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 ^“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

Hot, hotter and hottest is how we might describe the summer of 2025. And right along with the heat, we’ve reaped the grueling, steamy humidity. Does absolutely nothing for my struggling flower garden. A few days of neglected watering left the soil hard and my blooms, well let’s just say they weren’t happy. Lesson learned, I now water faithfully even if a storm colors the sky. It took some good soaking, but it appears my consistent nurturing is paying off. What was once dead and lifeless is now bursting with vibrant pinks, oranges and purples.

Wonder if the hard places in our lives have the same potential to birth beauty? 2025 has definitely ushered in some of the hardest seasons I’ve ever experienced. Many days, I have felt like that hard soil totally depleted, lifeless and thirsty for relief. Perhaps you have been there too – wondering when the intense heat of life will ease up. Maybe you’ve felt neglected, tired and longing for just someone to ease the pain of your broken heart.

Sweet friend, I’m right there with you. Hard places are excruciating, and they don’t usually leave us quickly. Yet right in the midst of what shakes us to the core, God sees, hears and knows the ache of our souls. He is fully aware of everything that touches our lives; nothing is a surprise to Him. Fully acquainted with our suffering, God comforts and strengthens us as we navigate the unthinkable. He knows exactly what we need at just the moment we need it, and we can count on His promises to sustain us even when life slays us.

Paul David Tripp puts it this way:  “No matter what you are facing and no matter how hard it is, you are never without divine grace to help you and divine love to comfort you (Hebrews 4:16).”

The sheer beauty of God’s presence, grace and love surrounding us in our hard places is priceless. He breaks through even to the most broken soul and refreshes our spirit. And sweet friends, we get the joy of watching Him and joining Him. As we glimpse His restorative work within us, then we can be His hands and feet in the lives of others navigating their hard places. – a full circle moment when God births beauty within us.

Sweet friend if you find yourself in this season of hardness, welcome God’s healing. Cherish the body of Christ, dear brothers and sisters, who pray, care for and encourage our hearts during the hardest seasons. Phone calls, meals, prayers, scripture, presence – they all demonstrate to us we are not alone. And when the veil of grief and despair lifts, we will find ourselves still standing  – a monument not to our strength but to God’s. A ravishing beauty despite the hardest journey.

“Father, we never know what a day will bring, but we can confidently trust that You are always with us. Whatever seems to slay us will unveil Your radiant beauty when we choose to run to You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life