hope in suffering - Ashley Zin

A Break In The Silence

This song came on my Pandora on a day that I was really struggling with feeling anxious. I was in my kitchen, probably doing dishes, and the words caught me off guard.

“Oh, O’Lord O’Lord I know You hear my cry.”

It was these words in particular that did it. You see at this particular season of struggling with anxiety, it felt all-encompassing because it had come and go for what felt like forever, but in reality it was probably a couple of years.

When I heard these lyrics I was reminded that even when it feels like all hope is lost, God hears me. It was a reminder my heart needed to hear in a huge way. I felt like I could keep fighting as long as I knew God was on my side. For a while, I felt so alone and not in touch with God at all. It felt like he was ignoring my cries for help. Until I heard this song. It was then that I knew he was right there with me. He had heard my cries.

There Is Hope In Suffering

These lyrics also reminded me of these verses about how suffering is not forever. It was this all together that gave me hope and just helped me look at my situation differently. If this is you, I want you to know that God hears you too. Even when it feels like he is silent. He’s there and he’s carrying you through the storm. I don’t know when it will let up, but I do know that it will. Please hear me when I say that. Whatever you are going through is not forever. And God will work it together for your good.

A Prayer For The Trial

Heavenly Father, Sometimes we can’t feel you here with us. We know that you are here, but sometimes what we are going through just clouds our vision and we have a hard time feeling your love in the midst of it. Please forgive us for this, because we know that it isn’t that you actually aren’t here. We know that you are for us, always, but please help us turn to you and cast our cares on you. Please help us to see your goodness that is likely right in front of us. Help us to focus on the good, rather than this trial that feels never-ending. God, we need you so desperately, please help us to feel hope and remind us that this trial is not forever. Show us your goodness and helps us to walk through this faithfully. Thank you for all of the ways that you have helped us and continue to help us. We love you. Amen.

I’d love to pray for you specifically if you need prayers. You can either leave me a comment or email me if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment. (My email is in my Contact tab.) Love you guys.

I wanted to share with you some verses that have recently helped me get through a hard time. I’ve shared here before that I struggle with anxiety and specifically, health anxiety. I’ve had weird aches and pains for about the past three years now. They seem to come and go, but the times when they are there, it feels as if I’ve been struggling with it for three years straight. I can get very discouraged and feel as if the trial is never-ending. I just recently marked out verses in my Bible to help me through these times when I feel like God isn’t there or that he will never rescue me from the pain. I want to share them with you in hopes that they will encourage you if you are going through a trial that feels never-ending, or if it feels as if God isn’t there.

I would really encourage you to look these up in your own Bible too because there is something about searching for them yourself and reading them in my Bible that is really comforting. Even mark them off with a post-it for next time you are feeling overwhelmed.

1 | PSALM 37:23-24

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

2 | ISAIAH 40:28B-31

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

3 | ROMANS 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.

4 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

5 | 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak; then I am strong.

6 | JAMES 1:3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

7 | 1 PETER 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.

8 | LAMENTATIONS 3:31-33

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

I really hope these are as encouraging to you as they were for me. What do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed or far from God?

If You Feel Like God Is Ignoring You, Listen To This Song