This morning as I sat with the Lord, He spoke this word to His people:

“There is a story I am writing for you. The story of your LIFE. I Am the AUTHOR and FINISHER of YOU. I AM the Great I AM. Know that I see you. Know that I hear you. I see your struggles. I Am with you in your struggles. I Am with you in your happy times. I AM WITH YOU, My People. Do not go into hiding from Me in your difficult times. Your enemy would love to isolate you – both from Me and those who would pray for you. Do NOT give him the pleasure of succeeding. When you are struggling, you NEED the prayers of those around you. Do not fall into shame. Do not fall into the lie that says ‘nobody will understand.’ I work through My People. Yes, I speak directly to you and nurture you. I also work through My People. I rely on their prayers for you and their care for you.

“I want you to think of it this way: if someone you love is particularly struggling, wouldn’t you want to know? Wouldn’t you feel bad in only hearing later, knowing that you would have helped and prayed for them? In the same way, I call on YOU to not deny those who love you the chance to serve you when you need it. Pride often gets in the way of this. FORSAKE PRIDE. It is a sharp weapon of your enemy.

“In the detailing of your life I allow you to go through difficult times. In My Hand, such times are always to teach you, deepen your faith, and perhaps to prepare you for what is to come. But I never require you to go through such times completely alone. I Am always by your side. Call on Me to strengthen you and guide you. To teach you what I long for you to know. And go to those who love you and can serve you well, in league with Me. Difficult times do not need to be only difficult. I have great blessings for you in the midst of them. Use ALL of My Gifts to you during such times. I can bring you through hard seasons with such blessings that when you look back on them you will remember the blessings more than the difficulty. Such is My Way with My People. Lean INTO Me, never away from Me. Lean into those I have placed in your life to help you. This is not a suggestion, My People. It is a commandment from Me, who Loves you. Do not forsake or disregard My Gifts for you.

“Have you heard this message enough? Must I say it yet again? DO NOT FORSAKE ALL MY GIFTS TO YOU IN DIFFICULT TIMES. I Am ever with you and Love you. Amen.”
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Notes:

Hebrews 12:1-2: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalm 23:1-4:  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

II Corinthians 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 

Psalm 119:50: This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:71: It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Proverbs 29:23: Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.