Pain can be very isolating. Shame gets all tangled up in the suffering and, before you know it, you’re hiding from the world.

Maybe that is why Peter, in the midst of his letter on suffering, says this:

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. – 1 Peter 3:12 ESV

I know that I have been on a soapbox recently about honesty and community. It’s just something God has placed heavily on my heart – this desire that you would know that you’re not alone.  No matter how alone you feel, you have the eyes and ears of God. He hears your whispered prayers in the dark of night and he sees your tears in the shower. 

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are a child of the Almighty and he will not leave any of his children to fend for themselves. No matter how hot the fire or how deep the valley – he will not leave any behind.

“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.” – Isaiah 35:4 ESV

He will come and he will save you. He will be with you in the wilderness and, then, he will lead you out with joy and dancing. If you feel lost, left behind or forgotten, God has some amazing promises for you to hold onto, today.

But you, Israel, are my servant.
    You’re Jacob, my first choice,
    descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
    called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.
    I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
    There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
    I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.  – Isaiah 41:8-10 (The Message)

Someone out there needs to know that God has not dropped you. You haven’t slipped through his fingers. He has a holy grip on you and he is not letting go.