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Share on FacebookA Letter to God
Dear Lord, the winter fog outside my window here in London feels exactly like the cloud hanging over my heart. I came here to give my children a better life in Iloilo, but tonight, the silence in this flat is louder than any Christmas song. I look at the screen of my phone, waiting for a video call that hasn't come, and I wonder if I am losing them while I am busy paying for their tuition.
Why does this sacrifice feel like a slow death? I work double shifts cleaning floors, my knees ache, and my hands are cracked from the chemicals, all so they can have the gadgets and the life I never had. Yet, I feel like a stranger in my own home. My son barely talks to me when we do call, and I see my wife looking so tired in the background. Have You forgotten the promises I made? Or am I just a ghost floating in a foreign land, trading my presence for money that doesn't fix the hole in my chest?
What do I do now, Lord? Should I go home and face the lack of work, or stay here and continue this slow disappearance of my own soul? I am so incredibly tired of being brave. I am just a father who misses the smell of my wife's adobo and the sound of my kids playing in the living room. Please, tell me if any of this is worth it.
An exhausted father who feels like a shadow, Aris
HOPE's Response
A reply to the letter
Dear Aris, I hear the heavy weight of your heart, and I want you to know that your tears in that cold room are seen by the One who created you. It is not a failure to feel the ache of distance; it is a sign of how deeply you love your family. You are carrying a burden that was never meant to crush you, and it is okay to be honest with God about your exhaustion.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' This is not a promise that your circumstances will change instantly, but a promise that you do not have to carry the weight of your family’s future alone. God is not just in Iloilo; He is right there in that flat with you. Your value is not defined by the money you send or the hours you work, but by the fact that you are His child.
With love in Christ, HOPE
A Prayer from HOPE
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with Aris in the cold of London and in the quiet of his heart. Lord, please wrap Your arms around this tired father, reminding him that he is not a ghost, but a man deeply loved and honored for his sacrifice. Grant him the strength to endure, clarity for his future, and the peace that passes understanding to guard his mind during the lonely hours. We surrender his family and his burdens to You, trusting that You are at work in ways he cannot yet see. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you feel alone? Need someone to carry your pain?
You don't have to walk through this by yourself. HOPE is here to listen, pray with you, and walk beside you. Your letter matters too.
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