Do you ever wonder while passing through a night of tears what good could ever come of it? Does it seem that just when you had hopes things would get better – another crisis appeared? Why would a loving God purposely allow us to suffer? I can still remember going to church, the first Sunday after my mother’s death. A well meaning friend simply  asked how I was doing. As I started to answer emotion like a tidal wave overwhelmed me and I sat in the pew weeping. The friend who had asked just put his arm over my shoulder and sat with me till I could catch my breath. I had not known how deep those waters were until I found myself drowning in them and yet they are the waters each of us must cross.

Life’s most important question is not how to avoid pain but who we turn to for comfort at that moment. Are you hurting tonight? Feeling alone or even angry? God has not forgotten you, is not away doing something more important or waiting for you to get back to normal. There is no way to be prepared without Him. He is right at your side ready with His comfort.  God is  in those exact moments giving us not only His comfort but also His gift to carry that comfort to others who wait just down the road in our lives.

Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:4