The other night, I teared up as I confessed to my husband that this had been one of the hardest years of my life. Only one other year has felt this challenging. Yet, after sharing those words, I felt an unexpected comfort, which reminded me of where I was the last time I expressed such pain—back in 2018. That year, I experienced the devastating loss of a coworker/friend. The grief left me feeling hopeless. You see, then, I believed in God but didn’t know Him personally. Without a relationship with Jesus, I felt alone in my struggles.
This year, though still full of heartaches and losses, was different from 2018. The difference was this time, I knew I wasn’t alone. I had the assurance that God loves and cares for me. When I felt weak or defeated, I knew He was with me. It reminded me of when I was a child and would get a scraped knee or some other type of “boo-boo.” No doubt it hurt, but just having my Mom or Dad put a Band-Aid on me or give me a big hug, made it feel more bearable. Suffering is more manageable when I know God is holding me in His arms.
For believers, suffering is not without hope. We endure trials, but we know they’re only temporary. I’m so thankful to know God now as my refuge and my strength through it all.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
~ Bayley Huntley
Christ Fellowship