The Truthfulness of "We Are Never Alone"

Thought for Today
"Whenever someone sorrows, I do not say, "forget it," or "it will pass," or "it could be worse" -- all of which deny the integrity of the painful experience. But I say, to the contrary, "It is worse than you may allow yourself to think. Delve into the depth. Stay with the feeling. Think of it as a precious source of knowledge and guidance. Then and only then will you be ready to face it and be transformed in the process."
--Peter Koestenbaum

With all of the many trials and tribulations we face in the world today, it's good to know we never have to face them alone, even though it sometimes seems like we are single-handedly shouldering the weight of the world. As we experience these refining moments, it is sometimes hard to see the bigger picture and too painful to even try, but that picture is constant and never changes, only our view of it.
When eyes are blurred with tears of pain and the heart is heavy with some nameless sorrow that rears its head at the most inconvenient times, it's difficult to see the light at the end of that emotional tunnel, and that tunnel even seems to grow the harder you try to reach the end. All we can do during these times is hold fast and press onward with the knowledge that as we endure, we will become stronger, and as we face trials of the heart that dampen and hammer away at our spirit, we are not facing it alone. Nor will we ever. If we can hold on to nothing else, we must hold on to that.

Suggested Viewing

Movie: Courageous

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge they’re ill prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Sherwood Pictures, creators of Fireproof, returns with this heartfelt, action-packed story. Protecting the streets is second nature to these law enforcement officers. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Movie: Fireproof

Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story. After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare. While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke?

Movie: Forever Strong

Rick (Sean Faris) is a star player on his dad's rugby team until a DUI lands him in a reformatory. While he's serving his sentence, tough rival coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole) allows him to play for his team, which helps Rick straighten up his act. Upon his release, however, Rick becomes a pariah to his former teammates and even his father when he refuses to divulge Gelwix's strategies. Sean Astin co-stars in this inspiring true story.