Troubles don't last forever!

    Sometimes in our effort to escape one problem, we jump straight into another one worse than what we ran away from. This was the case with Joy, a human traffic victim, who found herself trapped in sex slavery for twelve years. 
    She was adopted at a very early age into a loving, Christian home where she developed a love for the piano. However, in her teenage years, she turned to marijuana and alcohol in order to fit in with her peers. She also left home because she did not want to abide by her parents’ rules. During this time, in order to make money, she turned to prostitution and was subsequently introduced to crack cocaine. The latter helped her to mentally and emotionally survive her life of prostitution. 
    After several years she began to long for a normal life and one day, she cried out to God for help. God answered two days later. Her pimp was the target of an FBI human trafficking sting operation and when she was called to a hotel room to supposedly meet with a client, she was met by FBI agents who had come to rescue her. A female advocate for human traffic victims attended to her and told her that God had sent them to tell her that He loves her and that this was her way out and that if she would give her life to Him, He would set her free. She went on to tell her that she had worth and value and that God would take her out of her darkness. Today, Joy’s life has completely changed and she has returned to her music which she uses to worship God.
    This testimony caught my attention because like so many stories, it is a story of hope. As dark and as long as Joy’s torment seemed, it did not last forever. Many times, it can be easy to feel as if our tragic circumstances will never end. In Psalm 13:1 David cries out to God in similar fashion: "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?"
    David clearly felt isolated and alone. He longed for deliverance and did not know how much longer he could go on. Yet, he trusted in his God. Although God seemed to be taking long to come to his aid, he expected Him to rescue him: “But I have trusted in Your mercy, my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (v. 5). The answer had not yet come but he lived in hope that God would not fail him, that He would come through for him.
    We, too, need to live in this hope. It’s not a hope in our ability to rescue ourselves but in God’s ability and in His desire to do so. God has promised to never leave us nor abandon us. Simply put, no matter what we are going through or how long it may take, God is right there with us and at the right time, He WILL deliver us!
    When Joy cried out to God, she did not get an answer right away. And, when the answer came, it came directly to her and for her. That is what is so beautiful to me. Help came with her name on it. The FBI agents and the human trafficking advocate came just for her and with a special message from God just for her! God can be so personal and He knows exactly how to assure us of His love and care for us!
    God knows where you are at right now. He sees and feels your desperation and your desire to give up. But, don’t you dare give up! Help is closer than you think. God will be there right on time! Don’t. Give. Up!
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so now. God loves you so much and desires to rescue you out of every hurtful and painful situation you may have found yourself in. He is NOT blind to your tears or deaf to your cries. He sees, He hears, He cares and He will deliver you at just the right time!
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