Inside: Are your heart, mind and body worn down from a hard season that seems like it will never end? I’ve been there, and I have some hope-filled words just for you. ~
Hey there, you with the pinched brow and tired eyes.
It’s been a tough season, hasn’t it? I don’t know your specifics, but the effect those circumstances are having on your heart, body and mind? I think I can make some experience-informed guesses about that, 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.
Perception is Not Reality
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, confused by it, frustrated with 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.
Changing Perspectives
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.
What Happens Next
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.
♥ Lois
Don’t equate how you feel today with your worth, your usefulness, your attractiveness or your future fruit-bearing potential. Share on X God is still in the business of redemption, my friend, and your life is not exempt from His promises. Share on XP.S. This post is adapted from a piece originally published in September 2017. I’m linking up this week with One Word 2023, Inspire Me Monday, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
24 comments
Great insights, Lois. Thank you for sharing this encouragement. I need it for myself!
You’re welcome, Lisa. Hugs, friend.
The tired and worn part fits the bill a lot of days lately. Thank you for this.
You’re welcome, Lauren. I’m sorry you’ve been tired and worn lately. I hope the coming fall brings refreshing days for you.
Thanks for all the hope here, Lois. Those seasons can be brutal and we think life will never get better. But it does. Maybe not in the ways we hoped. But it does.
May we define ourselves not by our rough seasons, but by who our Savior says we are.
Amen and amen, dear friend.
You didn’t know it, but you were writing this for me! <3
Love this, my friend: "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.”
Thank you for the wonderful reminder of the truth!
Thanks for letting me know you needed this message, Bethany. Such a comfort to know that God completes this process in us over and over again.
Thank you, Lois for sharing. I wrote about the weariness if yet another loss in my post, “The Substance of Life”, perception changes everything for sure. Hugs, my friend.
Donna, I’m really behind on reading other blogs but will try to visit yours this weekend. I’m sorry you are experiencing yet another season of loss, dear friend.
Lois,
This encouraged me in more ways than you could know.
Blessings,
Tammy
I’m so glad, Tammy. Knowing it encouraged you also encourages me, so thanks for telling me!
Though I am not in a particularly hard season at the moment, I know they come around often, and the truth here resonates with me. I like the thought of “coping muscles” that are strengthened through each trial to face the next one.
That idea really appeals to me too, Barbara. 🙂
I was just listening to a podcast about the generational characteristics, and so much seems to be tied to hopefulness and whether they expect goodness from life. Our kids need the Lord!
I agree wholeheartedly, Michele. It seems like there is so much heaviness weighing on the younger generations, and not a lot of hopefulness or expectation of goodness. It’s so sad.
The dog so drew me in!!! Seriously. So much truth in this post, Lois, and encouragement too. Both perceptions and expectations will lead us to believe lies. “God is still in the business of redemption, my friend, and your life is not exempt from His promises.” Amen and Amen!
I loved the dog too, Joanne, and I’m not really even a dog person! You’re so right that “perceptions and expectations will lead us to believe lies.” I often pray that God would lead us with His light and truth. Hugs, friend.
Thank yo so much. This is such a good post.
Thank YOU, Aritha. 🙂
Thank you so much for such hope-filled encouragement, Lois. I love how you point us to God’s unchanging faithfulness and how all the trials strengthen our coping muscles. And I needed to be reminded of this truth, too – “Don’t equate how you feel today with your worth, your usefulness, your attractiveness or your future fruit-bearing potential.” Love and blessings to you!
Oh Trudy … that’s so important to remember as we get older and might not be able to do everything we used to do, isn’t it? I’m glad you were encouraged by this, dear friend.
Thankfully God never goes “out of business” and will always be in the business of restoration!
Amen to that, Lynn!