Have you ever described a time in your life as a “season”? Specifically, have you walked through a particularly tough season that seems never-ending? No sign of melting snow or birds singing — just one cold, harsh trial after another. When you’re in the thick of handling a crisis in a relationship, overwhelming money problems, or questioning your faith, the idea of a light at the end of it can feel like a joke — even a slap in the face.
I remember mine. Day after day I battled the same mental health struggle while maintaining homework and social schedules. It was draining. I felt like nobody could sympathize or understand what I was going through, so I kept it all to myself. But when that “all” came to be too much and my friends started to notice how strange I was acting, I knew something needed to change.
I was blessed to have good friends and family to guide me out of my seemingly never-ending season. If you can relate to my struggle, here are a few lessons I learned that will hopefully help you through your own.
1. Community is key.
A huge lie Satan uses to keep you in a difficult season is that your struggle is a burden to others. But these are the moments when being surrounded by people who love and support you is crucial. The Bible talks about how important it is that we have a community around us; Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Surround yourself with people you know you can trust, those who will give you advice and support for your spiritual well-being. Sharing your burdens can be such sweet relief.
2. Don’t be afraid to get help.
While your friends and family can be a listening ear and support through your struggle, visiting a licensed therapist can provide essential tools and advice for building resilience. You don’t want to put a friend in a position where they are your therapist. Instead, a licensed Christian counselor can be an unbiased resource to look into your life and help you evaluate the struggles you’re enduring, then move you on a journey toward healing.
If you don’t know where to start, call one of our professional counselors at Boundless and Focus on the Family to set up a free consultation with a therapist who can listen and connect you with a Christian counselor in your area.
3. Find comfort in the Lord.
As Christians, we have ultimate comfort in that the God of the universe walks alongside us during every struggle. It can be easy to assume that God may be “too busy” or that your struggle is “too small,” but God cares deeply about the concerns of your heart and is with you every step of the way. Psalm 23:4 says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
When life’s struggles get thrown your way and you feel like you’re drowning in the unknown, cling to your community which will encourage and support you, don’t be afraid to seek professional help from someone who can give you tools for when crisis comes, and above all, trust that God is so good and so powerful that He can bring good from this experience and can use this trial for His glory, even if it isn’t what you expect. All seasons come to an end, and yours will, too. By faith, you’ll come out stronger on the other side.
Copyright 2023 Vallie Weis. All rights reserved.
