving up however, continue to hold on. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans chapter 8 verse 18).
Abide in him and watch God work in your life, and remember you are never alone. The difficulties you face now will give someone else hope in the future, you will be a living testimony to someone else.
He knows us
Jesus knows your deepest fears and your weaknesses. God was the one who directed the enemy towards Job, he knew Job’s capabilities.
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job chapter 1 verse 8). God knew what Job could handle.
I remember waiting for confirmation to see if my first husband was really gone. I was just there praying that it was not the case. I asked my cousin if she believed he’s gone. She said yes but she was not sure why God would put me through that knowing that I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I am not going to say it was an easy road, I am not going to say that I always trusted God, but he has shown me that I can overcome. He has shown on days when I wanted to give up that he is there, and he always will be. I don’t know what you’re facing today. I don’t know what battles you’re dealing with, but I can tell you that God is there. He has never left you and he never will.
Your circumstances may seem hopeless but with our father by your side, it never is. Though our situations may seem big, our God is bigger than anything we could possibly face. You are never alone.
Latanya Fraser Cato is an elementary school teacher who enjoys reading and writing poetry. She is currently a Sunday school teacher at her church in Japan and has served on various youth-related ministries both in church and school in her home country Jamaica. She has a passion for counseling and helping others. She has published a book of poems entitled Soul’s Inspiration which she hopes will assist individuals facing various challenges..