You are not alone. God's strong and loving hand is reaching down right now to grasp your weak and trembling one. He knows all about your present circumstances, and His voice is whispering, "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1). God stands ready to comfort and strengthen you no matter what the need. Yes, the promise of God's presence is a wonderful assurance to all who are His. He has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

STRENGTH FOR YOUR EVERY NEED

In addition to God's presence, the Bible also promises, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29).

This is why God invites us to commit our needs into His hands. "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you" (Psalm 55:22). Not just part of your burden or some of your care, but "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

LIGHT IN YOUR DARKNESS

To countless individuals life is a dark street, a meaningless riddle. But Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Happy indeed is the person who can say, "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

If circumstances around you appear dark just now, remember that "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

GOD'S GIFT TO YOU

God's love is demonstrated to us in that He offers us the greatest gift possible. How wonderful that He should offer this fallen race, separated from Him by sin, the gift of eternal life. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

The Bible also tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because He has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" (John 3:16-18). Everyone who puts his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior at that moment begins an eternal relationship with God.

How wonderful it is that this salvation does not depend on our own righteousness, which the Bible describes as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), but on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. His death paid the penalty for our sins; His resurrection made eternal life possible.

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU

But God's love seeks a response in your heart. Is this unreasonable? The price Christ paid to purchase you
from sin's hold was high. The Bible says, "It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed...but with the precious blood of Christ"
(1 Peter 1:18,19).

This matchless offer is God's, but the final choice is yours.

GOD'S INVITATION TO YOU

Yes, Someone cares for you and right now is reaching down to grasp your hand. It is God Himself. "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

If you will open your heart to His voice, which through the centuries has come to suffering humanity, you will hear the Lord calling, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Won't you come and find rest in Him? N.J. Christensen

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).