Have you ever had a day that felt as though everything that could go wrong actually did? Have you ever felt alone or isolated? Felt as though your friends had turned their back on you? Everyone has felt this way at some point, and this feeling is a signal that it’s time to turn to God. So why do people run further away?

We are a generation of victims.

We want the world to be perfect for us. We want happiness and acceptance. We compare and compete with others. We perfect our bodies until they’re “ideal,” until people pour in compliments and throw likes at us.

Why are we so infatuated with the fickle approval of others? That electronic heart that they deign to throw our way becomes the ultimate adrenaline rush for daily self-worth, and we wonder why we feel empty, wrong, or simply not enough. Why are we more invested in who follows us than us following Him?

Our entire approach is wrong. Where we should turn to God, we turn to others. But humans are flawed and imperfect. Everyone is fighting their own struggles and living in their own worlds. If we keep looking to humans to fill the voids, we will always be bitter and unhappy.

The world isn’t built to be perfect. If your life were perfect, why would you need Him?

But that doesn’t mean your life will be horrible because you love God. Far too many people see the trials God places in lives as a reason to not believe. When life feels unbearable, when you start blaming God instead of looking to Him to explain, you open a door for Satan to wreak havoc in your life. Where God can answer your cry for love, Satan will convince you that no one loves you.

Instead, even when you are at your darkest, when your knees are bruised from praying, and it feels as though life isn’t getting any better—stop and ask yourself this: would I be praying right now if life didn’t suck?

Sometimes we are too preoccupied with our lives to think twice about God, until things start to fall apart. God doesn’t hate you. He loves you so much He wants to draw you back to Him.

Maybe what you’re praying for, what you want more than anything…is bad for you. The position you wanted and didn’t get would have burned out your spark. That boy you were infatuated with is selfish and cruel. The friend that picks you apart can’t love you because they don’t know love.

God keeps us from harm. He gives us what we need, when we need it. See the trials as training. Things that once felt unbearable to me, I survived with God. The things I thought I wanted, that God didn’t allow me to have? I’m better for it. We have to trust that He sees the bigger picture. One day it will all make sense. But for now, wouldn’t you rather have God helping you fight your battles?