By Staff
The holiday season accentuates loneliness. The first season since the death of a loved one, a dysfunctional family thrust together, having to be around irresponsible or hurtful family members, or excessively high expectations can make what is supposed to be a joyful time painful.
It is hard to imagine going through troubles without knowing God and claiming His promises, but even being a faith-filled child of God does not always ease or take away the pain.
The apostle Paul speaks to this in the second epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 3-5, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
It is not always easy to perceive the comfort of God when we are going through tough times. Sometimes it's only as we look back that we realize how God carried us through. We are told to ask God for grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). It is only the most perceptive that sense God's grace as they are hurting.
The story is told of a little girl splashing in the shallow end of a swimming pool. Somebody noticed the little toe on her foot was swollen and black and blue. The girl related that she had broken her toe. Somebody asked, "Can't they put a little cast on it or something?" The little girl replied, "No, it is too small to cast; I just 'ice it' and cry."
Many times that is all we can do – just "ice it" and cry. But as we go through things waiting on the eventual healing, we can be assured of God's love, presence, and care. Paul said in 2 Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 4, "[He] comforts us in all our tribulation." Paul's message was that Jesus Christ suffered; he, Paul, was suffering; and we cannot expect to be exempt from suffering.
The New Testament book of James gives us more insight in chapter 1, verses 2-5. In verse 2, trials will come. In verse 3, understand that trials produce patience in us, which is a godly quality. In verse 4, we realize that patience leads us to spiritual maturity, which is God's goal for us.
We are never alone, even though at times we may feel we are. The apostle Peter exhorts us in 1 Peter, chapter 5, verse 7, to "[cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." Jesus says in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, verse 20, "I am with you always."
The Old Testament character Job suffered much with God seemingly always right on the sidelines. Job said this in Job, chapter 23, verses 8-10: "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold."
Job felt alone but he knew he wasn't alone. Job had faith that God was in complete control as painful as the circumstances were.
Job was "icing it and crying" and hoping better days were ahead. Sometimes we must just "ice it and cry," but we can be sure that we are never alone. God is always watching over us.