“He is there through the hard times. In my weakness, He is strong! Now is not the time to run away, but to run into His open arms and allow Him to confront you. ‘Run to Me. Lean on Me. Let Me love you in your time of sorrow.’”
I remember the day I wrote these words as if it were yesterday—the overwhelming sorrow and grief that filled my heart. I remember sitting near the pond, opening my Bible to Psalms 34:17-18:
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
In that moment, I felt the Lord gently say, “Run to Me. Lean on Me. Let Me love you in your time of sorrow.” And that’s exactly what I did. I cried out to the Lord, opening my arms and reaching for His comfort. He did what He promised—He comforted me. He was close to my broken heart, beginning to heal the pain that had lingered since the day my dad passed away.
As we approach the holiday season—a time meant for joy—many are still in desperate need of rescue by the Father. Maybe you’ve lost someone you love, or perhaps this season feels heavy for other reasons: loneliness, struggles that don’t seem to ease, or burdens that feel too great to bear.
So, I encourage you to lift up those around you. Sit with the Lord and ask Him what He’s calling you to do for someone else. It could be something as simple as writing a letter, offering a hug, sharing a coffee, or simply listening to someone’s story. As we show love to others, may we feel and know the Father’s love for us.
Even as the holiday season brings its challenges, let us run to Him. Cry out, pray, dive into His word, and surround yourself with friends and family. Whatever you do, don’t lose hope. Grief might be a part of your story, but it’s not the whole story. God’s peace is greater than your pain, and His love will meet you exactly where you are.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
Psalms 30:5
