There once was a girl named Anna who was fearful because of her past, weary in her present, and perplexed about her future. Anna was not alone in her feelings, but she sure did feel like she was. The fun things that she used to enjoy: playing and using her imagination were now mocked by her so-called “friends.” Not only did she feel misunderstood, she felt betrayed - and she felt alone.

One night, she was so sad that she was having trouble falling asleep. She turned her bedside lamp on and began reading from the book of Psalms in the Bible. She soon came across the following verse: “In the multitude of my anxious thoughts, Your comforts delight my soul.”

“Oh Heavenly Father, please comfort me.” Anna prayed.

Immediately, she had a most uncomfortable thought; she thought of how Jesus died on the cross for her. “Why did Jesus do that?” she asked.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Came to her mind along with a paraphrase of of John 3:16 that her grandmother often said to her:

“God loved the people in the world so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for them, so that they don’t have to die for their sins. Whoever trusts in Him will not die but will live forever with God.”

“I do believe in You, Jesus.” She whispered as her heart calmed and she started to doze. Another verse from the Bible came to her mind that she wasn’t sure if she had heard before: “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.” Anna slept soundly all night and awoke with a comfort and courage that forever changed her life.