Peace and comfort

God loves us just as we are and He never, ever wishes suffering on anyone, ever. God is good. He is so good that his promises are that you are never alone. He stands with you in the storm. Christian "church people" often mess up or complicate that message - but it is a simple one. God is love. Period. Ryan was not able to allow God's love to surround him and comfort him, but that never lessened God's love for Ryan. The Bible says that God draws near to the brokenhearted. It is a promise. And Ryan knows that now, he gets to feel that now and learn that now in ways that us on earth only get glimpses of. That doesn't lesson my pain but it does bring me comfort. Another promise is that God brings good out of pain - not that he ever wishes for or wants pain but that he can use it. A heart raw with pain can be capable of great compassion. I can feel that and pray every day that God not let anger or fear or guilt settle in, but instead compassion, compassion for those suffering, for those with depression, for those who have to walk this road. Anger, fear, and guilt can be enticingly easier, but compassion brings peace. That choice could never come from me, I'm not that strong, that comes from God.