When I was in my early twenties, I went through challenges in my life that at times left me sad and struggling.  One night, when I was especially down, I cried out to God.  Suddenly, it was as if a wave of love washed over me, and I immediately felt comforted.  Two things stand out to me about that night.  One, that the comfort I received was free; His love didn’t cost me anything.  And two, that it wasn’t the result of my reliance on a friend or a family member, but came directly from God.  What happened that night must not only have affected me inwardly, but also outwardly, as the next day my boss said something to me along the lines of, “What happened to you?  Something seems different!?”

“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.”

(Psalm 18:6, NLT)