I don’t know what you’re going through this week,
but I’m wondering if maybe you’re feeling a little beaten up by life?
Maybe you’ve gotten through a storm or two, yet as soon as you could dry off and breathe again, another one hits.
Deep disappointment, physical pain, broken relationships and
fractured hopes can take a toll on us, can’t they?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this:
You are NOT alone.
I’m right in the middle of overwhelmingly HARD with you.
Facing non-stop “impossible” circumstances, physical pain and heart-hurts that
are taking more time to heal than I feel like I have.
And maybe like me, you just need to know that you’re normal.
That crazy-hard stuff isn’t an indication that something is wrong with you.
Hard circumstances and hurts aren’t signs that we’re forgotten by God or
disqualified from His promise of protection.
I guess I just want to tell you what I’ve needed to hear:
DON’T GIVE UP! No matter what, don’t let go of hope.
Don’t stop believing that God is a Redeemer, a Healer, a Restorer and
that nothing is too difficult for Him.
Maybe we could pray these words together???
Jesus please use the hard circumstances in my life to make me stronger and
let my hurts draw me closer to You. Amen.
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Thank you for your beautiful and encouraging words. I’m sorry you’re having to go through tough times, but you are right, you’re not alone. I’m going through tough times too and it’s encouraging to know we can pray together over the internet. Thank you!
Oh Renee (and others) – my heart goes out as you walk through these valleys. There are times we feel there will never be any relief – been there and will be there again until the Lord calls us home! Take heart, dear sisters – God is doing something in/through the ‘hard’. My prayers are for you and I join Renee’s prayer.
Thank you for your encouraging words. It is nice to know that others are facing storms too and that we aren’t alone/abandoned by God.
I just returned home from She Speaks and I struggled with wanting to return. I’ve never felt more connected to God than I did there. Getting away from issues at home was amazing and much needed. Thank you for your encouragement. Please know that you are being prayed for. The scripture scroll I rec’d at She Speaks could not be more fitting for me and it sounds like you too.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. {Lamentations 3:21-23}
I DO MARVEL AT HOW A DAY UNWINDS AND THEN I RECEIVE AN EMAIL WHICH IS SO VERY “RIGHT ON” WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING— IT JUST BLOWS ME AWAY. IT INCLUDES MOMENTS LIKE THIS THAT KEEPS ME PLUGGIN ON EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY. SOMETIMES I SEEM TO HAVE MY LIFE “ALL TOGETHER” AND OTHER MOMENTS I AM CRYING “HELP” FROM BEHIND DOORS.
I DO KNOW SOMETHING WHICH IS CONSTANT AND I APPRECIATE EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I GAIN FROM IT….MY AWESOME GOD IS WITH ME EVERY DAY, NIGHT, HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND, WITH ME RUNNING, WALKING, SKIPPING, DOING FORWARD ROLLS…(OOPS DIZZY)…JUST MY FRIEND GOD IS WITH ME.
I LOVE GOD AND WANT TO SAY THANKS. AMEN
oops, forgot to mention that I suffer terribly from depression but husband and dad keep telling me to just ‘get with it’ get over it and move on. Do they think I don’t want to? I just feel myself sinking more and more and without my dr of 12 yrs and without my two precious furbabies, I just can’t do it. I had to leave my two little dogs with him at the house as they can’t be separated and I couldn’t do that to them. He told me a couple months ago I will never see them again. it’s kinda hard to heal from all this and ‘get over it’.
How perfect I saw this before turning my computer off. I feel so sorry for myself and feel guilty for that. I’m 62, living in an apt for the first time in over 30 yrs. My husband of 14 yrs decided last year he no longer wanted to be married, he wants to be with his ‘mistress’ all the time – his computer games. He even plays them while driving. I have been here four months, almost, and am still trying to live out of boxes. He knows I have bad fibromyalgia and pelvic adhesion disease and yet he wants to bring the rest of my stuff out of the house he is still living in, to my apartment. I am spending money I don’t have to buy things I know I have in boxes. I can’t find a primary dr, been to the er twice since I’ve been here, have had four needle injections to my right eye, etc.
For the past several weeks, I’ve just given up. I see the boxes and they don’t register. I just don’t want to do anything at all.
I don’t know what you are going through but I have read your books and receive your emails and I know you are an awesome woman who helps so many other women. I send you hugs and prayers. thank you.
HEY DEBBIE KAY….I REALLY ADMIRE YOU TO TAKE THOSE MUCH NEEDED STEPS TO MOVE TOWARD TAKING CARE OF YOU. WHETHER THIS IDEA OF SEPARATING IS HIS OR YOUR’S DOES NOT EVEN MATTER AS YOU ARE TO BE ADMIRED AS YOU TAKE THE “STEPS!” I BELIEVE YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.
HANG ON TO ALL 110% OF HOPE.
Renee I need this today. Thanks so much. Today is my 16th Wedding Anniversary talking about feeling alone my husband is in prison so its so Hard and now the company I work for is relocating me further away from him before the end of the year. So can you please pray for us. I know each of us are going through difficult times in our lives in different ways and I will be praying for all of you too. God Bless you all.
I love your post and your heart, Renee! Praying the above prayer over myself, you, and other women who read your blog post. This summer I was going through anxiety again, and I was afraid to tell my co-workers thinking “I’m supposed to be the strong Christian. It won’t glorify God if they know I’m struggling”. Well, it wasn’t until I opened up that I was struggling with shortness of breath (anxiety) that God’s love came pouring down, met me in my weakness, and His peace washed over me. So, I learned it’s humbling to admit our weakness and that’s the beginning to healing. Praise God that He will cause all thing to work together for good in our lives and thank goodness He can redeem anything. : ) God bless you!
GOD-breathed words of encouragement and building that I needed. Thank you, Renee. Please know that I will lift you up in prayer. I know there are many others whose lives you touch that are as well. You are truly GOD’s faithful servant.
PS – I love “A Confident Heart”
This could not have come at a more perfect time. My husband and I are still grieving the loss of a twin pregnancy that was 18 weeks along, but ended April 28th. I have been thinking to myself all week, how do others not lose hope and stay positive during difficult times. It’s the third miscarriage (first two were 8 weeks along) and I can’t help but wonder why I’m having to go through this and how do I not lose hope and continue trusting Him. I’m ready for my heart to heal and it’s frustrating that it’s taking longer than I want it to. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in these feelings and that they are normal.
Needed this today <3 Prayers for you and all who resonate with your message of hope and encouragement. Thank you and God bless you and yours
Such comfort here, Renee. Thank you so much for the reminder that “hard circumstances and hurts aren’t signs that we’re forgotten by God.” Praying for Jesus to hold you close and give you peace through the circumstances you are going through now. Hugs!