The desert melts our souls with the troubles of the heat of the day. At night, the coldness of our tormented minds consumes us. Have you ever been there? So many worries, so many thoughts! It is the place where nobody knows; the place of no pretends, the place of no distractions and the place where your reality can’t be ignored. The night seems so long! “Help me Lord?” It is all our lips can utter. Have you ever been there? It is a place where your titles, your personality, your network and intelligent can’t help you. It is a place that marks the total end of you! The problems are so dark and far from the light of a possible solution. The hope of a happy ending seems so distant. Have you ever been there? In the night I hear a thunderous whisper that breaks the silent of the early mornings: “How did I get here Lord? Why Lord? Where are you? Speak to me!” When depression breaks in your home like a burglar in the night to stare and mock everything that you stand for when in the fellowship of your friends. Sleep can’t come soon enough! Have you ever been there?

Then we remember that somewhere we saw a passage of scripture that says: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” As tears escape from your eyes, you remember that old sermon from your pastor that did not make much sense to you at the time, but they are the very words that cause hope to stop his departure. At the time you could not wait for the Church service to be over with, so that you could go watch the Jaguars game, but now, they are the very words that caused strength to return. As your tears refreshed your soul, the illogical trust of faith and the irrational power of the peace of your heavenly Daddy watch over you as your eyes close for the night. Have you ever been there?

I don’t know what you’re facing today? I don’t know and will never pretend to understand the magnitude of your pain, but know that somehow some way, the Lord is with you; even when the mountains seem so high and the valleys seem so low!