Pastor Roy Layman

🦃🎄😔 I hate that holidays hit some with sadness rather than gladness. If you’re in that’s place, please know God sees you! Your pain is 100% real but so is His love for you.

Heres 5 comforting and compelling realities from His Word:

1️⃣🐦‍⬛GOD’S PROVIDENCE — He’s got you!
Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)

2️⃣📖GOD’S PROMISES — He’s never gonna let you down!
He will:
•save you (Romans 10:9)
•forgive you (1John 1:9)
•lead you (Psalm 23:2-3)
•fight for you (Exodus 14:14)
•strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10)
•listen to you (Jeremiah 29:12)

3️⃣🫂GOD’S PRESENCE — He’s with you!
“The LORD himself…will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

4️⃣🤲🏼GOD’S PURPOSES — He wants to use you to glorify Him and bless others!
•love God (Matthew 22:37)
•love others (Matthew 22:39)
•serve (Mark 10:43-45)
•share your life and the gospel (1 Thess 2:8)

5️⃣GOD’S PEOPLE — He’s put people in your life for a reason! Reach out to others and be ready for them to reach out to you!
•bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
•encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11)
•pray for one another (James 5:16)
•build one another up (Romans 14:19)
•forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)

I genuinely hope these help. They’re not meant to minimize your hurt or make it look like there’s an easy way out of the darkness you’re facing. The intent is to bring the reality of God to bear on your very difficult circumstances during an especially tough time of year.

Hey, one day Jesus is gonna fix all this mess. He’ll wipe away every tear (Rev 21:4) and make all the sadness untrue. Keep holding on and keep lookin’ up!

Love y’all! God loves you more! ✝️