What do you do when a loved one dies? What about when cancer strikes someone you love? What do you do when you lose a job or don’t have the money to pay the bills? These are questions that often coincide with doubt and fear, anger and bitterness. These questions strike our emotions at the core. It makes us question why we are here and what are purpose is. How are we supposed to keep going when things look so bleak?.

I’ve watched friends die of cancer. I’ve watched others recover. I’ve watched people lose jobs and watched others succeed. I’ve also watched countless people overcome tragedies and addictions and become stronger on the other end. When I am struggling with doubt, fear, anger and bitterness I find myself turning to the Bible.

The Bible is filled with countless times of how God provided in the midst of trials. He didn’t always come through the way people expected and often it was not on their time. People could point to countless stories asking why did God let that happen. I can’t answer those questions, but I can say that when I read the Bible I see his provision from start to finish.

God can use anything even tragedy to touch this world in a positive way. There are many stories I could reference, but for now I will reference Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and put into prison in a foreign land. Years later God used him to save a region and his family. God used what the enemy meant for evil for good. If you asked Joseph today I’m sure he would say for years he suffered great anguish and loss, but at the end of his life he would say it was worth it. There are others in mentioned in Hebrews 11 that were not worthy of this earth.

People have suffered horrendous, imaginable tragedy and death. I’m sorry for the pain you have experienced. My prayer is that you turn to God for comfort and ask him to help you through your pain. He will meet you where you are at. I can’t say he will show up in the way you want him to or speak the words you want to hear, but he will not leave you.

God loved the world and sent his Son, Jesus to the earth as a man. He was perfect and died and paid the debt of all the wrongs (sin) mankind did and would do. He rose from the dead on the third day. Though Jesus is not here on earth today, the Holy Spirit is available to all who believe. If you believe the statements I wrote above, ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life. He will guide you throughout life. He is your direct connection to God. You can actually talk to God, he likes it. He wants to have a relationship with you.

The band Love and the Outcome have a song called “He is With Us” that has helped me when I can’t “feel” God and it seems he is a million miles away. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”