By Lois Hewitt

Struggles…there are so many in life.  Worries and fear, the same. The world screams for you to “live your best life” but you don’t know what that even means.  Your heart is heavy.  Your hands are clenched.  Your teeth grind.  Your stomach churns.  You are too tired to even cry one more tear.

There are seasons in life that leave us confounded. They leave us off balance and wondering what we even believe. Sometimes the struggle isn’t even ours, but we feel it anyway.

I lived under the veil of depression for many years. I smiled when I needed to and fell apart when I could.  I watched as hope slipped through my fingers like grains of sand. But then in the darkness a light shined bright.

My faith in Jesus sees me through. It was not easy and it did not happen overnight.  But it can happen. 

Today’s world is scary. I can’t lie about that. Many people truly hate God and everything that has to do with religion.  I’ve had my struggles with religious folk.  Not every one is going to like us and vice versa, that will happen in all sectors not just in religious ones. I have learned, however, that my strength and my love comes from my faith.

As I try to maneuver through the life we all live right now, I know I will be hated.  But if I am hated for His name, I am blessed. 

The words I write are not meant to “convert”, they are meant to encourage. I, like all of us, have struggled, worried and feared in my life (I still do), but I have found peace in the chaos through a relationship with the Savior. He grounds me and feeds my soul.

So if you are struggling today, I implore you to look to Jesus for His healing water and His comfort.  Prayer is easy, just talk to Him.  He already knows you.  Nothing you have done is bad enough to keep you from Him.  Just talk or just sit in silence. He knows your thoughts and heart.

Sounds too mystical, doesn’t it.  I used to think that also.  But He has brought me through some intense trials and now I lean on His understanding always.  Jesus loves all of us.  The world is out of control, but He knows things we cannot comprehend. Place your trust in Him, my friend, for He will be faithful to His children. Don’t give up, there is hope.