Pray For Ian

"There are seas of suffering that the sufferer must navigate alone. You need not even appeal to friends for consolation. What do they know about your inner sorrow? No other sail is in sight. Scan the horizon and nothing is seen but wave after wave. Now is your hour for faith in the great Lord, who holds even lonely seas in the hollow of His hand. He knows your poor body, and he permits it to be frail. He permits your heart to tremble because He will glorify Himself in His tenderness to your weakness. He will make you strong. "

-Spurgeon

there is much comfort in hearing a saint who has gone on before us speak of the loneliness of suffering. and to speak of it as something that is real- for what do even our closest friends and spouses know of our inner sorrow? no one knows but the lord. and the emptiness of suffering that makes you feel alone in a room of 1,000 will continue until we meet the lord. it doesn't mean there aren't times of fellowship that help to lift the darkness for awhile, but when i lie down at night, it is only my heart that is with me, not my friend's and not my husband's.

for us who face what seems to be constant waves, the sweet reminder to "fear not for i am with you; be not dismayed, for i am your god. i will strengthen you, yes, i will help you, i will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

thank you, always

i&l