A Difficult Season: What to Do When Everyday Life Feels Too Heavy

Sometimes the day-to-day hustle gets the best of you. World events and politics make our anxiety rise. The endless to-dos overwhelm our souls. The constant distractions and roadblocks of life steal away our joy, making it difficult to focus our attention on the things around us. Perhaps you have entered a difficult season:

• A dry season of marriage where the communication feels lost in the wilderness.
• An unexpected medical crisis for you or a close family member.
• The trenches of parenthood – filled with toddler tantrums or strong-willed teenagers, leaving you feeling alone and in tears most days.
• A severed friendship with the person you trusted most.
• A tough time adjusting to a new job or dealing with being overlooked for a work promotion, yet again.
• A constant lack of sleep and never-ending exhaustion because you have a newborn or because your lingering anxiety is disrupting your sleep patterns.
• Dealing with infertility or yet another heartbreaking and shattering miscarriage.
• A season of loneliness, feeling like you do not have the close-knit and ride-or-die friends your heart so desires.
• Stressing and working constantly, only to feel like you are still coming up short because the bills continue to pile up and steal your joy.
• Dealing with the constant fear of the future or feeling weighed down by decisions that need to be made.
• The overwhelming stress of life making you feel like you are at a stand-still.

Tips for Enduring a Difficult Season

Follow these steps in whatever challenging season of life or situation you may be facing right now.

Remember to take a long, rejuvenating breath.

When life feels overwhelming and chaotic, it is so important to pause and bask in the happening of your home and heart. Let your soul soak in the goodness.

Try at least one of these ideas to soothe your soul:

• Your morning coffee
• A sunrise or sunset
• Hugging someone you love
• A date with your spouse
• Freshly cleaned sheets
• Jumping in a pile of leaves
• A relaxing bubble bath
• Listening to the rain and soaking in the beauty of how it brings things back to life
• Cozying up with hot cocoa and a good book
• Jamming to your favorite worship song
• Checking in on a good friend
• Completing a random act of kindness
• Warm clothes from the dryer
• Sitting on the beach and listening to the ocean
• A rejuvenating house deep clean
• Finishing a project that’s been on your to-do list for weeks
• A great workout
• A nature walk

Take positive strides for your mind, body, and soul.

When life gets overwhelming, chaotic, and stressful, it is so important to pause and breathe. Remember that you are a child of God, and He will not abandon you in the difficult seasons of life. Take time to enjoy the things in front of you right now – sunshine on your face as you stroll outside on a beautiful fall morning, your children giggling as you have a family game night, or the power of a gentle touch as you seek to reconnect with your spouse.

When life feels like a constant roller coaster of obstacles and challenges, it is important to take time to take positive strides for your soul. Work out and take care of your body. Drink plenty of water. Journal and let your emotions loose rather than always try to hide them away and ignore them. Start painting again. Attend a Bible study. Meet your girlfriends for coffee.

Bake your famous homemade chocolate chip cookies. Explore nature. Go on a fun date with your spouse. Remember why you chose your stressful career in the first place. Do something spontaneous for someone else. Write encouraging notes to someone struggling around you. Look at life through a different lens. Take your children to jump in a pile of leaves and join them!

Realize it’s never too late to seek healing and peace.

When chaos surrounds you, it is vital to know that it does not have to control you. Obstacles will happen. Stress will try to take its toll on you. Old memories and feelings will try to resurface – but they do not have to steal your joy or take away the progress you are making. One difficult day or difficult conversation does not have to define your tomorrow or the success of a relationship.

You must choose peace daily. Choose health. Choose Jesus. Pray. Ask for help. Reignite the spark of your marriage. Continue working hard even if you do not get the promotion the first two or three times. God will reward your hard work and your desire to put forth your best in everything you do.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

Schedule a counseling session today so you can continue to make positive strides and choose peace through the good and difficult seasons of life. You are choosing to take a giant, faith-filled step toward feeding your beautiful soul. Your worth does not come from worldly accolades, but from being created in God’s image.

Lysa TerKeurst said, “Never forget your position of strength isn’t anger, bitterness, or retaliation. It’s humility. When we are humble it doesn’t mean we are bowing down in defeat. It means we are rising up to declare no one has the power to betray who we really are in Christ.”

Affirmations for your soul during a difficult season

• God comforts me and helps me in every season (Psalm 121:1-2).
• I will not fear evil (Psalm 23:4).
• I will not be easily moved (Psalm 125:1).
• God makes me strong (Psalm 138:3).
• God rescues me when things are difficult (Psalm 138:7).
• My soul will find joy in Him (Psalm 35:9).
• God heals my hurts (Psalm 147:3).
• God helps my dreams come to fruition (Psalm 37:4).
• God will direct my steps (Psalm 40:2).
• God is always with me (Psalm 46:1-2).

Bible verses for overcoming obstacles

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. – Psalm 56:3

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

Casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” – Isaiah 41:13

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? – Psalm 118:6

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. – Psalm 9:9-10

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. – Psalm 32:7-8