Life has been a whirlwind. 2024 was just plain hard in SO many ways. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. If it wasn’t that thing, it was another thing. And at some point, everything just came crashing down on top of me. From hurricanes to wildfires, to finances to friendships. From impending decisions to health setbacks. Everything has felt hard.
In the sea of all the things, I’ve felt as though I was drowning. I haven’t seen a way forward. I’ve been unable to catch my breath or keep my head above water.
Over the last few months, a deep sadness has set in, wrapped in an even deeper sense of anxiety. Hope has seemed out of reach and joy, a faint memory.
My go-to response in seasons like this is to keep my struggles to myself and power through as if nothing was wrong. I dig my heels into denial and wait for everything to play out. A lot of my prayers are me asking God, “Why? Why this? Why again?” I often imagine He gets tired of hearing these questions from me, but He doesn’t. I often believe He gets tired of me circling the same mountains, but He doesn’t. I often think He gets tired of my struggles and complaints, but He doesn’t. I often think He gets tired of my unbelief, but He doesn’t.
God doesn’t grow tired of us. He is well acquainted with our sorrows. Jesus is more than familiar with our every emotion. Many times, I assume that the community around me will feel the same way I imagine that God feels towards me. I think they’ll grow tired of hearing my questions, doubts, frustrations, fears, and worries. While some people may, those who are being led by the Holy Spirit won’t. The fruit of the Spirit will flow freely through their lives.
The Lord is graciously patient with me in this process of sanctification. I can be really slow to learn and grow. One of those ways I’ve been slow is to allow the Body of Christ to do what the Body is designed to do.
Galatians 6:2 reminds us that God created us to do life together. It is not good for us to be alone. He designed us to carry one another’s burdens. When we do, it actually fulfills the Word of God. We are to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. This is one of the sweetest ways of what it looks like to carry each other’s burdens.
The past few months have been overwhelming, to say the least. I have been knocked down. I have been quite tempted to stay down. And I have partnered with some of the lies of the enemy.
But God.
Isn’t that always the case? But God. He wouldn’t let me stay in this pit for too long. His heart is always to rescue us and provide a way of escape. He won’t let the enemy get the best of us. He won’t even let us get the best of ourselves.
God knows what we need before we do. And He knows the best way to meet those needs. Those ways always bring Him glory and are always worked out for our good.
In the weeks surrounding Christmas and the New Year, I was hit with several horrendous migraines, debilitating back pain, overwhelming sadness, thoughts of hopelessness, and then sickness. My cough that I’ve had since November began to flare up along with a sore throat, sneezing, fatigue, etc… Needless to say, this was not how I envisioned 2024 ending and 2025 beginning.
I desperately wanted to hide in the pit that engulfed me. But the Holy Spirit challenged me to do the thing that doesn’t come easily, the thing that I didn’t want to do. He challenged me to let others into my pain and fear and discouragement.
It took almost everything inside of me to reach out, but I did.
The Holy Spirit highlighted particular people to send a voice message. Some of them are near and some are far. But each one was more than happy to help carry the burden of this season I’ve been in. Text messages and voice notes were sent with prayers and encouraging Scripture. I even found myself weeping in the arms of some beloved sisters who boldly prayed in the Spirit and declared Heaven’s promises and the Father’s heart over me.
They upheld my arms in this battle while I was too weak to do so.
It requires humility and courage to reach out when you’re lost and hurting and lonely. I know I wasn’t operating in my own strength. It was only the work of God’s grace in me. I am beyond grateful for His grace that sustains me and leads me and conforms me to the image of Christ.
Know that His grace is at work within you as well. It doesn’t mean that your obstacles will disappear overnight, but God’s grace is guaranteed to be more than sufficient to carry you in the midst of your battles.
The ushering in of the new year did bring some refreshing and hope. I am not fully out of this pit, but the Lord is shepherding me through as only He can.
He who began a good work within us is faithful to complete it. God’s faithfulness encourages us through His Spirit and His Body.
If you find yourself in a hard season, and in need of the comfort of God through His Body, I’d love to pray for you!
Listen to Karina’s devotion here or on the (in)courage podcast wherever you stream!
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Thank you for sharing these struggles. It is helpful to know I am not alone and helpful to be reminded that it is more than ok to reach out and share those struggles and heartaches. The two words that stuck out here- “But God”. Yes, but God. I look back at all the past struggles and how I moved on and the constant was God. And God allowing me to reach out to others.
Thank you for sharing your “hard season.” It reminds me I’m not alone – and with God’s help, and the help of others.. I – like you, will make it to the other side.
