5 Days to Believe You’re Going to Make It

Scripture: James 4:8

How Can We Find New Strength in Hard Seasons?In a recent season of my life, I felt like the heartbreak I was experiencing was going to break me. 

The pain hit me with such sudden and sharp force that it felt like it cut through skin and bone. And it left me wondering if I’d ever be able to function like a normal person again. 

Through that time and even now, God has been reminding me that pain itself is not the enemy. Pain is the indicator that brokenness exists. 

Pain is the reminder that the real Enemy is trying to take us out and bring us down by keeping us stuck in broken places. If we can grasp God’s perspective, pain can be the gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination, knowing there’s healing on the other side. 

And in the in-between? In that desperate place where we aren’t quite on the other side of it all yet, and our hearts still feel quite raw? Even still, pain is an invitation for God to move in and replace our faltering strength with His. Now, I’m not writing this to throw out spiritual platitudes that sound good; I write it from the depth of a heart that knows it’s the only way. 

We must invite God into our pain to help us survive the desperate in-between. 

The only other choice is to run from the pain by using some method of numbing. But numbing the pain—with food, achievements, drugs, alcohol, or endlessly scrolling on social media—never goes to the source of the real issue to make us healthier. It only silences our screaming need for help. 

We think we’re freeing ourselves from the pain when, in reality, what numbs us imprisons us. If we avoid the hurt, the hurt creates a void in us. It slowly kills the potential for our hearts to fully feel, fully connect, and fully love again. It even steals the best in our relationship with God. 

Pain is the sensation that indicates a transformation is needed. There’s a weakness where new strength needs to enter. And we must choose to pursue long-term strength rather than temporary relief. 

So how do we get this new strength? How do we stop ourselves from chasing what will numb us when the deepest parts of us scream for some relief? How do we stop the piercing pain of this minute, this hour? We invite God’s closeness. 

For me, this means praying. And praying constantly. No matter how deep our pit, prayer is big enough to fill us with the realization of His presence like nothing else. Just like our key verse reminds us, when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8 ESV). 

No matter where you are today… knee-deep in heartbreak, taking steps of healing, or in the desperate in-between, today is a great day to invite God closer. When we invite Him close, He always accepts our invitation. 

RESPOND:

How might you invite God into the closeness of something difficult you’re facing right now? As you do, ask God for renewed strength in what you’re processing today.

Scripture: 1 John 4:16

What’s Happened to You Hasn’t Changed Who You AreA couple of years ago, our team at Proverbs 31 Ministries was brainstorming a new T-shirt concept. Once it was designed, printed, and delivered, it was time to photograph the T-shirt for the bookstore. And I volunteered. 

Now, here’s something you need to know about me. I’m not usually the one who raises her hand and says, “I’ll volunteer to model that shirt!” Nope. Modeling is not my thing. 

But this shirt had words on it that felt so personal to me: known and loved.

“Known and loved” had been an anthem drumming in the background during some really hard days when I wondered if I’d survive the circumstances I was facing. And I knew taking a picture of me wearing this truth would be a good way to declare what I desperately wanted to feel. 

Because instead of feeling known and loved, I felt forgotten and tossed aside. I needed a reminder to turn to God, open up His Word, and listen to praise songs. When I did those things, I could hear the anthem of God’s voice rising above the chaos: Lysa, you are known and so very loved by Me. Trust Me. Turn to Me. Hold on to Me. He held me when I could barely hang on, and He reminded me what was true of me when I was tempted to forget. 

I survived. And so will you. What’s happened to you hasn’t changed who you are. 

I don’t know who in your life has told you that you are anything less than the most glorious creation of the almighty God. I don’t know who has spoken words over you and about you that have stripped you bare and broken your heart. But I do know whatever statement was spoken to you that came against the truth must be called a lie. 

God’s Word is the truth. And His truth says you are a holy and dearly loved child of your heavenly Father. 

You are wonderfully made. 

You are a treasure. 

You are fully known by Him and lavishly loved by Him. 

You are chosen. 

You are special. 

You are full of purpose. 

You are set apart. 

I pray those two words—known and loved—remind you of what God wants you to know today. 

Even if you don’t feel loved. Even if you don’t feel known or understood, remember our feelings aren’t always an accurate assessment of what’s true. Cling to the words of our key verse today: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). Then, release a lie you’ve believed that makes you feel less than who you are and set your mind and heart on these things. 

Oh, friend, we must remember God’s words. Repeat God’s words. And believe God’s words with all our whole hearts. 

RESPOND:

Personally receive the words “known and loved” from God today. As you embrace these words as a child of God, what lie are you releasing that is competing with this truth?

Scripture: John 14:27

God Doesn’t Want Us Tormented by Anxious Thoughts TodayAnxiety. Not one of us is completely immune to heart-stabbing, pulse-racing, anxious feelings. Most of us have had a personal struggle with this peace stealer. 

I’m so thankful God spoke into this struggle in the Bible. It reminds us that God doesn’t 

want our lives to be constantly hijacked by anxiety. He doesn’t want us walking through our days or lying in our beds at night tormented by anxious thoughts. He also doesn’t want us making decisions from places of fear and missing out on seeing the good things He has for us. 

Even Jesus Himself spoke to this topic when He told us in John 14:27 that He left us with peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). 

Peace. Not worry. Not fear. Not anxiety. 

