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Favor Through Hardship

Proverbs 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

The Lord's favor has always been a bit of a puzzle for me.  I have to be careful because my mind wants to equate favor and blessings.  I would love to hear Mary's perspective on God's favor.  I'll bet it would surprise us.  We know God desires the best possible life for us, and sometimes that comes through hardship.  As a matter of fact, I would say, from my own experiences, that God uses the hardship to grow us closer to Him and He becomes more tangible during the most difficult times of life.  That closeness is true favor.  Favor from the Lord is unconditional, eternal love from our almighty creator.  That type of love is all our souls thirst for anyway. If we could only let ourselves be so loved, then we would have our thirst quenched once and for all.

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