Have you ever been in a season that seems like it will not end? Wondering if God still hears you. If God is really there? Does He care?

I am in one right now, and honestly I’m tired of these seasons. I won’t understand this side of heaven why some of us deal with a lot more than others….but I did come across this recently and it stopped me.

“Don’t compare where God has you to where the devil has someone else.”

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

A lot of times when life is easy it doesn’t force us to depend on God and sometimes when we are wanting to stay in the easy that’s just where Satan wants us. Because when we aren’t struggling, we see less of a need to depend on God. I do think one of Satan’s greatest ploys is to make your life so easy that you don’t think you need God.

I also think that he can try to make your life so difficult that you want to turn from God. (Satan has a lot of tactics because that’s all he has. He know he loses in the end and if he can’t keep you out of heaven he’ll sure try to make it hard for you to share with others.)

Think about the stories that resonate most with you. Are they the stories of people living an easy life, of the stories of heartache, loss, struggle, and hurt.

Yep, that’s right. The latter.

So, as I’m battling a lot of health issues right now while still trying to run a full-time business it has been very discouraging. This has gone on for years and I’m exhausted every day from chronic fatigue syndrome and other issues, and tired of being tired. but I’m grateful I do have some answers of what is wrong, that I didn’t have a few months ago.

One thing my doctor wanted was for me to take very slow walks in the sunshine and nature. Short, slow, but connecting with God’s beauty.

I’d already started this last fall so I have been continuing and today (Saturday) as I walked and talked to God about how am I feeling, struggling, and wondering when this will all end….I looked up.

I saw beautiful, newly leafed out, green trees lining the street, green grass, and sprigs of flowers peaking out. The beauty coming after the long, barren, dry, winter season. Something that even 2 weeks ago was still a bit hard to see, and not showing in all its beauty.

What got them to that point?

The rain. The storms. The long hard winter season where they had to lose the old, rest, and prepare for the new.

Without the rain, and the winter season, they would not have grown into the beautiful, fresh looking, bright green that shows today.

Some of them still look a bit battered from the strong storm we had yesterday, but they are still standing. Similar to us.

We may come out of a storm a bit more battered than before, but those battle scars can be a ticket to share God’s faithfulness with someone else in a hard season.

Are you in a season like this too?

Danny Gokey has a song that rings true for this type of season.

“I’ve been waiting for breakthrough, I’ve been praying for change. I know You’ll work it all for good but how long will it take? I’ve been asking for healing and I’m not gonna lie. I’m ready for the miracle… God, let it be this time. But if I never see the promise on this side of the grave. My hope might be shaken but my faith will never break. Because I know the day is coming when You’ll right all of the wrong. So I’ll praise You in the waiting and my faith will stay strong.” – Stay Strong by Danny Gokey

I plan to stay strong and close to God, and trust that the God who parted the Red Sea will make a way through this for me too, and that on the other side God will restore my health and life and allow me to live it even more fully for Him.

What about you, my friend? Will you continue to believe too?

I’ll leave you with this encouragement today from Romans. Because, ultimately the hope we have is only from one source – Jesus. Without His life, death, burial and resurrection there would no hope.

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Stay strong, my friends. I’ll be praying for you and covet your prayers as well.

© 2026 All Rights Reserved. Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC

If you feel led to support me in my healing journey I have a fund set up for now so that I can cover the many expenses, and try to find a bit more time to focus on rest and healing. Either way, I would covet your prayers the most! Thank you! https://gofund.me/abb2702eb