Although not a woman, I am in constant caregiving duty for my beloved wife of 54 years. She has been in constant physical pain and been coping with several major illnesses at the same time. Several types of cancer, Myasthenia Gravis, Lupus, and a number of other burdens that would drive some people to the brink of destruction. The Good Lord has been just that, Good. Has not seen fit to take away the burdens but somehow gives us enough resources to cope. Our finances have been destroyed as well as any hopes for a comfortable lifestyle, but with the help of some clinical trials with a great doctor over in Scottsdale, have had some relief, with much of those expenses handled by a pharmaceutical company. We would ask for your prayers regarding our situation. How best to even deal with it all as the Lord sees fit. Thank you.
Wes,
I pray for God to rain down His divine healing blessings upon your beloved wife and provide continuing strength to you as a loving husband and caregiver. May joy find its way into your days.
Kathleen
Dear Wes, I am praying for you and your wife and your circumstances. May our Lord encourage your heart and be the Lifter of your head. Hang onto Him. He is faithful and true! He will see you through!
Wes,
Jehovah Rapha you are the God who heals. Send your healing touch to Wes’s wife. Give her some relief. Bring people to them that can assist in any way possible. Make it known to them that you care for them. Give strength & rest to Wes as he is caregiving for his wife. In Jesus Name
Blessings 🙂
Dearest Karina,
Your words were perfectly timed and much needed today. As I read them, I wept with you. Why do we think God expects us to “get it right” the first time?
Thank you for sharing your struggles and the grace you found in Christ and His church.
To God be the glory!
Love,
Nikki
Dear Lord, we pray for Karina, and for all of those who have commented today. Lord, wrap them in Your love, give hope and healing. Help them to reach out to others and make a way where there seems to be no way! We ask for Your supernatural power to work in each of our lives, and we won’t forget to thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Karina,
I’ll join you in prayer lifting up our (in)courage family!
Sending everyone Valentine’s Day joy,
Lisa
I also am struggling right now with a hard season and can’t find joy. I am grateful to hear of how God has helped others through struggles, it gives me hope and reminds me I am not alone.
Dear Karina…….I was astounded by your story today. Are you psychic? It is as if you were into my brain and telling my story word for word for 2024 and the beginning of 2025. I am 77 years old and live in a facility with 100 people. My Holy Spirit has always been with me and guided me, but when I get into these what I call my “Sorrow Days” where I sit in my apartment and cry and pray and I like you keep thinking, God is probably getting tired of me praying about the same thing, but as you have said and I do know, God does not get tired of hearing from us. The community here are all older that me up to over 100 years old. The problem is that most can’t hear and don’t understand my complicated situation. I have a few who do, but we only see each other at lunch. My personal good friends do not call because they do not know what to say anymore as this situation has been going on for 6+ years, but they don’t understand that they don’t have to talk about it. I would just like to have just a regular conversation about other things in our lives, but yesterday, my best friend called me after 2 months and we did have a normal conversation for over an hour. I think it was God showing me that they have not abandoned me. I worked for 45 years as a manager in a large company that required me to get things done immediately, which I think is where I got my not having patient enough and yet I know God works on His timeline. That call lifted me up and today I am going to try and remember always that God will answer my prayers if I just wait for the sign, so Karina, your words were just perfect to help me get through the weekend. I send my prayers to you and I hope that your problems turn into happiness and joy. I am sending you Love on Valentine’s Day and always and I will pray for you…………Betsy Basile
Karina, it is so obvious that your post has touched and uplifted so many hearts today, mine included! I will be praying for you and for all those who commented also! Dear God, wrap us up in Your loving arms, till this storm be over passed. In Jesus Name, I pray.
Dearest Karina, thank you so much for sharing your heartfelt words this morning. I identify with most everything you wrote. It helped me not to feel so alone. I am praying for you and others who have responded. Our Lord is faithful and will see us all through these very difficult times. God’s richest blessings to you and all who have shared here this morning!
My husband is pretty sure he wants out of our marriage but he doesn’t want me to tell anyone. He doesn’t want our business to be anyone else’s business so I can’t share this with anyone. I’m carrying this horrendous burden all by myself. I am praying constantly and seeking God for wisdom and peace but I am so alone in all of this. I don’t really know how much more I can handle before I break.
Dear Tammie, you are not alone sister. I’m praying you’ll find peace in these difficult circumstances. Early in my marriage, before my husband was saved, we struggled. So many people offered bad counsel and it almost destroyed our marriage. Thankfully, God was faithful and my husband gave his heart to Jesus 18 years later. That’s a lot of praying. And God changed me during those 18 years. Please don’t give up. You are prayed for and loved. And God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11
Tammie…your story stopped me from scrolling. Your words are mine from Valentine Day 1996. I’m here to tell you that with God you can do this. He will walk you through this difficult and unwanted journey and He will not let you break. This is another, “But God” situation. Please keep praying and I promise to cover you, too. You can do this because you are a beloved daughter of our Savior. Repeat after me: “I AM SO LOVED!”
