Life is hard, isn’t it? Who isn’t in need of some kind of soul solace? Although we don’t all look for it in the same or the right places. In my youth, I began badly at first, falling into blind alleyways leading to further degradation and destruction, coupled with a desperate need for love and acceptance.

What made the difference? It was only when I encountered God’s unconditional Love, and was saved by His grace, that I began to truly come alive on the inside. To breathe freely again.

God began a work in me that continues to this day, and He will do the same for you too, my friend. All we have to do is ask.

Faith in God begins with recognising our earthbound state, our need of solace, forgiveness and grace. It continues with seeing God’s light shining bright in the darkest of circumstances, as a beacon of Hope when life feels hopeless.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4 NIV

We learn to speak openly to God and grow accustomed to His voice. It’s a dialogue of prayer varying from silence, a breath, cry or a spiel of words. And this is what He whispered to me a while back when I had forgotten to seek His face on a regular basis….

“You sit with a deep well of sadness within. It causes you to seek diversion and distraction with avoidance tactics. Yet your soul cries cannot be ignored. Try instead to sit with these feelings in silence. Offer them to Me. Because sadness is a gift to turn your soul in My direction, and silence, likewise, steers you away from worldly noise to being better able to hear My voice.

Let Me comfort you with the present of My presence. Allow Me to penetrate the barriers and barricades you attempt to hide behind. Grant Me access to your distress. I already have full awareness and comprehension of your situation.

I want to offer you the gift of complete understanding and insight into why you feel as you do. As you spend time with Me I will unveil the heart of mystery. Linger longer in my presence and you will also receive the gift of rest and peace. Resolution may yet be a long way off but don’t let that dishearten you. Rest in My provision and timing.

Listen now to what sadness has to say to you. Rather than pulling away or being pulled into a quagmire, in the listening and looking with spiritual intent you will be able to discern the cause and how it can be dealt with.

Then let Me breathe solace into your soul. Let Me bind up those wounds and lead you toward becoming healed and whole. Trust Me to deal ever so gently with your sensitive soul.

In time you will be strengthened and enabled to rise above the pain you are in. And once you have been through the fire and out the other side, use the knowledge you have gained to walk beside and encourage others.”

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” – Psalm 119:76

**I share my story in small nuggets here but you can read more about how I discovered grace in life’s hard places in my poetic memoir, ‘Seeking Solace’, (this prayer whisper is an excerpt), available on Amazon.

All proceeds from the sale of my book are for Action for ME, a charity which informs, supports and helps fund research into this debilitating condition.**