“Keep going, mama. His strength never fails,” I texted. “This too shall pass.”

“What if it never passes?” she said back. “I just want Heaven.”

Her response made me pause. It had been a hard season. One of those seasons that seems to drag on, and when you think you’re moving forward and making progress - something happens to pull everyone back.

What if we never get out of this season?

What if it lasts for years, and then decades?

Truth is, it might.

More than likely, it will last longer than we want. Longer than we think we can handle it.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. -Galatians 6:9

I wonder.

When the season is hard, when words fail to describe the difficulty and the emotions and the desires for growth but pain from the burden - what if it doesn’t pass?

What if we are still in the same hardship 15 years from now? How do we not grow weary then?

Sometimes we forget that God can change many parts of a season, even if He doesn’t end or lessen the season itself.

What if He makes us more mature as the season goes on, that we can endure it longer? and better?

If we are continuously seeking Him, in His Word and in prayer, He is changing us. Making us more like Himself.

I know firsthand that in difficulties, God is present. In fact, many times it’s in the hard and painful that I most know His comfort and strength and peace. You may know this too. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) - trying times bring this truth to life.

God is not absent in our suffering and desperation. We may think He is detached, but may I remind us all? He humbled Himself and was born into this world full of sin and pain. He too grew up in it, lived in it, and was tempted by Satan. He labored for others, more than we ever will in a single life. He watched sin run its course and He had to endure it. Perfection, enduring utter imperfection.

When He was in the garden of Gethsemane, about to be crucified, what did He plead?

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” -Luke 22:42

That section of Scripture goes on to describe Him in such agony, praying ever more earnestly, pleading that His Father change His current situation - change what was about to happen.

Then He endured the hardest thing possible, something that you and I will never have to endure as believers. God put our punishment for sin on Him, gave Him what we deserve. What a dark, sobering day that was. Terrifying.

We know what happened next - Jesus conquered death. He endured the worst affliction and conquered it all, so that we can be saved from our sin by turning to Him.

This is the most hopeful truth! This Savior knows pain, He knows long, hard seasons. He also knows, in the grand scheme of things, that our lives are fleeting. Our years of challenge after challenge seem so long now, but they truly are temporary.

He has gone ahead and made a way for us; He knows what we need when we need it and He provides it. He has prepared Heaven for His saints, those of us who call Him Lord and believe on His Name.

Long for Heaven, dear Christian! Keep your eyes ahead, knowing that the things before you will someday be completed and you will experience perfection.

Long for your Savior, dear Christian - seek His strength! Study His Word to know His character, know who He is and what He provides. For every hardship, He has provision.

These afflictions and challenges before us are not in vain, if we endure them for His glory. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up!

Merry Christmas - let us celebrate our wonderful Savior!

-Amy