When Nothing Gets Better

I had a more “poised” post planned out for today, but I’m going to be real with you. I’ve had a really difficult past few weeks and every time it seemed like things were improving, something else happened to make it worse. There were moments when staying in bed or zoning out behind a screen seemed safer than continuing on with my day.

Maybe you’re in a similar boat right now or perhaps you can recall a time when you were stuck in a negative cycle. I believe God wants us to express our emotions and be honest about them, but I don’t think He wants us to stop there.

I don’t have all the answers for why life is difficult or when your problems will be solved. We live in a broken world which will remain imperfect until Jesus comes again.

But I have been reminded again of our need to cling to the truth that there is always beauty to be found and we are not alone in our struggles. Here is my process of overcoming ongoing obstacles, which I hope resonates with you too.

Acknowledge the Pain

You are not a failure or overly sensitive for admitting when you are struggling. In fact, when we distract ourselves or pretend like everything is okay, we are depriving ourselves of deeper healing. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and share them, whether with a trustworthy loved one or in a diary, and especially with God.

Admit to God Your Humanness

Difficult times can draw us closer to God. He is here for you and wants you to call out to Him in all seasons. Admit that you can’t do this alone and ask for His steady hand to guide you through.

Reflect on Previous Trials and Restoration

This likely isn’t the first storm you’ve encountered. Remember a time when you thought nothing would improve and take notice of how this mindset shifted. Can you see God at work in that situation? What did you learn from that trial? Is there anything you can use from that experience to help you through this one?

Read God’s Promises for Your Life

Though we live in a broken world, God still created us with intention and love. Therefore, we can experience joy and fulfillment while living into the calling He has for us. Open your Bible and read passages that bring you hope. Notice passages about Bible characters who faced difficulties, but relied on God for strength. What got them through their battles? God never changes. He will help you, even if His response shows up in unexpected ways.

Do Something You Enjoy

While this step isn’t meant to be an escape from real life, taking time to have fun and focus on other aspects of our lives can help us process and release our pain. You are worth moments of rest and enjoyment.

Allow Yourself to Embrace Newness

Life might look different for you right now, but that doesn’t mean you have to freeze and wait for everything to be over. You can live out your God-given calling right now, even as you hope for better days. We may avoid embracing newness because it means we have to keep moving forward, but it also means we won’t be stuck in this season forever. Things will get better, one step at a time.

I hope and pray that you know how much you are loved. No matter what, God is with you and fighting for you. Don’t give up. ❤

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:18-23