GOD IS IN THE DARK PLACES

Suffering is tough. You don't want it, and when it comes you want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Yet often you cannot escape it. Suffering is real and is a part of all our lives. God has willed it to be so because He has a purpose in it. He is with you in it even if you are unaware of His presence.

Do not be afraid - I will save you. I have called you by name -you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God (Is. 43:1-3).

 God's promises:

 * When you come into a relationship with God, He knows your name. You belong to Him and have a place in His family. He cares for you.

 * Difficulties will come. The waters of trouble can be deep. The fires of adversity will burn. God has never promised immunity from difficulties. They are a part of life for each of us.

 * In every difficulty, God is with you. He accompanies you and goes with you through the deep water, through the fire, and through whatever the difficulty may be - job failures, troubled relationships, financial burdens, even terminal illness.

 * You will get to the other side because God is with you. You may not find strength or courage on your own, but you can draw on God's strength. His presence will never depart from you no matter how you feel, and you can safely trust in Him even though you don't understand the situation, see the conclusion, or know if that conclusion is in this world or in the next.

 * You will not be burned in the fire. Your true being will not be destroyed because God is the God of life. Your physical body will perish - now or later - but not your real self. There is a living hope when you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ that will last for all of eternity (1 Peter1:3).

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Dr. Daniel E. Fountain is a faculty member of the

Christian Medical and Dental Society and a recognized

authority for his work with AIDS patients. He was a

medical director in the Congo for 35 years and now

serves as an international health consultant for MAP

International. He has written several books,

including Health, The Bible and The Church and

Primary Diagnosis. He is a graduate of Colgate

University, the University of Rochester, and Johns

Hopkins University.