Life has often been compared to a journey. This life is not the end though.  It is a starting point and it is important for us to walk through its path before we reach our final destination.  Sometimes along this journey we are approached by two visitors who want to accompany us. They are very scary and intimidating, dressed in black robes, they wear a veiled hood covering everything but their eyes. Their eyes are hollow, their odor gives off a death like stench. They extend their hands and introduce themselves. Their names are Sorrow and Suffering and they tell us they are sent from God to accompany us on the rest of our journey.  No one wants to travel with them. In fact,  most of us would rather steer clear from the sight of them.  But it’s in those moments that we should take their hands, it’s in those moments that we should trust that God has a purpose for them being our traveling companions.  We don’t see it at first but when we finally reach the mountain top and our journey is done, we will find behind their hooded veils, Sorrow and Suffering’s real identity.  We will discover their names were always Glory and Grace.  This allegory is a picture for us as Christians as we go through tough times and difficulties.  This is beautifully written in a book called “Hinds feet on High Places”.  It’s about a deer, who is accompanied by Sorrow and Suffering throughout her journey to meet God at the high place.  I was recently talking to my sister about this book because earlier in the week, she had sent everyone in our family a podcast taught by our pastor.  The podcast was an amazing and insightful teaching on suffering and our pastor referenced this book throughout. We were both discussing how this encouraged us, that there is hope, even in the hard places of life and how trials can still be God’s blessings.  At the moment we were talking about this, her toddler son, Ryan was coloring with his crayons. Our attention drifted to Ryan as he colored what he thought was his masterpiece. I remember I gave him compliments as he would color a squiggly line. “Oh Ryan , you’re such a Picasso, wow!”  And of course with great pride, he’d grab another crayon just to show me what else he could do.  His mother Rebekah and I just laughed as we watched this cute little boy coloring away as if he was painting the Mona Lisa.  That was a happy memory.  Two days afterward, I found myself with my sister Rebekah again and this time Ryan was with us but instead of him coloring, he was laying still in a hospital bed with no color of life throughout his little body.  The night before, Baby Ryan had an unfortunate accident and was quickly rushed to the children’s hospital.  There he was in between Rebekah and myself, just laying there peacefully with tubes attached to his tiny frame.  All I kept thinking about was of our last conversation about sorrow and suffering and all I could think of was the happy image of Baby Ryan coloring.  I don’t know where life finds you on your journey, whether you are going through good times or bad but I want to encourage you, to remember that God uses all things for our good.  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.  He uses it all, the good, the bad and the ugly. Yes, even the hardships, He uses it to bless us.  John 16:33  says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus doesn’t promise us a life without sorrow but He does promise us His peace and He reminds us that He is with us.  There are numerous examples in the Bible of men and women of faith who had to endure suffering, pain and loss.  From Job, Ruth, Hagar, King David, to the apostle Paul.  In each case although they had to go through it, God was near to comfort and provide.  The scripture says, Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”.  We have the promise of God that we will be comforted. For remember God understands suffering. He came to us and left the comforts of heaven to take on the role of the suffering servant. Jesus Christ endured the cross so that we could have the gift of eternal life. His dying on the cross now gives us who believe in Him,  comfort and hope that one day, He will wipe away every tear and there will be no more pain, no more death.  Remember,  if you are trusting in Christ and not in your own goodness, you will never perish but live forever.  The trials you are going through are temporary, life and peace with Christ is eternal.  Before I left the hospital room, I gave my sister one more hug and I whispered in her ear these words. I hope you will find comfort in them. Remember them always and never forget, Sorrow and Suffering are Glory and Grace. The names of Sorrow and Suffering are Glory and Grace. And as you go along your journey and you see the two dark hooded travelers coming your way, don’t run from them,  allow them to join you. They will lead you to God.  And when the sun is about to set, and darkness is about to settle in, just take a moment to look up at the glorious sky.  Pause to admire the dashing display of color that a sunset provides and find hope in this. That every time you see a painting in the sky, just remember, it’s just Baby Ryan. He’s okay, he’s alive and happy. He’s just sitting on God’s lap, helping God pick out His crayons so that He can color another masterpiece on the canvas of Heaven’s skies.