When Life Totally Sucks

Dear Friend,

May I be your biggest fan for a moment?  Can I help you to remember that you are utterly and completely amazing and beautiful?  That you are strong and brave?

I was cleaning the stove just now and something told me that I needed to stop, sit down and tell you that it's going to be okay.  This thing you are battling.  It will be okay.  It may not be perfect.  It may not end up exactly as you envisioned, planned or desired it would--but it will be okay.  

And you?  You will be made new.  The thing about this thing that you are battling, is that it may not be something you have any control over.  But I want you to know that whatever it is--it has the power to transform you.  Whatever it is can make you:

stronger.

wiser.

braver.

kinder.

I know it's hard to see it now, but God can use this time to bring you closer to the person you are meant to be. Even though this thing is awful and hard and debilitating.  

And Friend?

You are not alone.  Never.  Not for one millisecond.  Remember that story where Jesus wept?  I love that story because it shows that the Savior who was sinless and blameless was never above feeling our pain.  Remember that story where Jesus was alone in the garden and He asked God to take away the suffering that was before Him if it was at all possible?  That story reminds me that Jesus himself felt alone in his pain and wanted desperately for there to be another way.  Remember that story where Jesus cried out from the Cross: "Why have you abandoned me?"  Having suffered through agonizing pain, humiliation and betrayal, Jesus felt totally abandoned by His own Father. 

This is the same Jesus who walks with you now.  Some days He will remind you just to put one foot in front of the other.  Some days He will remind you to breath.  Some days he will bring a friend to remind you that He loves you.  Friend, if you know nothing at all right now, know that you are not alone.  

You will get through this.  Because you are brave and strong and beautiful and amazing.  You will be made new because Jesus makes everything--absolutely everything--new.  

I'm praying for you now.  I am not using fancy big words to pray--and you don't have to either.  "Jesus, help my friend."  "Jesus, heal my friend."  "Jesus love my friend." -- Yup.  Those prayers about cover it.  

In this together with you,

Alissa