Hey there, you with the pinched brow and tired eyes. Yeah, I’m talking to you, but honestly? I’m also talking to myself.
It’s been a tough season, hasn’t it? I don’t know your specifics, and maybe you don’t know mine. But the effect those circumstances are having on your heart, body and mind? I think I can make some educated guesses, and here’s what I want to say about it.
Don’t equate how you feel today with your worth, your usefulness, your attractiveness or your future fruit-bearing potential.
Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.
Yes, you might consumed by it, tired of it, overwhelmed by it, possibly even angry at it. That’s the blunt, current truth.
But let me also tell you this. It will not always be the way it is right now.
It may seem to you (and your loved ones) that your hard thing is all you ever talk about—all you ever think about—and maybe you are right. A day will come, though, when that is not the case.
Your circumstances may not change, but your perspective will. Ask anyone who has suffered great loss. The pain, the sadness and the scars may never fade completely, but life does go on.
Other parts start to fill in. The joy comes back, even.
Then along comes another trial, maybe even harder than the last. The coping muscles that you developed last time will help some, but you will grow more—perhaps in places you didn’t even know strength could exist.
This process—let’s call it the circle of faith—is spelled out in Romans 5:3-4: “Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”
God is still in the business of redemption, my friend, and your life is not exempt from His promises.
Hold on to that truth today. And maybe take a nap if you get the chance.
♥ Lois
God is still in the business of redemption, and your life is not exempt from His promises. Share on X
42 comments
Thank you for the encouragement! So needed today.
Blessings
So good to hear from you, Lureta. I hope you have a good week!
Lois,
So true our perspective does change. Great post.
Thank you, Maree. Speaking of another welcome change, happy October to you!
Lois, I’ve read this post before and thought of all the people it would help. I’ve come back again to read it again from Arabah’s website and thought about how much it helped me this time. Thank you!
You’re welcome, my friend. I hope you have a wonderful week!
This is such a beautiful and true reality. God is still in the business of redemption. Thank you for this encouragement and thank you for sharing at Grace and Truth last week. I would love to feature this post tomorrow.
Hi Dawn … thanks again for sharing this little post at Grace & Truth. When I wrote it, I was talking to myself as much as anyone else, but I’m so thankful it has been encouraging to others as well! 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement! It is music to my hears and a healing balm to my weariness!
Visiting from #TellHisStory
I’m so glad, Julie. Here’s hoping for a more restful October! 🙂
So good! You reminded my heart once more that nothing is impossible with God. xo
Good to hear from you, Tiffany. So excited for the latest developments in YOUR life, my friend! 🙂
Ha! At that first line, I lifted my eyebrows, because there’s this horizontal line that always comes . . .
Thanks for hope-words, and it’s always good to read the way in which you are receiving God’s Words to you at a particular time for a particular purpose.
Blessings to you, Lois.
I don’t even want to think about how all this shows up on my own face, Michele! Thanks for your kind words. Lately I’m finding my blog is much more up-to-the-minute than it’s ever been, but I’m sensing that’s how it should be. One day, one week at a time. 🙂
So SO good, friend! A nap may certainly be in my future today! Blessings!
Ha, Liz … I hope you found time for that nap last week! 🙂
Dear Lois, I am so thankful for the insights and wisdom you have generously shared. Also sad for the trials that dug out trenches in your soul for God to fill with his compassion and counsel. Prayers for continued sustenance, and for joy in the middle. XOXO
Thanks so much, Alice. Do you ever make it over to the Kansas side? What fun it would be to share over a cup of something hot (or cold if this ridiculous summer weather lingers)! 🙂
God still redeems. Amen!
Yes, Sarah! 🙂
Thank you, Lois. “Coping muscles” is a phrase I hope to remember. Such an accurate and helpful illustration. The circle of faith too! I’ve long loved that passage but hadn’t thought of it as a circle, and it makes so much sense. Thanks for these insights and this encouragement!
Glad I can contribute to your vocabulary of phrases, Bethany. 🙂 I hope all is well in your world, my friend.
Thank you, Lois, for this beautiful, hope-filled post. Such great encouragement to keep in my memory bank – “Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.” I’m sorry you have been hit with heavy trials lately, but it’s amazing how God is teaching you so much and using you to spread hope. You are comforting us with the same comfort God has given you through it all. Thank you. Blessings and hugs!
You do the same on a regular basis, my friend. Hugs back! 🙂
Lois – I am so blessed by this beautiful post and wisdom. I love your thought – “Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.” Amen. Glad I stopped by today.
I’m glad you stopped by too, Sandra! Hugs, friend!
Your season of trial is producing sheer gold. Your writing is encouraging us that yes, we, too, can do more than just eek out survival in the midst of the crazyness / trauma / grief, but that God can grow and stretch us in ways that we didn’t imagine.
Thanks for continuing to share what you’re learning, Lois. What a blessing …
Oh, Linda … thank you for this. What I see (in myself and my circumstances) doesn’t resemble sheer gold right now, but I know God’s refining power is always at work. Blessings to you, my friend.
This is so refreshing!!! Amen to it all. xoxo
Thanks, Meg! Have a good week. 🙂
Hi Lois,
Our feelings do make us feel as if we have blinders on and can’t quite see past where we are right now, don’t they? I love this encouragement that what feels so hard and true right now, may not really be the case, and yes, even if our circumstances don’t change, our perspective can! xoxo
Thanks so much, Valerie. I haven’t had a chance to linger elsewhere online lately, but I am so glad you made it through the hurricane and I loved your latest post about it! 🙂
So good… so powerful… so true!
Thank you, Karrilee … so nice to see you here this week! 🙂
This is great encouragement, Lois! When we’re struggling and weary it can be hard to see beyond our situation but your words here are full of hope. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you found it encouraging, Lesley. Also, thank YOU for your blog help last week … it was exactly what I needed to accomplish the task!
Needed to hear exactly that! Thanks, Lois!
You’re welcome, Sandy! Have a great week. 🙂
Wow, this is just the encouragement I needed to hear. The Lord spoke to me through you today, Lois (He usually does!).
I’m glad, Susie. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Lois, if this doesn’t spread hope for when we’re weary of walking through a trial, I don’t know what does. Thank you for this encouragement today! I’m sharing this!
Thanks so much for your kind words … and for sharing, Leslie! Many blessings to you this week. 🙂