I was born into a well-off family to two wonderful parents. They were excited for my arrival and had my name picked out the moment they found out they were pregnant. I never doubted their love for me. I never felt abandoned and forgotten or unsafe at home. Suddenly our world came crashing down when my home country’s government collapsed.

I remember having some cookies and giving them to a boy my age who was crying from hunger pains out on the street. His mother thanked me with tears in her eyes as he returned to her lap. Their fragility and pain both startled and changed me at that young age.Life hit me a little harder when both of my parents lost their jobs and I knew I could become one of those kids out on the streets myself.This led my dad to look for work outside of the country and that’s how I ended up here in The United States. It was hard to be ripped away from home and be thrown into a different culture at only 8 years old. One single event shattered my entire world.

God’s plan was not for me to suffer. His plan was never to see those children dying on the street. A good God would not want that. As our Father He wants the best for us. (Matthew 7:11) So why did it all happen?

Let’s look at Joseph’s life. A young boy who had everything – favor, love, wealth, and probably beauty. He flourished so much that his own brothers sold him into slavery. His only option was to adapt to his new life and continue serving the Lord in his trials. I’m sure Joseph had nights when the silence was overwhelming and his thoughts too loud. I imagine him climbing in bed at night and feeling a crippling sense of loneliness. When Joseph was finally making progress, his master’s wife tried to seduce him. She was Pharaoh’s wife, I’m sure she was hardly denied any of her desires. Her pride led her to accuse Joseph of rape though he was innocent. He went from being a slave to being a prisoner. At this point I’m sure Joseph felt broken and forgotten by God.

The Lord never left his side and gave him the opportunity to become one of Pharaoh’s “wise men”. This earned him a position where he was second only to Pharaoh. After many years, Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to ask for food when a famine struck. They did not recognize Joseph, they believed him dead. Joseph revealed himself to them and forgave them. He was able to be reunited with his father. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I could forgive that easily, nor recover completely from that kind of experience, but that’s when we let God do His work. He heals and restores.

Maybe you’re going through your own tribulation right now. I’m not saying it’s easy, but realize that you are not alone. Pray without ceasing, seek the kingdom of God, and do not sin in your pain. My friend, God’s will was never for your heart to break. If you give Him your heart he will not give you the same one put back together with duct tape, but a brand new one carefully designed for you. Terrible things happen today because when humans are left unchecked the flesh takes over. Rest assured that in all this, His ultimate and perfect will for your life will still be fulfilled. So where’s God when you’re hurting? Right next to you, lovingly writing your story.

There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. – Corrie ten Boom