A friend of mine got hurt so much. He had difficulties in his marriage. He was simply broken. He wrote:

It’s Sunday evening. Today the bomb exploded again and I went back to the flat. Was in church this morning and felt great.

I’m really trying my best to be on my best behaviour for her and drive around with children every day.

Have no time for my business. Business now finally rushing towards the precipice and will crash even quicker than I expected. Around lunch time Rina (name changed) again attacked me emotionally and told me clearly that playing house was not on and that I should leave the house or she would get in the car in her condition to go and see her attorney.

I cracked on the way to the car and broke a couple of things. The children were very upset. I rushed away with only the clothes I had on and could not even stop for water at the nearest shop to take a tranquillizer.

Later on I calmed down a bit, hesitating between taking a tranquillizer or simply driving away.

Eventually it was the picture of my daughter and I in church this morning that made me rather drink a Red Bull. I went back home to apologise to the children.

When I got there all the gates and doors were locked. With confusion in their eyes they watched mommy packing my suitcases. Some of my stuff was already outside …

When you’re in a situation like this there is no light. Then your emotions are on such a rollercoaster that taking your own life looks like a good idea and for some like the only solution.

Man, life is confusing and there’s nothing beautiful in it.

The wedding, the love, the excitement about the babies, the pride in your business – everything is gone. There’s no reason to go on living. There’s a thick line through everything and it’s wiped out with a big eraser.

Even God seems to be out of sight. Alone, with no hope, no idea of how to take away the hurt. How would it ever be possible to heal the deep cuts we make with blunt knives in one another’s lives?

Then you have no words of comfort.

All of us face such crises from time to time.

But when we come to a standstill, when we stop trying to heal with plastic plasters, God comes and says what should be said: 16So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 

If it was me saying this, it would have been cheap comfort that I’m trying to sell. Fortunately, the words have power and authority because they come from the Almighty God Himself. There is no such thing as coincidence. Everything happens at the right time. Now it’s not our time, but God’s time, because He sees the bigger picture.

Now, right now, God says to you and me that we have to keep holding on, that we have to grab on like a Jack Russell with a stick, and not let go. God is with you. Don’t give up. Believe and know that God is there for you. Live with the expectation that you will meet God around the next corner, because He is in you. Yes!

Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Reflection

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace…

Prayer

Lord, I really needed this. I do know it, but when life is so hard I forget. Therefore, I plead, Lord, that You will show Yourself to me. Please help to me to come to a standstill and focus on You only, so that I can experience You on the inside. Amen