Make no mistake, sweet friend, the Enemy wants us to feel hopeless. He wants us to live enslaved to our worries and fears. But God wants us to know that we don’t have to let anxiety rob us of our peace, our hope, or our joy another single day. Instead of allowing anxious thoughts to wreak havoc in our hearts and minds, let’s try these 

three steps: 

1. Pray honestly. Prayer connects our overwhelming anxiety to God’s overcoming power. God can help us redirect our hearts and minds away from anxious thoughts and onto truths and safe assurances found in Him. We have full permission to pour out our hearts to Him honestly. We can bring every fear, every request, and every need to Him without hesitation or apology (1 Peter 5:7). When we do, we’ll find that prayer and peace walk hand in hand. 

2. Read God’s truths. We can intentionally think on truth by seeking out scriptures that speak to the issues we are facing. When we tuck God’s truth into our hearts, we are arming ourselves with the most powerful tool available—His Word! (Hebrews 4:12). 

3. Verbalize trust in Him. We can quote the scriptures we’ve memorized throughout our day. There is tremendous power in quoting a verse slowly and intentionally—claiming the truths contained within and verbalizing our belief in God out loud. 

I’m convinced the more we draw near to God in prayer and the more we fill our minds with His Word, the more crowded out our fears and anxieties will become. 

RESPOND: What verse could you cling to tightly today as you overcome anxious thoughts? Ask God to help you set your mind on those truths.

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24

Let’s Live Like He’s FaithfulOne of the quickest ways to get discouraged and disillusioned with the faithfulness of God is to look to people and circumstances as the determining factors. 

People will fail you. Circumstances will falter. We have days where life events shake us and break us and make us question, “Why? Why this? Why now?” We live in a fallen world where fallen things happen, and there’s evil among us. It hurts in horrific ways. 

But God’s faithfulness doesn’t diminish in the face of hard realities. 

He rises. He lifts. He shifts us, and He settles us in places of deeper trust. He takes us by the hand and whispers, No matter what, I’ve got this. I’ve got you. And I’ll hold on to you forever. God is faithful. And in order to believe I’m going to make it through hard seasons, I want to live like He is faithful. It may feel more complicated than that, but it really is that simple. How? Well, our level of faith in our current situations doesn’t diminish His level of faithfulness. 

Faithfulness is not something God does or doesn’t do based on the situation. He is faithful regardless of what we’re facing. Therefore, we can live like He’s faithful even in circumstances that make my heart hurt. We pray like He’s faithful even when we’re devastated by what we’re walking through. 

If you woke up to something challenging today, I understand, sweet friend. Whether it’s new or something you’ve been suffering through for a long time, I’m so sorry. But here’s what I know: We may cry. We may weep. But by the grace of God, we can also grab one another’s hands and stand. Together. Proclaiming truth. 

I wish we were sharing coffee and processing all these things together. This is where I would turn in Scripture to encourage you: “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. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’” (Lamentations 3:22–24 NIV). 

Oh, friend. Heaven is closer than we think. Evil is in the process of being defeated. Therefore, we can stare at heartbreak and pain but still walk in absolute victory. God’s faithfulness and mercy never change and never fail; in fact, they are new this morning. While there may be uncertainty around us, we can cling to that certain truth and get up to face today. 

Now, let’s live like He’s faithful. Because He is. 

RESPOND:

How does hearing that God’s faithfulness doesn’t waver, even when our faith does, encourage you today? What would it look like to claim His faithfulness even in what you’re facing right now?

Scripture: Romans 8:26

Healing Is a Daily ChoiceCan I encourage you with something today? 

Even if you don’t see it, you are healing. You are growing. God is shaping you into who He created you to be. 

I know it can be tempting to doubt it, but today is another step forward into a future God is paving for you … a future that may look different than you thought but a future He has deemed good. 

You see, the longer I live, the more I see healing less as a destination and more of a daily choice. In case your heart is feeling weary, I hope you’ll feel a little more encouraged that you’re not alone and your beautiful, unique story is still unfolding. The circumstances of today are part of your story, but they are not the whole story. 

I thought you may need a heart-to-heart talk right now because I know what it’s like to 

Start to wonder if these hard situations will be never-ending…

Question if you’ll survive this time of suffering and come out on the other side…

Process even more devastating news that makes your mind race, your throat tighten, and your eyes swell with tears…

Try to pray in moments when God feels incredibly distant…

I understand. Sometimes all this pain can feel so very pointless. 

Over the last couple of years, I’ve faced one hardship after another. At many points, I’ve wondered how I would make it through. Even now, I’m still very much in process. Yes, I’ve done the hard heart work with my counselor and processed all the things with my closest friends. I’ve been healing. I’ve gained perspective and understanding of how to move forward. I’ve made progress. But none of that changes the deep heartbreak I went through. 

But friend, no matter what we’re trying to make sense of right now, God is near to us in our heartbreak, and He cares about our despair. Past, present, and future, God is still here. 

Right this very minute, in the middle of our own difficult circumstances, we get to choose to cling to truth harder than ever before. We can allow hope to be infused into even the most impossible-looking circumstances. We can command our weary hearts to remember God is in charge, and we are not, and that’s actually a freeing place to be. 

As you wrestle with it all—the progress made, the steps forward still to endure, the painful, time-consuming, beautifully refining process that healing is—I want us to read a verse that is so comforting to me: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26 NIV). 

Every time I read these words, I’m reminded I can simply surrender to Jesus and trust Him with every part of the journey I’m on. And I believe the more we surrender to trusting the Lord, rather than trying to make our own way, the less we will suffer. Oh, Jesus, please help me live like this today.

RESPOND: What would it look like for you to surrender to Jesus in what you’re facing today? How are you encouraged by the truth that healing is a daily choice, not a destination?