A good friend opened her heart asking us to pray for her:

I’m feeling very down today. I’m so worried. I’m really worried about the 50% salary cut that’s coming by the end of this month. I’m worried about my future. I’m worried about how I’m going to pay my bills this month and the rest of the year. I’m worried because I feel hopeless … I feel my prayers are not being answered. I’m worried about how I’m going to stay and keep the rest of the staff staying positive. I’m worried … because I’m human ….

But I want to cling to every promise.

Some days are easier than others.

Please pray for me today …

All these uncertainties are driving me crazy with worry. It’s just that I’m feeling uncertain and really worried today!

We all know someone who is at this point. Most of us have been here. It’s not easy. It’s certainly not easy. The dark clouds we’re facing are simply too dark and heavy. The weight of our responsibilities too heavy to hold. Our arms tremble as we wait for the axe to fall …

This is the reality of the world around us. We look to the mountains and cry out: “Where will our help then come from?”

The author of Hebrews takes us back on our life path and reminds us of our younger days: ³²Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times!

Yes, those were hard times, but we held onto our faith with everything in us. It didn’t matter what balls life threw at us. It didn’t matter how afraid we were. It didn’t matter how uncertain we were. We simply held onto our faith in God and knew that He would eventually save us. We knew He would give us the solution.

So, what is different now? I think we’ve been knocked around so much by now that we’re blinded by our circumstances. The circumstances in which we find ourselves are so hard that the oxygen supply to our faith is cut off. We gasp for breath and it seems as if we’re being strangled by our circumstances.

That is exactly when we have to get up and remember, and, as they say, revisit, every tree that shaded us on our white-hot path of life. So many times in the past, in the really hard times too, God gave us the solution each and every time. God hasn’t changed. God’s plans haven’t changed. He is still exactly the same caring and loving God.

Maybe we have changed. We are looking down and have lost sight of God. Let us look up like we did in the old days and put all our faith in God. No, I don’t know how, but I still believe with everything in me that God will resolve the situation. I simply hold onto that …

Scripture
Hebrews 10:31-39

Reflection
What do the clouds around you look like?
Where will you find help?
Can you go back to the path where God helped you?

Prayer
Lord, things are hard. Yes, it feels as if my faith is being strangled. I know and believe that You are there for me. I know You will give me the solution. I hope it will come soon. Amen.