Two weeks ago I had an intimate lunch with my Mom and what I love most about our lunches is aside from being able to spend time with each other despite our busy schedules, we get to talk about a lot of things. This particular lunch was more about some of the burdens and hurt my Mom is currently carrying. I will not elaborate on what the specific issues are because:

1. They are not my issues to tell
2. My Mom deserves her privacy and
3. I don't think the specifics are really necessary for the main message of this entry

With that being said, I want to be able to share with you guys a few things I told my mom as I was listening to her talk and pour out her hurt feelings and what have been weighing her down. The reason why I want to share this with all of you is because not only does this literally "hit home" for me, but because I too have days where I think "Gosh Lord, will these things ever stop?" or "When will it be okay for me? Why isn't anything good happening to me?" and even the occasional, "Why me Lord? I'm not a terrible person and yet these things are happening to me. Why?"

I always look back on the things I learn during Bible Study (I strongly encourage you all to give it a try or at least find a group of people who you can talk about these things with) and the one thing that really struck me was our lesson on "Experiencing the Peace of Jesus." Allow me to share the things I learned and the things I told my Mom. After all, the peace of Jesus first starts out with, Faith.

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I think one of the things we forget when we are faced with problems or hurtful things in life is we think the Lord doesn't know what it is like to experience our problems. Like Jesus doesn't know what it's like to be betrayed, cheated on, disrespected, maligned, backstabbed, replaced, forgotten, mistreated... all the horrible things we experience Jesus never experienced. Only we know what it's like to be so tired and drained from all the troubles plaguing our life... This is SO wrong.

Mark 6:31

"He said to them, 'Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while.."

Might I remind you all about the story of Jesus? Here it is in summary: Born without fault or sin, He took up the responsibility to die for millions of people He didn't even know. Among those millions of people were the people who were going to torture, malign, betray and backstab Him. He was going to lay down His life even for those people. Don't you think that made Him even just a wee bit tired? It sure did.

Jesus knew when to rest and when to pray in silence. He knew when to just escape from the world and pray to His Father. Why? Because He felt what we feel everyday. He felt the betrayal, the suffering, the hurt, the pain, the backstabbing... He felt it all. And He still does.

NEVER go through life thinking that Jesus isn't hurting every time you hurt. In fact, He hurts more. This is something I truly believe in and that is why when things get tough I make sure to pray to Him. I ask Him for strength through the tough time and that I may be granted the wisdom to see the greater purpose when the time is right. Always remember that when you hurt, God hurts too. And He doesn't forget because He KNOWS exactly what it's like.


1 Peter 5:9

"Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kind of suffering."

I know it's a little wrong to think about it this way, but if you must (especially when times are tough) look to this for comfort: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

One of the things I learned in Bible Study is that the Lord will never make you feel bad/lonely/hurt or whatever else that is negative. That's the job of the enemy. He is the one who plants those seeds of pain in your heart. That's why it is important to KNOW in your heart that it isn't God who is doing that to you.


Also remember that the enemy will do whatever he can to make you feel that God is personally picking on you. That only YOU have problems and only YOU are hurting. This isn't the case. Always remember that everyone on this Earth is suffering and fighting their own battles. There will be days wherein your problems won't seem so bad and there will be days when it seems like problems are all you have. You have to remember that in the end, it is our choice whether we suffer through it and become better or just suffer forever.

Psalm 91:4

"He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall."

Because God wants what is only best for us, He will do whatever He can to make us feel His love. It is, however, our choice whether we want to feel it or not. If you can manage to allow God in when everything seems to be falling apart, I can guarantee you that things will get better. Why? because your Faith and choice to believe in Him will give you a strength that you never thought you had.


Based on my experiences with betrayal and bullying, I know what it's like to have absolutely NO ONE. I know what it's like to be betrayed, backstabbed, hurt and whatever else bad you can think of. I'm not saying that right after you pray for strength it will no longer hurt, no. It will hurt, but it will get better. Allowing your Faith to grow allows more space for God's love and less space for hatred and bitterness. Guys, I know, sometimes it feels good to just hate on the one who did you wrong and wish them ill, but that's a temporary "happiness." And you know what else?

Feeling bitter, wishing someone ill, cursing at someone, fighting back and maligning them does not take anything away from them- but takes EVERYTHING away from you. Be better. As hard as it is to not fight back and say your side/prove something, DON'T FIGHT BACK. Pray. As for strength. Surround yourself with good people.

Philippians 4:13 

"I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me."

Believing that you can get through any tough time first starts off with the choice to act. Having Faith in the Lord allows you to believe in your heart that whatever hurt or pain you feel is nothing more than a temporary feeling. That, in the end, everything will work out accordingly. With this in mind, it is also important to allow God to work in you, especially during the pain.


When we act based on bitterness, hurt and revenge, God cannot work. But when we act based on maturity, wanting to be better and in Faith, then God can make sure that whatever it is that we do, we do for His greater glory and for our betterment as His children.

KNOW that you can get through any tough time because GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH IT. Know that and you'll be fine. That was the thought I held on to during the bad times. That is the thought that I think about when things start to go "bad." :)

Proverbs 16:9

"A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."

Proverbs 21:5

"The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."

Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know what I have planned for you,' says the Lord. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.'"

Last but not the least, here is probably my favorite passage from Jeremiah. This brings me the most hope during the most trying of times and this is something that my mom and I spoke about during our lunch. Whenever things become too much of a burden to bear, when things feel like they're never going to end, when the problems just keep pouring in... remember this.


God will NEVER purposely hurt you. God will NEVER want you to feel pain for the rest of your life. Whatever God has planned for you, it is nothing but GOODNESS. Why? Because He loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His only son to die for YOU.

YOU. The sinner, the one who only prays when things get tough, the one who's been hurt, bullied, backstabbed... YOU. For everything that you are, and everything that you are not, God loves you. ALWAYS and FOREVER. :)

I hope you guys enjoyed this entry, and I hope I didn't sound so preachy and whatever. I just wanted to share with you all the highlights of my talk with my mom and how we were able to feel God's love even through a simple lunch of two girls. :)

I really just want you guys to all know that FAITH is really worth having. It is really worth keeping and strengthening. I don't know where I would be today if it weren't for my family, friends and of course, GOD. :)
P.S.

This is one of my fave letters ever written. If you have the time be sure to open up a Bible and read the passages that accompany each line :)