Does God always help us? JOY in suffering. PURPOSE in the pain.

Something I'm learning: God doesn't always help us. Whattttt?! At least not always in the way we expect or want Him to. Yes, He is our Helper. But sometimes that means letting us grow. Sometimes a parent has to watch their kid do something or figure out something on their own. Not that the parent has ever left, but more like letting them go to let them grow. Just like a caterpillar must push through the cocoon by itself. Just like a chick must peck through the egg by itself. Do you know what happens if either one is helped? The emerging butterfly will have no strength in its wings to fly, and will eventually die. The hatching chick could die or be the weak one of the bunch. Sometimes God allows the hard things in life to grow us. Sometimes He says No to us when we ask for His help. Is that mean? No. It's wise. And perhaps we are asking for the wrong kind of help. Maybe we are asking Him to take away the trial when He wants to instead walk through the trial with us. Maybe we are asking Him to take away the pain, when the pain might actually be pushing us closer to Him. Maybe we are asking Him to dry our tears, when those tears can teach us kindness, compassion, and love. Maybe the kind of help we need from Him looks nothing like the kind of help we are asking for. Align your heart with His. Sit in the stillness. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). As you walk with Him and delight yourself in Him, your heart will want what He wants. Jesus, who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). The plan included suffering, pain, tears. And yet Jesus had joy. We must look unto Him. Can there even be joy in the midst of suffering? Apparently there can be. Keep your gaze on Him. Let the JOY of the Lord be your strength. When all your strength is gone, let His joy be your strength. Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Delight yourself in HIM.