Dear Tammie…I had commented before you so I didn’t get a chance to look again until today. I know pretty much what you are suffering as I have been going through something similar for 55 years and it was only my job and prayer that have been able to keep me putting one foot in front of another. If you do decide to confide in someone, be very careful who you chose as I did that and she was my best friend and before I knew it she told another friend and this went on and on. We had been best friends since we were toddlers (70 years ago ). When you say “pretty sure”, does he really want to do that? Perhaps the two of you could work things out with a counselor or, quite frankly if he really is going to go to divorce, there is no need to keep it a secret. That’s on him. I ended up marrying a guy that raped me, got me pregnant and wanted me to get an abortion ( which I refused) and he was supposedly a devout Catholic. Back in the 60’s we were forced to get married. It was called ” Shotgun marriages” back then as the woman was always blamed. My wedding day was the worst day of my life and I couldn’t tell anyone why we were getting married, not even our parents. It crushed me as I was only 20 and I had not even started my adult life. A baby? I had no clue how to take care of a baby. I stayed with him for 54 years for my son’s sake, and my now ex- husband has the violent form of dementia and tried to kill me and my son told me I was lying and he no longer considered me his mother and I would never be able to see my 1 grandchild or talk to him, ever again. He hung up. I am still so heartbroken about this whole thing as my 54 year old son knows his father is very sick, but still does not talk to me. It has been almost 6 years now. I have prayed so many times, I fear that God and Jesus are tired of hearing from me. I will pray for you Tammie, but I still say if it would make you feel a bit better, you should tell your friends. You don’t owe your husband anything unless he is not sure if he does want a divorce. Do not torture yourself like I did. It truly is not worth it. Love to you, Tammie and I will pray that you can think about it and make the decision you feel is the best thing in this situation………Betsy Basile
Karina,
Thank you for this beautifully honest and relatable post!
Please pray for me. My name is Linda Fabrizio. I need healing for by IBS. It’s been flaring up & I’m in need for healing.
Thank you & God bless you
Karina,
Abba Father You alone know everything Karina is/has been going through. Send your healing touch to her body, mind & soul. Bless her with a healthier, happier year. AMEN
I am grateful for Jesus who never tires of us coming with our requests. He loves us way to much to leave us in a pit of despair. That’s why He made us for community. We can reach out & ask for help. I know it can be hard. Simply find one trusted friend to confide in. Then sit back & watch the Lord work.
Blessings 🙂
Amen
Thank you for these beautiful reminders! also, I feel like I can relate to an extent because the past few years I’ve been dealing with some health issues that still don’t have a clear diagnosis or answer.
Also, I would like to ask prayers for my little sister’s bloodwork because it recently came back abnormal in a lot of different areas and I pray that she begins to feel better soon, as she has had some health struggles too.
Also, I want to pray for my mom’s stomach. It’s been bothering her a lot in the past few years and I hope she has some healing from the stomach pain.
Also, I want to pray for another family member of mine who has been having some various health issues. I don’t know all of what is going on, but I pray for healing for him too.
Amen.
Thank you for sharing Karina! Praying for you! Please pray for me for peace and to focus on the truth. Thank you so much ❤️
I can relate to so many of you. This Christmas and New Year’s holiday and the last month and a half I too have been having health issues and a lot of sadness. I lost my husband two years ago and it was the day after Christmas so it definitely is a difficult time of year for me. I pray for everyone that God will see them through all of their health issues and other personal challenges that they are experiencing. God bless all of you. Amen ✨
Thank you for your prayers. It’s been a stressful period for me- as I first discovered our son is a drug addict- in a recovery program now, but why didn’t I know? My daughter is in an abusive relationship but no women’s shelter or churches will help so where is she to go with 3 small children? My husband had a stroke last year and I wasn’t prepared to be a full-time care giver. And 2 days ago- the beautiful 100 year old Inn that was my friend’s business and home burned to the ground. I thank God no one was physically hurt. And yes, I say, ” but God “? I know he’s always with me ‘ – just sometimes I feel so overwhelmed. Thank you for your prayers.
Thanks for the reminder of community …so needed!
I can’t help know that many in our local communities can’t get to church due to a physical or intellectual disability. These individuals are missing out on discipleship, friendship and even salvation since they aren’t provided rides from church members. We run a large ministry at our church (59-60 folks weekly with also many social events) for individuals with intellectual disabilities but yet it is still a “silo” ministry since others won’t help with transportation. I know the Lotd is slow to anger, but I am frustrated and also know how much this hurts His heart and others who are missing out on the many blessings that these friendships and relationships would provide.
My husband of 55 years passed in September or as my friend says “ he was promoted to Heaven”. I was the princess he chose to love and take care of, which has left me not knowing much about home maintenance, finances or car upkeep along either my extreme loneliness and grief. I am 75 years young and want to be used by the Lord in any way He chooses, but the loneliness and grief want to consume me.
I would appreciate your prayers !