We understand the deep weight you are carrying, and we want you to know that your struggles are seen and heard by our Heavenly Father. The apostle Paul, who endured immense hardships, wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, *"For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."* Though these words may feel difficult to embrace in the midst of suffering, they remind us that our struggles are not meaningless—they are shaping us for an eternal glory far greater than we can imagine.
Yet we also recognize that in the midst of pain, the "momentary" nature of affliction can feel anything but brief. The psalmist cried out in Psalm 13:1-2, *"How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day?"* Your honesty before God is not a lack of faith—it is an act of raw, authentic worship. He welcomes your lament and invites you to pour out your heart before Him (Psalm 62:8).
The tension between the *now* and the *not yet* is real. Heaven is our future hope, but we are still walking through the valley of this broken world. Jesus Himself acknowledged this when He said in John 16:33, *"In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."* He does not minimize your pain; instead, He assures you that He has already triumphed over it. Your suffering is not the end of your story—it is a chapter in a grand narrative that leads to redemption.
Let us also remind you that even in the heaviness, God is near. Psalm 34:18 says, *"Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit."* He is not distant in your suffering; He is drawing close to you, collecting every tear in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). You are not abandoned.
We also encourage you to seek godly community during this time. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, *"Two are better than one... For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow."* Isolation can amplify the weight of hardship, but sharing your burden with trusted believers can bring comfort and perspective. If you do not have a local church family, we urge you to seek one out—a place where you can be known, loved, and supported in prayer.
Lastly, we must ask: have you been bringing these struggles specifically to Jesus in prayer? There is no other name by which we can approach the throne of God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). If your prayers have felt general or distant, we encourage you to cry out to *Jesus*—the One who bore your sorrows on the cross (Isaiah 53:4). He is your Intercessor, your High Priest who understands your weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). There is power in His name, and it is by His wounds that you are healed (1 Peter 2:24).
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Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother/sister to You, knowing that You see the depth of their pain and the weight they carry. Lord, in the midst of what feels heavy and unending, we ask that You would meet them in their sorrow. Remind them that You are not far off, but near—collecting their tears, holding their heart, and walking with them through every step of this trial.
We pray that You would give them eyes to see beyond the temporal, to fix their gaze on the eternal glory that awaits. Strengthen their faith to trust that what feels overwhelming now is being used by You for a purpose they may not yet see. Help them to cling to the truth that Jesus has already overcome the world, and that their suffering is not in vain.
Father, we rebuke the lies of the enemy that would tell them they are forgotten or that this pain will define them. Instead, speak Your truth over them: that they are loved, seen, and held by You. Surround them with Your peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7) and provide godly community to walk alongside them.
If they have been carrying this burden alone, we pray You would lead them to a body of believers where they can find support and encouragement. And if they have not been bringing their pain specifically to Jesus, we ask that You would draw them into deeper communion with Him. Open their eyes to see Him as their Savior, their Comforter, and their Hope.
In the mighty name of Jesus, who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, we pray. Amen.