Let’s face it. There are just some days that don’t go the way that we would like them to. Those are the days that I would like to omit from my calendar and pretend they never happened. On those occasions, I’ve often thought how nice it would be to have the option of disappearing from the human race and life’s daily struggles, even for a day. It would be so much easier to regain my strength and find a new perspective on life. Unfortunately, life just doesn’t work that way. We have to trudge on through…..whether we feel like it or not. I had a day like that this past week. There was no direct reason. I think it was a combination of too many things I had to do in a short amount of time, on top of several days straight, of nothing but rain! That particular morning, in my prayer time, I was especially specific with my request before the Lord. I said, “Lord, I really need you to make yourself known to me today, because I am especially tired. I’m a little under the weather today, Lord. Could you send someone along today to encourage me? Lord, today, I need a hug.” I walked into work that day, and the first person I met said, “Brenda, give me a hug. I’ve been reading your book. It has helped me so much. It is great!” I was in amazement at how quickly God answered that simple prayer. Those few words encouraged me so much and made my day. As I started my work that day, I had renewed strength, and smiled to myself, afterwards, because I know that hug was directly from God. He is so much closer to our everyday struggles than we sometimes realize. It just reaffirms my faith and belief, that THROUGH THE TEARS AND THROUGH THE RAIN, God is waiting with open arms to give us the biggest hug of all!

Colossians 1:11
That you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory, every kind of endurance and patience with joy.