Are you in a season that feels mundane and lacking purpose? ...

Are you in a season that feels mundane and lacking purpose? A season that’s particularly painful? Or are you struggling with loneliness?

Would any of you dare to admit by that you’re dealing with all of these at once? Yep, I’ve been there, too. Man…if I could, I’d like to give you a big fat hug right now.

I know you’re not asking, but here’s what else I’d do if I were there: I’d ask you to invite God into the space you’re in & give it all to Him. Your grief, your sadness, your fear, your anxiety, your regret, ALL OF IT. Because He cares.

And so do I.

I’m really sorry for what you’re going through.

Again I know that you didn’t ask me what I’d do...but I’m gonna tell you anyway that I’d  also get REAL PROTECTIVE. I’d beg you not to let suffering fool you into believing that it has no purpose, nor that you are all alone in it...I’d beg you to believe that there is hope!!!

Jesus’ life looked a whole lot like suffering. He spent most of His time doing mundane, hard work & getting no recognition for it. I’m pretty sure He wouldn’t have had a huge following on Instagram (which personally gives me the greatest comfort of all HELLO ). Nothing about His life was glam. And in the end, He suffered UNTO DEATH. But His suffering held the greatest purpose of all: redemption for mankind.

I really hope that this encourages you and reminds you that your suffering can be real, excruciatingly painful, longer-than-you-ever-wanted-it-to-last, and yet overflowing with fruitfulness and purpose.

I don’t believe that God causes suffering, but I do believe that He allows us to experience it…& that He can take it and turn it into something good. So maybe God isn’t punishing you. Maybe He’s preparing you…maybe He’s using your suffering to build the kind of character in you that it will take to handle what He wants to give you next.

My pastor once said that “suffering is God expediting your destiny.” As you’re being crushed by pressure, just like a diamond, you’re being formed into something beautiful, fruitful, and full of purpose.

You were never meant to live on the mountaintop. Even still...

You are seen.⠀

You are known.⠀

You are loved.

-haley