This year has been ridiculously long and hard. It has stretched me more than I ever imagined. It’s been the year I never expected — the one I would gladly trade in. There have been moments of deep weariness — emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Yet here, near the end of it, I can sense God beginning to breathe renewal into the dry places of my heart.
There’s been a small shift — a lightening of the heavy load I’ve been carrying. Even so, I haven’t fully given in to hope yet. I lean more toward being cautiously optimistic. Maybe it’s the part of me that waits for the other shoe to drop, or maybe it’s a little spiritual fatigue from this season. Either way, I want to hope again.
Scripture reminds us that God is the lifter of our heads. He trades our heavy burdens for His light ones. He delights in giving us beauty for ashes and garments of praise for our heaviness.
One thing I’ve discovered in this long, hard season is how easily I place my hope and peace in circumstances, people, or possessions. Too often, Jesus hasn’t been at the top of that list. This has been a time of stripping and shaking. I’ve lost my home, friends, finances, car, joy, hope, and peace.
The only thing I didn’t lose was Jesus.
It’s been just me and the Lord. I’ve clung to Him with every fiber of my being, doing my best to praise Him in every situation — even when I gave in to complaining. I’ve searched His Word for truth and promises, and I’ve learned to let the Body of Christ carry my burdens and bless me in my need. My trust, dependency, and humility have grown.
Recently, I took a trip to Dallas, Texas, for a weekend conference with a ministry I’m part of. I decided to stay a little longer to spend quality time with friends and in Upperroom Church’s prayer room. I stayed for eight days.
The Lord met me in the sweetest ways — in that prayer room, in the middle of crowded weekday gatherings. Ministry was simply to Him. Praises were lifted to Him. There were tears, shouts, and groans. He spoke His promises over me and filled me with a tangible sense of His love.
I also reconnected with friends — in the prayer room, over coffee, and around the table. I experienced “church” in the truest sense: deep, meaningful fellowship that reminded me of Acts 2 community.
During the conference, the Holy Spirit met me in powerful ways. I was marked by encounters of His love, glory, deliverance, and freedom. Friends laid hands on me and prayed that the Lord would move in my season.
Romans 15:13 has become an anchor for my heart:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The God of hope has been meeting me here, reminding me that His strength meets me in my weakness. His joy has been my strength. His grace has sustained me. His peace has overwhelmed me. He truly is the lifter of my head. I needed time away — from the pain, the exhaustion and the noise of this season. I needed time with Him. I needed conversations, prayers, and hugs from friends who really saw me. I needed reminding that I’m not walking alone and that God still restores.
God has breathed revival into the places where I felt empty and tempted to strive for my own healing and outcomes. I’m not completely through this hard season yet, and I didn’t return home to find that everything had been fixed. But He has begun a quiet stirring of hope for what’s next — a new year and a new season.
If you’re finishing this year feeling weary, take heart. God is not finished with you. He’s still restoring, still strengthening, still writing redemption into your story. May we trade our striving for His rest and find hope for what’s next. The same God who has held me, holds you too.
How has God been meeting you in your season? How is He renewing your hope?
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Just when I think I cannot handle one more responsibility, one more minute at work, God knows my heart. I have a wonderful boss who sensed my weariness and suggested I leave work a bit early- no questions asked. When I thought I had to go represent my church at a meeting on my one day off before Thanksgiving when I had planned to catch up on errands, shop, etc- the person who was supposed to be the church representative said she was going to continue on the committee. God heard me and offered me a chance to breathe, feel hope that things will get done, look forward to the comings days with joy and not dread. Best of all, yesterday I got spend a wonderful afternoon with friends from church walking and talking and most of all, lots of laughter. God is indeed good and gives us what we need even if we don’t always know it.
Madeline, I love this! God is so kind and good and gracious!
You certainly have lost a lot Karina! Thank you for sharing ~
Peace be with you
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Thank you for reading! Blessings!
Dear Karina……I have been in a hard season for 5 years now, but it has gotten worse as the Holidays arrive. I have no family as they have abandoned me. There is nothing more that I can do, but I know that God is the only one that could possibly solve this mess. To top it off, the food they serve us here has made me sick 3 of the last 5 days and I am so exhausted from fighting the toxic food we get. So today, I am taking a day off from doing anything and not going to the dining room. I do have food in my apartment. I still have hope that Jesus will help me and I pray often. I could tell you much more, but I need to go back to bed and try and get some sleep that I did not get last night. Thank you for your devotion. I will save it so I can read it again when I feel better. As Thanksgiving approaches next week I wish you and your family a Blessed Day with friends and relatives. Love to all of you and all of (in)courage women who give us these uplifting devotions and everyone like me that read and comment almost every day. Betsy Basile
Thank you Betsy for reading and sharing! May the Lord bring healing to your body and peace to your heart. He is faithful!
Thank you for sharing your story and showing that we can have our feelings and still trust God.
Maura, you’re so kind. Thank you for reading and sharing! Blessings!
The last 10 years of my life have left me bone tired and feeling hopeless instead of hopeful. The verse in Romans is one that will be on the front page of my journal to remind me that He is still there.
Every area of my life it seems is being broken, torn apart…sometimes due to events beyond control… sometimes the consequences of my own poor choices. I moved to what seemed to be a place that would give my sons and i time to be together more often. In the process… we lost almost everything i own due to movers who were part of an extortion group who wanted more than i had to get our things back; i broke my left hip and pelvis in 2 spots; had a mass in my lung ( turned out to be from mold that came from the last place we lived); and i have not been able to get a job in any field i have worked in, perhaps because i am 68. So i have been brought to my lowest point ever…. forced into bankruptcy and living day by day in fear of not being able to make the rent or buy food. At 68, with very little social security, no 401K or pension… and 2 sons who are needing some help as well in various areas of their lives. So i feel like….where do i go from here ? Prayers appreciated.
I will be praying for you Bonnie! Life can be so hard sometimes. Hugs and prayers ❤️
Bonnie, that is extremely hard. Thank you for sharing. Praying that the Lord will heal you…body, soul and spirit. May His grace sustain you in this season. May He be the lifter of your head. He is good and kind and faithful.
Blessings.
Years ago a patient gave me a card that said ” you’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” It’s a quote by Max Lucado in Facing your Giants (2009). Your story reminds me of that quote. Praying for you Karina!
Thank you. I needed to see this today.
Years ago a friend gave me that verse on a piece of paper that I kept on my bed stand and I would read it occasionally and remember to trust God. This last year and a half as I have gone through a rare and aggressive cancer (mucosal melanoma), God had brought that verse to me almost every month from various sources. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” HOPE-I have to trust in Him! I also was reminded to Praise Him as an expression on my trust. He is a Powerful Almighty God. Currently my health is good because of Him.
I think one way God is reminding me of His presence and hope is through my quiet time with Him. Also, I think being able to read these articles everyday help because they help me to be able to recall His promises.