Today’s post is a collection of some of the lessons learned in the dark seasons of hard.  You always see things with more clarity after the fact, right? As the saying goes, “Hindsight is 20/20.”

 

We live in a broken world, where broken meets broken.  It’s unavoidable.  I don’t say that to be cynical, but it is the reality.  The good news is that you don’t have to resign yourself to a life sentence of broken.

 

God’s greatest desire is to restore and renew, that’s the complete message of Jesus’ life.  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ testifies that God makes all things new.  We have a glorious hope that there is more, which leads us out of the dark and hard every single time.  You just have to learn to follow it.

 

I have had my fair share of hard over the years, I’m sure you have too.  In every season the LORD has asked me to trust him.  Trust is funny thing, because it’s not generic.  It’s never once and done, it’s an application for every, single, thing you do.

 

It’s helpful to glean from what others have learned.  Collecting bits of wisdom from those who have gone before can fortify your standing when the storms roll in, but it’s actually in the practicing that true understanding takes root.

 

It’s been two years since we first learned that my husband, Ryan, had Cancer.  Let me tell you, that’s the kind of news that can knock you right down.  In that moment, two years ago, as we sat taking it all in, we both resolved to trust the LORD—no matter what.

 

These are some of the lessons learned, as we walked through this particular valley of hard.

 

Keep your eyes on Jesus

 

I think its God’s goodness that he gives us a head start, because sometimes you need something to hold  when the dark seasons of hard blow in. This particular lesson came as a prophetic word, spoken over me, from a visiting missionary, almost a year and a half before beginning the Cancer journey.

 

I was struggling under the weight of grief, after my father passed away suddenly.  We had just returned from leading our first team trip to Guatemala, which had been a profound time of ministry.  I was still processing the events of our time away, when I found myself leading worship mid-week with a visiting missionary.

 

It was a sweet time, as we worshiped and listened to story after story of what God was doing in Asia.  After ministering for a long time at the piano, I moved to the front pew, where I just sat, quietly taking it all in.

 

Long story short, our missionary friend spoke this powerful word over me and then began to pray.

 

“You need to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.  You need to do just as a pregnant woman when she fixes her eyes on a focal point during labor to get through the hard contractions.”

 

Then she looked me right in the eye and said, “Ryan too.  You both need to do this like you’ve never done it before.”

 

 

 

 

Breaking it down and getting practical

 

I honestly believe that of all the lessons learned, keeping your eyes on Jesus is the most foundational one.  The LORD promises with ridiculous persistence to be present and to help.

 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

 

So let me get real practical.  Start by rehearsing the promises of God. The book of Psalms is a great place to camp out. Mark them, recite them, and memorize them, so they become embedded in your heart, mind, and soul.  When you know and understand the heart of the Father, it becomes easier to trust him.

 

Another practical discipline is breath-prayers.  Just speak the name of Jesus and settle your heart and mind in the greatness of his majesty and glory.  Remember that everything will bow at the name of Jesus—even fear (Philippians 2:10)

 

In the early hours of the morning, as my mind begins to stir, I intentionally turn away from dread as I call on the name of Jesus.  I don’t move until my mind is settled and my heart is positioned, fixed on Jesus.

 

It is also difficult to hold your ground when you are tired.  I believe this why the enemy wages war during the night watch.  Worship is the best weapon for this kind of warfare, so I recommend creating a LONG playlist that you can have at your bedside. If you wake up in the middle of the night the music helps to draw your heart back into that place of worship.

 

God is attracted to your worship.  If you want to see the enemy disappear, then worship the LORD in full surrender.

 

 

Surrender is hard, but it’s the easier option

 

Absolute surrender is one of the hardest lessons to learn, because what we typically way is a happy ending.  As Christians we are called to surrender it all, but we have no idea what that really means until we walk through the dark seasons of hard.

 

My point is that surrender is not a new idea.  When you begin to apply it to each moment and each situation, you quickly realize how little control you have.  You can know this on an intellectual level, but in the dark seasons of hard when your situation requires the practice of surrender, it becomes really, really hard.

 

I learned that as difficult as surrender can feel, it is still the easier option.  That does not mean it’s easy, but it is easier than trying to control or reconcile failure.

The way of surrender is to push through the situation and look at Jesus. This is why keeping your eyes of Jesus is the first thing you practice.  Surrender becomes possible when you give it over one moment at a time, with your eyes on fixed on Jesus.  Just do it moment by moment.

