When Hope is Hard
When Hope is Hard
Seeing God at Work in Difficult Seasons
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Difficult seasons. We’ve all gone through them, haven’t we? I’ve been pondering and sorting and (over) thinking, and I’m ready to talk about mine. I pray that something here will encourage you today.
On December 17, my husband had a heart attack.
It was terrifying and surreal. We were in the hospital for four days, and he underwent procedures in the Cath Lab TWICE in a three day period. When the cardiologist finally found the hidden major blockage in the Left Anterior Descending (the Widow-Maker), he was giddy with excitement and couldn’t wait to present this strange case at his next conference. I was less giddy. In fact, I was scared all the way through my soul. We left the blockage at the hospital, but the fear came home with me.
I failed my asthma biologic.
After the blockage was found, but while my husband was still in the hospital, I left briefly for a previously scheduled appointment with my Pulmonologist. I had been trialing my second biologic in an attempt to control my eosinophilic asthma. Of his other patients who qualified for this medication, everyone else had seen significant improvement. Not me. Back to square one. Fear. Discouragement.
Our son left for Army Basic Training.
Our son had enlisted in the Army and was scheduled to leave for Basic and Advanced Infantry Training six days after my husband was released from the hospital. Loneliness.
EMPTY NEST.
After thirty-five years of mothering…Empty Nest. So very empty.
Torn tendons.
Toward the end of January, I stepped out of the shower and heard a loud POP and felt horrific pain. My orders have been to “stay off my foot” for almost 13 weeks. Pain. Discouragement.
A Difficult Season
Any one of these setbacks would have felt discouraging. Scary. Uncertain. Lonely. Difficulties coming all together? One atop the other? Overwhelming.
One day I realized that I was in a constant battle against worry, fear, anxiety, pain, and exhaustion. I realized that discouragement was my constant companion. That right now hope is hard. And that’s when things took a ridiculous turn.
Enter Stage Left: Guilt and Shame
Instead of saying to myself, “Wow! This is a difficult season! How can I best manage all these struggles and rest in God’s promises?”, I had a different dialogue.
I felt guilty. Ashamed. Defeated. I declared myself weak. A failure. Useless. I’m a Weak Christian because Hope is Hard for me right now.
If you’ve ever been in this place, you’ll immediately recognize the emotional and spiritual spiral that accompanies this narrative. It’s not a good or healthy place to be for anyone–the spiralee or the innocent bystanders.
Enter Stage Right: Grace
As I struggled, cried, and prayed throughout this storm, Truth managed to break in. It suddenly struck me that I would never talk to a friend the way I was talking to myself.
If my friend’s husband had a major heart attack…or she was battling chronic illness…or her son joined the military…or her Nest became Empty…or she had an injury and “bedrest” for months…
It would never occur to me to think she was weak or useless or a failure as she struggled through her difficult season!
How would I respond to my struggling friend?
I would hug her and pray with her and for her.
Send her cheery texts.
Meet her for tea.
Go binge Netflix with her.
Perhaps I would bring her flowers or chocolate or a new book. Or dinner.
I would surround her with grace and love.
And if my friend told me that she felt ashamed, defeated, useless, or a failure?
I would remind her that this is a difficult season…and point her to grace.
Maybe YOU are in a difficult season. If so, may I introduce you to GOD’S GRACE?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 13:3
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10
How can I pray for you? Please comment here or on any of my social media, or email at kimturnermcculley@gmail.com.
My next post will be How to Cultivate Hope in Difficult Seasons, and will be full of practical tips. Sign up for my VIP list here and you will be notified every time I post. Scroll to bottom for more hope-full links.
Hope-filled Resources
Affiliate links. Read Full Disclosure.
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Suffering Is Never For Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie
A dear friend gave me this book during a previous difficult season. I have since given copies as gifts countless times.
Related Posts
How to Find Joy in the Mundane
Finding Joy in the Mundane
Tips for Trying Times
Seeking Beauty in Barren Places
How to Fuel Hope in Darkness
I frequently link up with these lovely Christian blogs!
This article is excellent Kim. I have experienced everyone of these scenarios at one point or another and still battle chronic pain and discouragement from not being able to do things I want. But I realize I can’t compare myself to others who have “seemingly” gone through these various seasons with flying colors. A couple of my favorite verses are in Psalms…Psalm 46:1A “Be still, and know that I am God” and Psalm 57:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Actually most of the Psalms since David experienced many seasons of difficulty too. I love you my dear friend and this article helps me to know how I can better pray for you…because in this season of life their are so many ministries I can no longer be involved in…but I can pray!
Thank you for these comments! I actually considered using those very verses in this post, and have them jotted down for the Facebook Live I’m doing later! I love you and your heart. I’ve been pondering lately…maybe being sidelined and left “only” with prayer as a means of service is really being promoted into something better. I love you, my friend, and am praying for you and your family. 💕
Kim, it is such a hard life. And I remember many, many times you doing all doing ALL of these things for me! Oh, precious friend! May God help you to receive His grace and mercies. May you use His truth to shout down the enemy, who is a lair. You are a daughter of the most-high King. Life is hard and it would have broken us completely if not for the grace of God. I pray that such love would surround you. I wish I could be there to have tea or bring you magazines. You are loved so much, by me and even more by God!
Thank you, my dear Kaylea. 💕💕💕
Several years ago I was battling a very deep depression and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 were verses that spoke life into me. Walking through that tough time was hard and hope was hard. Now, years later, it was in that strengthening of my faith that prepared me for the fact that both my husband and I would be walking through various chronic illnesses at the same time but again my faith is strengthening and I’m seeing God stretch my reach for Him. I’m so very glad that His hope, peace, grace and comfort are always there to wrap around us. Beautiful encouragement here. I just said a prayer for you and your family.
Thank you! What a beautiful testimony. 💕
So hard! I hope you did that whole list for yourself! Or at least started by ordering takeout !!
Ooo!! Takeout 🥡! Always a fun idea. 💕 Thank you for stopping by. I always love finding you in my inbox. ☺️
Having an empty nest allowed you rest, no poetry intended. I am always amazed at how many dart are coming at believers, but we have a shield of faith.
Very true! Thank you for your encouragement. ☺️
Wow, Kim! You have been through it!!! I’m so glad when grace enters stage right! I love your book suggestions here. I just finished “It’s Not Supposed to be This Way.” Such a great book. Love Betty Elliott too! I’m adding the “One Year Book of Hope” to my list. THANKS! And thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements. I’m so glad to have found your blog. Pinned.
Thank you! I’m loving the Linkup. It’s lovely to connect with other Christian writers. 💕
I have been through many seasons of hopelessness. I found that the enemy tends to attack those who offer hope to the world with that very thing. If we lose hope, we lose faith. I pray that the God of all hope will encourage your heart. May you have his eyes to see you as His beloved and His friend. Sending love from Jerusalem.
Thank you for your beautiful encouraging words. God bless you!