I see your hardships and I care about your suffering ~ Psalm 31:7
Hard times come to us all at some point in our lives. Some experience few hardships in their life, others can experience what seems like unending hardships. In either circumstance it can be difficult at times to remember that God does still care about us, particularly when we suffer sudden loses or hardships. However it’s during these times that God cares for us even more than we can imagine.
Yes, God loves us and cares for us everyday, but when we’re hurting, He hurts too. He hurts because we are His children.
Due to several events in the last few weeks, I’ve been very abruptly reminded how important it is to share three little words with those we love:
We never know when we may be spending our last few minutes with those we love, so tell them how much they mean to you on a regular basis. You don;t want to end up living in regret because you just never got around to telling them how much you love them, do you?
Three small words, but they usually mean the world to the person we say them to.
Go on, let your loved one just how much them mean to you, tell them you love them.
When life gets you down and you can’t think of anything to do, just close your eyes and say “Lord Have Mercy“, and God will guide you through.
Lord Have Mercy by Michael W. Smith
Jesus, I’ve forgotten the words that You have spoken Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom Forgive me for my unbelief Renew the fire again
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy on me
I have built an altar where I worship things of men I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing Pardon my transgressions Help me love You again
I have longed to know You and Your tender mercies Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence Your grace forever shining Like a beacon in the night
Mercy
Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one’s power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Alleviation of distress; relief: Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. (Elisabeth Foley)
When you have a true friend, have you noticed that you can go for days, even weeks on end without speaking to one another, but when you next speak/meet, it’s as if you’ve never been apart. That truly is a sign a of good friendship.
Do you have any friendships like this?
I hope you don’t take these friendships for granted as some people are not as fortunately as us to have someone they can call a true friend in their life.
Pray for your friends regularly, pray for your friendships/relationships with them, because if God is part of your friendship it will be a friendship to cherish forever.
Mercy is one of those words we often hear about at church or on situations of conflict, but do we really understand what mercy really is?
Firstly here’s the dictionary definition of mercy:
Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one’s power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: e.g. a heart full of mercy.
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: e.g. It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Alleviation of distress; relief: e.g. Taking in the refugees for an act of mercy.
So there’s the official definition of mercy. Now here’s another definition I heard someone use the other day, one which I personally prefer:
Mercy is the love given to another when the wound they caused is still bleeding.
No the challenge…are you merciful towards others? It’s not always easy to have mercy for others particularly towards those who have hurt us in the past. But through the power of God‘s great mercy for us, He is able to help us have mercy for other too – All you need to do is ask for His help.
How precious are Christian friendships to you? While we may have many friends in many stages and walks of life, friendships with other Christians can prove to be the most precious because we share a spiritual bond with them.
An essential part of Christian fellowship I think is in sharing our own experiences of God in our life and of how God is still teaching us every day in His wonderful ways. There is nothing that brings us closer to Christian friends than sharing how God has comforted you after a sudden bereavement, a divorce you didn’t want, or an illness that suddenly floored you. Life’s experiences make us stronger people and through sharing those experiences with our friends can build deep friendships founded on God’s love and our faith in Jesus. Through this we will find we share great secrets of God’s grace which with your friend, you will treasure for ever.
John 15:15 (The Message)
I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
Amy Grantsings Jesus Loves Me / They’ll Know We Are Christians / Helping Hand :
What do I mean by the title of this blog? Well, when you’re feeling lonely, loneliness takes over your life: you eat, sleep, think and breathe it, and by doing that you can get yourself into a downward spiral which can very quickly spin out of your control.
When we’re lonely we long to be accepted, cared for, loved and hugged, but our feelings of isolation, make us more withdrawn than ever before and stop us from reaching out for help. We need friends more than ever when we’re struggling – we need them for support, understanding, encouragement and just for a hug to tell you they care.
It’s difficult to talk to people when you’re feeling alone and isolated, and it’s even harder to reach out and ask someone for help. If you are struggling the best thing you can do is force yourself to reach out to your friends and ask them for help, tell them how you’re feeling, tell them you need them – You may be surprised by how many people are there to help you.
I’m writing all this and thinking I’m a bit of a hypocrite as when I’m struggling, I do exactly what I’ve said, I recoil into myself and get quieter and less willing or able to talk with anyone. I really do need to take my own advice although I know why I don’t: I reached out to a someone I thought was a close friend a few years ago for support and initially it was wonderful, they really did make a huge difference to me, but then they told me they couldn’t support me any longer and I was devastated. That devastation knocked me even down even lower and even more withdrawn and alone than I’d ever felt, so now I am terrified that may happen to me again. It took a huge amount for me to reach out to that person in the first place, that when they were no longer there for me I felt such a great void of emptiness and rejection. So to come back to why I think I sound like a hypocrite, yes I do need to take my own advice again as I’m sure my last experience was a one-off.
So if you’re feeling alone, reach out today and ask someone for help and support.
On the other hand, if you’re not feeling alone, look out for the signs of loneliness in those around you. Try to include those who seem alone, in your circle of friends. Comfort them, reassure them, support them, hug them – It may not seem like much, but believe me it can mean the world to someone who’s feeling lonely.
We all have times in our lives when we need to be carried – maybe not physically but emotionally. We might find ourselves struggling to cope with life, or find ourselves in great danger or find ourselves in an unfamiliar environment where we feel lost.
In these times we must rely on God to carry us, just as he’s promised to do. There is however a cost to God carrying us – In order to carry the burden of our sins, Jesus had to carry his cross. Jesus carried His cross for us!
Although God has promised to carry us, we as Christians must also help carry people in their time of need. Perhaps you can help carry someone today. God has instructed us to share each other’s troubles and problems:
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If a friend is in need, carry them, even if you are struggling yourself. All you need to do is place it all in God’s hands and ask Him to carry you. He will give you the strength to get through and the strength to carry your friend as well.
What do I mean by the title of this blog? Well, when you’re feeling lonely, loneliness takes over your life: you eat, sleep, think and breathe it, and by doing that you can get yourself into a downward spiral which can very quickly spin out of your control. 
