We all go through times of distress in this life. Whether it be a financial issue, a relationship problem, a life shattering illness or a test of our faith, each individual will at some point in their life find trouble coping. How do you cope with the difficulties of every day? For me, it often involves tears. Lately, my emotions have been on an emotional roller coaster. Tears dry out eventually, but the ups and downs persist, and each day seems to present more difficult decisions.

One of my favorite Psalms is 139. Read it slowly to yourself and put yourself in the Psalmist’s place as you do. The first few verses talk about yours and my value to God. He knows us inside and out. He was in our existence before ever came to be. How powerful is that? God lives in us every day. He is in our thoughts, our prayers, our living, our dying, our goals and dreams, our sadness and joy. He never leaves us. I would call that an amazing piece of comfort when we have difficulty coping with anything. The King of Creation, the maker of all things, the one and only God loves us. He loves us more than we can possibly love each other. His is an unconditional love = no strings attached – free and clear,

As the Psalm goes on, it refers to that tight relationship between us and our maker. We can’t hide from Him, no matter how we try. He knows our mind, our heart, our emotions, our losses and sadness. He even knows how we struggle to live in faith when difficulties come our way. In the next few verses. we read that God was there at our conception. He was responsible for the great mysteries within our bodies – the impeccable design – the intricate patterns created by His touch alone. He created the genetics, the DNA, the workings of each part of us. Yes, you and I were made by God. His love for His creation is impossible for us to comprehend.

So, we ask Him to search our hearts. To give us understanding and wisdom. To continue to be with us in all the challenges we face each day and to show us, through His Holy Word, that He will never leave us. We are not alone in our fears. We are always surrounded by His perfect love. We are cuddled tightly within His protection. We have the assurance of perfection after death and into eternity. In this life, we will experience heartache. We will hurt emotionally. We will be faced with troubling decisions. We will cry out for comfort, but we can live with confidence, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.