Dear Gary,
 
Thank you!
 
My family and myself are experiencing exactly the things you dscribed in the first two paragraphs:
 
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/jan2008/garyr118.htm
 
We need major miracles to do with prodigal children, ill health, and insurmountable (for us) financial problems among others. We love the Lord dearly and we praise, pray, thank, ask, repent ad infinitum.... all seemingly to no avail,  because every day when (if we've slept) we wake up, the problems which already exist are compounded by new ones, with no let up. We do still know that Jesus is on our case so to speak!
 
What I've just said doesn't describe half of what things are like, and yet we know that nothing is outside His control. We also know that He is testing and refining us, and allowing these things to happen because like in Job, He knows we won't lose faith in Him.
 
However, we don't know ANYONE except our brothers and sisters in Christ on Five Doves who are experiencing anything similar - although of course there are many around the world!
 
Do you Gary, or does anyone reading this, know of people who have come out of this sort of "black hole of adversity", because it would be a great comfort to hear from someone who has..... it's just so lonely and exhausting.
 
Whenever the Lord comes to take us home can not be too soon, but before He does we'd like to think that all is not lost in an earthly sense - just like in Job.
 
God bless you Gary and all Doves. We will see you in Heaven :-)
 
Jos