Sometimes life sucks.

We had our Christmas party with our college students last week (I'll post more on that later). We went around and each person told one thing that we learned in the year 2013. The students said some great things. It  blesses my heart to hear all God is doing in them. It's good.

When it got to me... my profound lesson I learned was...

"Sometimes life sucks..."

It's true. I have learned that more in the year 2013 than any other year. Not just in our life... waiting for Eric, paperwork out the earholes, no certainty on when anything would happen, and now assuring him that we are coming as soon as we can.  No... more than what is going on in our lives... I hurt for those around me.

Yes, sometimes life sucks when paperwork still doesn't come.
Sometimes life sucks when families are turned upside down... divorce... caretaking for parents... loss...
Sometimes life sucks when sickness isn't healed and there's a battle everyday...
Sometimes life sucks when you think about orphans all over the world... without a mommy or daddy to love them and tuck them in each night... to tell them how much they're loved...
Sometimes life sucks when you get awful, unthinkable news... and you have to deal with it head-on.
Sometimes life sucks when you make poor decisions that affect the future and those around you...
Sometimes life sucks when you just have NO clue what God is doing...
Sometimes life sucks when you have to WAIT.
Sometimes life sucks when others have to deal with depression, suicidal thoughts, and fears...
Sometimes life sucks when death surrounds you... especially when it's the loss of someone young...
Sometimes life sucks when you see so many things... and you can't do anything about it.

It's true... life is hard. We want it to be pretty and happy and perfect... we wear our plastic smiles to the grocery store... and to church. But... in reality... it's hard.

BUT (one of the best words when talking about the relationship between us and God) that wasn't all I learned this year.

"Sometimes life sucks... BUT God is faithful and He is good."

I have learned this in the marrow of my bones this year. As hard and as awful as life gets at times... even when we don't have the words to explain how bad it really is... God is always good. HE CANNOT FAIL US! He is faithful. He WILL finish what He begins. He will
be there. He is a God of details. He is always working FOR us and IN us. He makes the sun rise and set each day... He is sovereign. Somehow... He makes ALL things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I don't know the "Why's" of this life... and I probably don't need to... I just know my God. I know that Jesus is ENOUGH. I know that, for Christians, this life is the WORST it gets. 

I know I'm not alone in learning this. I know I'm also not alone in learning how best to love on and serve those who are experiencing awful times. And I know I'm not the only one who struggles with letting others love on and serve me when I'm in a pit. 

I am thankful for Christ. I am thankful for redemption... from sin and within our own stories. 

We wait in hope for the Lord;

    he is our help and our shield.

²¹ 

In him our hearts rejoice,

    for we trust in his holy name.

²² 

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22