“Hey, daddy, watch this!” The bold declaration every child screams right before they do that miraculous stunt only a dad would be proud of. If you are a parent, you have likely had to stop everything you are doing to look up, give that little one your full attention, and show some sort of recognition of how enamored you are with their skills and talents.
Are we really any different? While we may not always seek the accolades of our earthly fathers, as believers, our hearts yearn for the approval and attention of our Heavenly Father. That’s because we were created in a way that longs to intimately know our God (Jeremiah 29:13), and we desperately seek His acceptance; it’s innate in all of us (Romans 15:7). In other words, we are all His children just screaming from the deepest desires of our hearts, “Dad, watch this! Did you see me? I am doing this for you. Aren’t you proud of me?”
But, what about the times when you are striving to do “all the right things” and loudly (or maybe quietly) yearning for God’s full-on attention, only to be met with the sting of silence or worse yet, the feeling of harsh rejection?
The Truth About Dark Seasons
Let’s address the issue of wavering faith, first. You know the times when faith feels forced, uncomfortable, lacks authenticity, or seems to be spiraling out of control. We’ve all been there. Maybe you are there now. It’s those strange seasons when God appears distant or life becomes so burdensome, hope gets lost in the shuffle of circumstances.
Just because we are Christ-followers doesn’t mean we automatically live “joyfully” ever after, making impacts wherever we go, glorifying God, and never doubt or question our faith. In fact, it is often in these times when we are demanding God’s attention that two things generally happen. We are quietly growing spiritually (even if it doesn’t feel like it) and we gain the attraction of the deceiver!
Darling friend, if you find yourself in a dark season, wholeheartedly seeking God to no avail, I invite you to grab your Bible and sit with me. You aren’t alone, and I don’t say that lightly, because I am in this dark season with you. It’s tough, I know, you can admit that. But together, let’s have a heart-to-heart and discover three insightful truths that may just set your soul free!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Matt Henry Gunther
1. God Is Still Writing Your Story and Will Use It for Good
In full transparency, I haven’t written much in this space. Not because I don’t enjoy writing and working with the most amazing editors ever (truly they are), but because I didn’t want to come across as a phony, a fake, or worse yet, a lukewarm Christian. After all, who am I to share on something so personal when my own faith is so shaky?
Sure, my faith has had its fair share of ups and downs lately, but the enemy has a unique way of attacking us, and for me, he got to the heart of the issue - my motherhood. The past three years have been rough with our oldest daughter. Wounds have been acquired, scars formed, and unfortunately, guilt and shame have become a part of her story, my story, our family’s story. My heart has been shattered in ways I can’t even begin to explain. It’s been a lot. And while I know there is a sweet place for redemption in her story (and all of ours), the hurtful actions have shaken my faith a bit – okay, a lot.
Life is hard, there is no doubt. However, the truth is that we are currently living in a good vs. evil story. Some chapters of this life will come with joy and heavy applause from the Father, while other chapters will have us on our knees begging for God to meet us in the puddle of tears on the floor, pleading for answers, wisdom, discernment, hope – anything. However, what we must be mindful of is that God isn’t our “happily ever after,” He is our sole reason for our very existence because He is the One with the pen, writing each page of your story with intention, on purpose. He is the Author who takes great pride as He carefully writes the pages of your life. Yes, sometimes those pages are messy, and the enemy weasels his way in. But God can, and will, use every part and every season to showcase His love, redemption, mercy, and grace (Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 1:6, and Revelation 22:13). As long as you have breath, you have a divine purpose on this earth. So, keep breathing and pushing on.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Johannes Plenio
2. God’s Chosen People Entered Dark Seasons and Grew Spiritually
There are countless people in God’s Word that have waded through heavy and dark seasons only to come out on the other side with a story that is wrapped in hope, reconciliation, amazing grace, and God’s goodness.
That means stories of God’s chosen people, the stories we read about and glean from, all embarked on a journey of faith only to land in places of isolation, wondering around desolate and barren places, finding themselves battling depression, bending towards temptation, filled with sorrow and pain; all beguiled towards this darkness that taunted and lured them in. Even some of the disciples doubted Jesus, questioned God, and came into a tug-of-war of their faith, encountering desperate seasons that led to a weary soul. Yet, these stories remind us of their humanness, showing their flaws that we all share and can easily relate to, all the while exemplifying God’s goodness and faithfulness!
If you are a sister in Christ, I invite you to take a glance at some familiar stories with a fresh set of eyes. Sarah is known for her faith and obedience, but she doubted God’s ability to give her a child (Genesis 11-13) and even mocked God with her ill-witted humor. Even still, God delivered on His promise. Naomi battled loss and was struggling with grief, feeling that God had abandoned her (Ruth 1:20-21), yet she played a huge part in the love story between Ruth and Boaz. Mary and Martha also give us a good lesson on redemption and that the posture of our heart is how we experience God’s precious presence.
If you are a brother in Christ, dig into the story of Peter, the beloved disciple, who willingly followed Jesus with adoration, but when fear overcame him, he failed to trust God and denied Him three times (Matthew 14:22-33). Isaiah and Elijah, both major prophets known for their faithfulness and predictions of the coming Messiah, portray writings that reveal an inner battle and period of heaviness and emotional distress (Isaiah 33 and 1 Kings 19:4-14). Jeremiah may be known as the “weeping” prophet as he grew so disheartened over the sin and idolatry of Judah (Jeremiah 8-12), but he faced loneliness and rejection and had bouts of anger and bitterness (Jeremiah 15:17-18 and Jeremiah 18:19-23).
Their stories are our stories. God used them, even in hard times, growing them spiritually. He does the same for me… and for you!
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3. Jesus Is Cheering You On!
Dark seasons are commonplace for us as believers. As we run this “great race of life,” we can be assured that there will be ups and downs, highs and lows, twists and turns, and unexpected events that will either give us a streak of endurance or leave us coasting on fumes.
But it may still have us questioning… Does God really cheer us on? Is that even Biblical? Yes, Jesus is seen throughout Scripture encouraging His disciples, the crowds of people that gathered for His teachings, and His words are meant for us as well.
Jesus encourages us to come to Him when we are weary and need rest (Matthew 11:28). He tells us that we will most certainly face trials and tribulations, be He has overcome the world. He is the way, truth, and life (John 16:33 and 14:6), and gives us ways to live abundantly. When we approach this life with a genuine heart, asking and seeking God’s will, we find the goodness that He has for us (Matthew 7:7). These truths (and so many more) will set us free from the darkness and lead us to the Light (John 8:32).
Furthermore, Jesus has a special message and promise for those who are poor in spirit and spiritually bankrupt. That means He has a message for us, my friend. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says that those who are in dark, crushing seasons of the soul will be blessed and inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Read that again if you need to. In God’s upside-down kingdom, there is no need to earn God’s favor or strive to get His attention; you already have it! He sees and knows the nature of your heart and the motives behind each of your actions. And He is cheering you on, encouraging you to stay the course and run the race, even when it is hard. The best part is He isn’t just on the sidelines just clapping and smiling, He is running this race right alongside you, all while preparing a place for you to spend with Him in eternity!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Takako Watanabe
Originally published Friday, 25 July 2025.