18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When things seem to be going great, it’s easy to accept that God’s will for our lives is good, and He’s looking out for our best interest.  When we’ve gotten a new job or have fallen in love with the person of our dreams, it’s easy to shout “Hallelujah!”  

But life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. Sometimes we struggle to make sense out of things. Life is a blessing, but oftentimes it’s interwoven with hurt, loss, despair, tragedy, sickness, and unexpected misfortune.

When you’ve lost a child, are battling with your self-esteem, have experienced unspeakable trauma, or are struggling with a difficult mental health issue, you may have trouble believing in God’s existence let alone that He has a benevolent plan for your life. 

Sometimes the pain can run so deep and life can feel so miserable that it makes you want to cry all night long and scream “Why is this happening to me?!” “I don’t see the purpose in this!” “What did I do to deserve this?!”

Sometimes you get so depressed and fed up with life that you wonder why you’re even alive at all.

 It can be profoundly difficult to accept God’s will for your life when you’re in the midst of a struggle. Especially if you feel you’ve been battling for a while and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight.

But there’s one fact that you can bear in mind during any type of crisis: God is sovereign. He has knowledge beyond our comprehension.  Even if you don’t see the purpose of what you’re going through, God knows. It’s not clear to you, but it’s clear to Him.

It’s never clear to us in the midst of our suffering what the purpose for it is, but  we have to realize that it’s impossible for us to see things the way God does.  We have to trust and have faith that God is good and that although we don’t understand everything, He actually does have a wonderful master plan for our lives.

When I was struggling with chronic insomnia and a debilitating panic disorder, it was hard for me to feel like it was part of God’s will. But out of that darkness rose experiences that I could share with others to let them know that they’re not alone and that healing IS possible.

So even if things look hopeless, learn to give thanks in all the circumstances God allows in your life.

There is a purpose for your suffering. So when you pray, ask God to give you wisdom, and ask Him to guide your steps so that you can be in alignment with His will for your life.

Stay strong and keep believing!

Sincerely,

Alexia