For I am with you always

Have you ever felt like giving up? Having you ever wondered what's the point of going on? Have you felt abandoned? Have you ever felt discouraged? Have you ever felt like God just isn't there? These questions and many more are many questions that go through our mind in our walk with God, especially during the most difficult times our of life. There are times in my life where I truly wonder what I got myself into. How could such a loving God allow all these evil around us? It is so hard to lose hope during the most difficult times in our life. Hope? What does that word mean to you? Why is it so easy to lose hope? Hope is the light that shines when all else fades away. When it feels like I cannot go on anymore, I hold onto the hope that has been given to me through Christ. When everything inside you feels dry, hold onto that hope. When it feels like God is not there, hold on to that hope. When your life is going up in flames, hold onto that hope. When it feels like everything is going wrong, hold onto that hope. When it feels like all hope is lost, hold onto that hope. I don't know what bad things happen to us. I don't know why it feels like the whole world is crashing down on our shoulders at times. I love this poem by Mary Stevenson that paints a picture of true love:
One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.