It’s been a couple of weeks since we posted something in the inspirational vein, so this week we want to encourage you to remember that when life is hard, you don’t have to do it alone. Since the “voices” on this site are best friends and teachers from different racial/cultural backgrounds who are not just authors, but Christians, we felt it was time we encouraged you with a Word from above.

Sometimes it seems that life is very difficult without adding to it the daily challenges of five or more classes with a total of over 100 students to inspire and teach, or 25+ elementary-aged munchkins needing constant attention. Right now I am in the retirement stage of life, busy with things I choose to do. My contemporaries are mostly free from child-rearing and are enjoying grandchildren instead. But the problems and heartache can still come – sometimes from out of nowhere. For example, one couple from my church has repeatedly asked for prayers this past week for their grown son who was involved in a very serious accident. They are spending countless hours by his hospital bedside, not knowing what the outcome will be. Several months ago, another retired couple lost their grandson to a ATV accident and had the difficult task of consoling their child over the loss of their own grandchild. A member of my family is watching and supporting her husband as he battles a serious cancer, hoping and praying that he defeats this disease and is able to watch their daughter grow into adulthood. As the title of this blog says, sometimes life is just hard.

As a Christian, I want you to know that God loves you and will help through the rough spots of life. I can personally attest to this because my husband and I lost our youngest son in 1999. Instead of losing my sanity and my faith, I was able to hold onto the teachings of the Bible and rely on my Heavenly Father to comfort me in my loss. Of course I asked “why,” but my prayers also asked for strength and courage to put one foot in front of the other while waiting for my emotional healing to come. The prayers of many others uplifted me through the days, weeks, and months following this personal tragedy, as I continued to teach and be there for other people’s children. My encouragement for you is to trust God to help you through the most difficult circumstances in life. He is just a prayer away. I found a recent post on Facebook by one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, that perfectly illustrates what I’m trying to say: “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

Another wonderful example for those of you who enjoy music videos is Colton Dixon’s “Through All of It.” Max, Colton, and I want to encourage you today with the truth that God is there for you when you need him.

May God bless you in the good times and the bad.

Sue – Voice II

Talk about hardships! Right now the doctors have told my family that my Mom is soon to die. She suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and her heart is very weak. Regardless, she told my oldest brother, who is also my family’s pastor and leader, “When God calls for me, I am ready to answer.” This gives me great joy and peace because God has the final say in her timetable and the “joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

People may look at you and never realize the weight of the struggles you are carrying. As Christians, we know we have to “cast our cares upon Him” (I Peter 5:7), but this is not always easy to do. The reality in our lives is that we will have trouble here, and if we don’t rely on God to help us through bad times, we will suffer even more. Recently, October 1, was a normal day for families in Roseburg, Oregon. It quickly turned into a tragic day when a shooter killed and injured many at Umpqua Community College. My hope is that those families affected will turn to Him for help and comfort.

Everyday we look at each other and don’t realize the struggle/story behind that face. Through it all we must continue to trust in Jesus, for that is the best thing we can do. “It is still well with my soul,” and I will continue to lift Him in praise in all circumstances.

Deidre – Voice I