This past week, I have observed a very close friend going through a rough time of her life. Under her permission, I will write about her week anonymously.

My friend began her week with two losses. Two people in her life, one who has been in it for a while and a more recent addition, were taken away. As you can imagine, she was extremely upset and as many who have experienced death of a friend, loved one, or acquaintance, she found herself asking God "Why them?" The week followed with a few disappointments and ended with the end of a relationship with someone very close to her who she relied on throughout the week. She was completely destroyed and gave up on her school work. She has lived a difficult life. At this point, she became very depressed and asked "Why is God punishing me?" and "What have I done wrong/What is wrong with me?"

I assume some of you can relate on this at some level. I want to share with you some scriptures about God's guidance and what I think they mean to me along with her favorite scripture.

Starting with her favorite scripture, she shared with me as it was what helps her to keep her faith during a rough time. Psalm 34:18 reads "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." This is reassuring to her in these times when she needs to know that God is with her and is guiding her and preparing her for what he has in store.

Finally, a couple more bible verses to remember are:

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way."

Psalm 32:8-9 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you."

John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."