Without Christ, Who or What Do People Turn To?

Pain and suffering will touch each of us while living in this sinful world.  Ten years ago at this moment Brad and I were expecting an addition to our family in just five months, which we found out a month later in November we were having another son.  We made plans, had dreams of seeing our two sons playing together, had the nursery ready, were prepared, felt every kick from Kyler as he grew healthy in my womb, had just had an ultrasound just three days prior to his birth and he was perfect and healthy.  The day I went into labor we were anxious and excited as we drove to the hospital.  Only God knew what was about to happen...in those first few months, we experienced confusion and devastation, but we knew Jesus was with us.  Without Him, there's no telling what we might have turned to in our affliction.  He had given me Psalm 18 about how He is our a Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer.  To think that God knew before He formed me in my mom's womb that on March 22, 2004 I was going to experience something painful, to bury my son.  God sees the big picture though.  I can now picture him saying,

"See, I am making something beautiful in you which you won't see or understand for a while.  I want you to delight in Me, to savor Me, to be satisfied in Me, to know that I am your Shepherd, I will never leave you or forsake you, you are Mine, I am not doing this to punish you, I love you, I want the works of Me to be displayed in your life, come to Me and I will fill you up, I am your Living Water, I will comfort you, I will bottle up your tears,  I am crying with you, I want you to fellowship with Me in my sufferings, to know Me more intimately,  I am going to conform you to be more like Me, I am blessing you and will continue to bless you, I want My name to be great through you, nothing is too hard for Me, I will strengthen you, I am your Healer, your tears are seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because of the good I can bring out of pain, I have a purpose in your pain, though your pain runs deep I am deeper still, I am your hope, keep trusting me, keep enduring, keep persevering...someday I will make all things new!"