I'm thinking about a ministry couple who are dear friends to Janet and me. The month of August dealt them the hardest blow of their lives. Their oldest child (daughter) died under a cloud of suspicious circumstances and they are powerless to do anything about it. They feel, as do I, that the conditions surrounding the onset of her death were created and controlled by her medical doctor husband. In short: we believe he killed her to satiate his excessive lust for control. He, and his father, are wizards of the highest order in the "old" Dungeons and Dragons game. Absolute control over their woman is a sign of wizardry power and they play it to the max, controlling every aspect of the victim's life. His mastery caused her death.

In May of this year, our daughter and her children were forced to change their life's work and face the horrific realty that her husband had been unfaithful (in the worst way) for the 20 year duration of their ministry marriage. She and the children moved in with Janet and me and we are all working through the bumps and bruises of a broken marriage and the effects of a faithless husband/father.

You can probably cite situations in your life that have required you to use every ounce of strength to simply make it through the day – or night. Saints and sinners alike have to carry cumbersome loads of grief and brokenness and each has his own way of handling the trauma.

Some look for help in the mind sciences like psychiatry. Others search for relief in a bottle of booze or a handful of prescription pills. Still others look for answers in cult religions and occult spirits. I am so glad for the companionship of the Holy Spirit of God Who brings stability and comfort to the children of God. He provides the love, peace and abiding joy which enable a Christian to weather any storm and survive any heartbreak.

Mind sciences, alcoholic drinks, pills and demonic religions offer no solace to a son or daughter of God.

His healing embrace is all we need. A hug from the Heavenly Father gives us the strength and faith to carry any load and abide any hurt.

If you are hurting today, let your Heavenly Father put His loving arms around you and simply hug you for a while. His touch is healing; His counsel is perfect; His comfort is pure. He is real - everything else is synthetic, temporary and vacuous.

I pray the Lord blesses you today.

Warmly, in His love and life,

Roland Scroggins

© 2007