I’ve been sharing a series of posts based upon my panel answers at the Fearless Women’s Conference at my local church this past fall. You can read the prior posts here:

Part 1: “When the Unexpected Brings You Into the Wilderness”

Part 2: “When the Unexpected Leads to a Crisis of Faith”

Part 3: “Pursuing God in the Midst of Pain (What Worked & What Didn’t)“

In this final post in the series, I’m sharing my response to this question:

Do you have any words of wisdom to share with women who are in a hard season (or maybe are just struggling with basic fear insecurity, comparison or doubt about how to keep saying Yes to God in the midst of those things)?

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1. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to give yourself permission to question and doubt and wrestle with God. It’s okay to grieve, mourn, be angry, and feel all the things. BUT … do it with God AND with someone else who loves Jesus. Do not do it alone.
2. It’s really easy to compare our lives to someone else’s especially when we’re in a hard season. I vividly remember a time when I compared my life to that of a friend’s after losing my first child. I took my grief and my comparison to God and cried out, “Why me? What about her? Why is this what I get and she gets that?” God’s response to me mirrored His response to Peter after Jesus reinstates him in John 21. John 21: 19: “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!'” Peter then turns and looks at John. Peter asks, “Lord what about him?” (He compares). Jesus answers in John 21:22, “What is that to you? You must follow me.” I think this is Jesus talking to every one of us. Her life doesn’t matter to you. That’s between Jesus and her. AS for you, you just need to follow Him. Keep your eyes on Him.
3. It might feel like this season will last forever, like an eternal winter, but it won’t. He faithfully makes a way in the wilderness. (Isaiah 43:19).
4. Lean into the truths of Scripture and make them your foundation to stand upon. Lean into God’s love, presence, goodness, and faithfulness. Live in expectation of Him.