Have you ever felt that sometimes God asks too much of you? I've been pondering this lately because (in my little mind) it seems like nothing is going like I want it. My closest friends are moving away, no future spouse in the works, no housemate. It seems like God has a life of eternal loneliness set aside for me. I look around, everyone else's life seems to be "complete". Why not mine? But yet, I realize, other's lives aren't as "complete" as they they desire. They too, are dealing with, "Why would God ask this of me?". While the human in me wants to be cast down, I know that during times of trouble, I have to hold strong to my Rock. Then when I look back, I will see the beautiful picture that God is weaving of my life. Dr. Brown shared this devotion in church last night, and I'm convinced that it was put on his heart just so I could hear and gain encouragement. It's from Feb. 20 of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening.

“God, that comforteth those that are cast down.”

2 Corinthians 7:6

And who comforteth like him? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf adder, he listens not to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. He is drinking gall and wormwood, and comfort him as you may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let God come to his child, let him lift up his countenance, and the mourner’s eyes glisten with hope. Do you not hear him sing—

“'Tis paradise, if thou art here; If thou depart, 'tis hell?”

You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it; “He is the God of all comfort.” There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi. It is marvellous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the gold beater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So, then, poor Christian, thou needest not sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask him to give thee consolation. Thou art a poor dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water, and so, Christian, when thou art dry, go to God, ask him to shed abroad his joy in thy heart, and then thy joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find them Job’s comforters after all; but go first and foremost to thy “God, that comforteth those that are cast down,” and you will soon say, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”