When we are sad or struggling

After Julia's struggle with the musical I was talking to someone and was telling her how when Julia was up on that stage and her eyes welled up with tears and she struggled to finish her song how it broke my heart to be sitting in the audience and unable to wrap my arms around her and comfort her. When I said this to this wonderful friend of mine she said to me...if WE feel that about our children how much more does our heavenly father feel that when we are hurting and struggling. This, for me, was an awesome moment of revelation of our God's love. I mean I know He loves me but this was a moment when I was able to realize how little I understand or even believe in that love, because at that moment I realized I don't think of my heavenly father like that. I always look at a trial as a discipline of some sort. That there is something great to be learned from it and I usually find myself flooded with condemnation. And although I believe that there are times when we are disciplined by God, I far too often forget that no matter what the reason for the trial He is still a God that so desperately wants to love us and comfort us. Praise God for He is good and His love endures forever.