To The Girl Walking Through A Hard Season

This year has been the most challenging year I have walked through yet. There have been so many times where all I could say was “Why God?” And if you have ever gone through anything difficult, you have probably heard the phrase “It is all in God’s plan.” 

While this is completely true, I see you and I feel your pain. To the girl who is having a hard time trusting in God’s plan, know that He has known his plan for your life since before the day you were born. Nothing you face surprises Him.

I am reminded of Paul’s story. God told him to share the gospel and he obeyed, but the obedience wasn’t always comfortable. By being obedient, it led to persecution, imprisonment, and suffering. Yet what Paul didn’t know was this was perfectly woven into God’s plan. 

He was exactly where he was supposed to be and resulted in him being able to spend more time with the people, to truly teach them what he knew and complete his true mission, sharing the gospel. 

Philippians 1:12-14 (NLT) says, “I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.” 

In the NIV, verse Philippians 1:12 says “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served the gospel.”

Paul never lost faith. He didn’t give up on his mission because it wasn’t going the way he planned it to and because of his persistence, he has blessed generations to come with his teachings.

All of this to say, there is purpose in your hurt.

There is purpose in your season of waiting.

There is purpose when life is confusing, heavy, or not according to your plan. 

God is doing something new, whether that be transforming a part of you, to help you be a light in a similar situation for others, and far more in the bigger picture than we can know now. We must trust and rejoice in the Lord even on the hardest days, to see the fruits of his plans coming to fruition. 

And trust me, this is definitely easier said than done. I am a very type A person and I will be honest (sometimes a bit of a control freak). But day by day, expressing gratitude to the Lord for the work he is doing will transform not only your circumstances, but your heart.

So to the girl who is struggling to trust in God’s plan: You’re not alone. God is working in you and He is not done with you yet.