Being Present in a Season of Suffering - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 1, 2024

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:19

During seasons of suffering, the last thing we think about is being present. Due to the pain that comes with suffering, many of us choose to disassociate. Disassociating is something I often struggle with, yet sometimes, disassociating is a protective mechanism our brains use to help us. For example, if someone experienced much trauma in their life, their brain blocks out painful memories to protect them. In other words, our brains can protect us from very terrible things, like unresolved hurt, trauma, and seasons of suffering. 

Some of us feel as though we are consistently going through a season of suffering. Although I am often reminded of my many blessings, I cannot overlook the suffering I continue to go through each day. I understand many people have it harder than I do, but this doesn’t invalidate my own pain, and it doesn’t invalidate your pain either. 

While it is true that many people have terrible things happen in their lives, we don’t need to compare our lives to others. Our sufferings are valid even if they are not “as severe” as others. Rather than invalidating our pain, we need to be kind to ourselves and acknowledge our struggles. Only once we do this will we be able to fully cope with this present season of life.

I have been having health issues that interfere with my activities of daily living. Throughout this present season of suffering, I have disassociated myself from the pain. I’m pretending it isn’t real. This isn’t the healthiest of coping mechanisms, but it is the only way I can manage right now. Unfortunately, my walk with Jesus has also suffered due to this season of suffering because it has caused me to doubt Him. I find myself asking, “Why am I still sick? Why aren’t I getting better? Why am I still feeling anxious over this diagnosis?”

All of these questions and worries fill my mind, which only causes more suffering in my heart. As we can see, sometimes suffering is just suffering. It causes us to question Jesus, our minds to disassociate, and our pain to endure. But take heart, friend! Though it takes work and effort, we can break free of this season of suffering. However, we have to turn to the Lord. We don’t need to continue to foster a heart of doubt. 

The Bible tells us, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19). As this Psalm tells us, we may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers us from them all. Therefore, we are faced with a decision: are we going to trust the Lord with our suffering or are we going to feed into our fears, insecurities, and doubts? Rather than turning away from the Lord, we need to find comfort in Him.

Maybe you are also suffering right now and the pain is not letting up. It feels as though every day is a war zone. Life is difficult, medical problems persist, and financial concerns are overpowering. Sadly, we are not spared from troubles in this world. Instead, we are actually promised them (John 16:33). Due to living in a fallen world, we will continue to have troubles until we are with the Lord in heaven. 

For the time being, we need to start trusting God and leaning on Him in our season of suffering. This calls us to be present and aware of this season of life. We need to cease disassociating and begin to open our eyes to the pain we are experiencing. This can only be done by turning to God and relying on His goodness. We have to look to Him—not at the reasons for our suffering.

Psalm 34:19 reminds us that God will deliver us from our troubles. It might take time for Him to deliver us, but His timing is best. What we must do in the meantime is have faith in God and wait on Him. Bring your pains, worries, and concerns to the foot of the cross and choose to trust Him.

Let's pray:

“Dear God, I am overcome with suffering. Everything in my life feels as though it is falling apart. It seems there is nothing good in my life, except for You. Please help me be present and focus on You rather than the pain. I give all of these pains over to You. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.” 

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/tommaso79

Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.

Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith

Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going. 

Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.