 

It is difficult to surrender it all.  Learn to break it down and offer it piece by piece. Take your thoughts captive and rehearse the truth—repeat.

 

 

 

 

Worship leads to breakthrough

 

I already touched a little on this earlier.  Worship is the quickest way I know into the presence of God and it is leads to breakthrough.  This lesson is a lifeline in the dark seasons of hard.

 

The very act of worship requires surrender.  It is how you acknowledge that God is Most High.  Humility and honesty are the platform for love and adoration—there is no room for pride in the throne room.  So you see it starts with surrender.

 

Worship is one of the places you experience God best, because you come before him with the expressed purpose of putting him first.  This can be difficult in the hard seasons, because your default is to isolate.

 

When you feast on the promises of God, you become better acquainted with his heart, which makes it easier to trust him and let him lead.  You need to develop a lifestyle that seeks the face of God—when life is good and when it’s not.

 

In the holy place, before God, there is a wild life changing transformation that happens.  Sin doesn’t get to stay in the presence of God, so you can expect healing when you pursue his presence.  I’m talking about a wholeness that happens only by the hand of God, as you surrender to his mighty sovereignty.

 

The LORD will renew and restore as you lay yourself down, so do it.  Receive this amazing grace and see how he leads the way through the dark seasons of hard.

 

Understand that there are sweet benefits produced in the fires of adversity.  The dark seasons of hard are not punishment and while they are the difficult, God, redeems all of it.

 

 

 

 

There is no room for fear

 

The lessons learned regarding fear are challenging, because fear is instinctual.  You are actually created with a fight or flight reflex, which can be helpful in discerning certain things.  So when you are frightened you experience a rush of adrenaline, which empowers you to do things beyond your natural strength.

 

This kind of fear is natural and normal during the dark seasons of hard, but this not what I’m talking about.  There is also a spirit of fear, who looks to gain legal access to your soul.  This kind of fear is insidious and cruel.  Learn to recognize it, so you can stand against it with God.

 

The spirit of fear rehearses all the “what ifs.”  It plays out every possible scenario and embellishes the details.  The presence of fear indicates a lack of trust.  I know that feels harsh, but it’s true.

 

You need to get real and honest before the LORD.  Take the things that frighten you and lay them out on the altar.  This is how you cut down the idol of fear, because that’s exactly what you’ve created, when you agree with its lies.

 

You cannot link arms with fear in the dark seasons of hard.  Learn to recognize the stench of fear and rebuke it.  Rehearse the promises, yield to the LORD, and spend time in his presence as you worship—these are tools God has given you to stand against the spirit of fear.

 

 

 

 

Rest is essential

 

It is extremely difficult to do battle when you are tired.  Rest is essential and it’s one of the strategic lessons in the dark seasons of hard.  These are some of different kinds of rest that you must learn to practice.

 

Physical rest is important because it’s biology.  The body requires rest and when it’s sick or not working right it needs more.  We live in a culture that does not value rest. Learn to value regular intervals of rest.

 

Train your body to sleep.  Eat right, exercise, and drink plenty of water.  Pay attention to the biology and treat your body with kindness.  When disease is present these things all come to the forefront.  Don’t just push through, pay attention and read the signals. Learn to rest.

 

Mental rest is also important.  You need to learn how to quiet the mind, so the soul can heal.  This is all about soul-care.

 

Mental rest comes when you quit allowing the mind to focus on the problems it cannot solve.  Learn to recognize the signs of mental fatigue and pay attention, because it can take a long time to really heal.

 

Accept that the dark seasons of hard require a whole different process.  Get low and move slow.  Get comfortable with the waiting; because it’s not so much about getting there, it’s about how you get there.

 

 

 

Sometimes God’s silence is his mercy

 

The lessons learned about God’s mercy are beautiful, but mercy doesn’t always look the way you expect it to, especially in the dark seasons of hard.  There is a certain resolve required to remain faithful in the silence. Sometimes God doesn’t speak, because the words have already been spoken.  God speaks; then you obey—that’s the process.

 

The LORD doesn’t disappear and abandon you to the situation, he remains steadfast and faithful.  He speaks and then he waits for it all to take root and sometimes that takes a while.

 

I’ve come to appreciate his steady silence, understanding more and more that it’s not the cold shoulder.  God is right there offering something much better than strategy or direction, it is an invitation to enter in, embrace his love, and to just rest—no activity required.

 

“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.”  Psalm 23:2-3

 

Cease your activity and noise; lean into his arms of love and soak it in.  I believe that God’s silence is about rest and restoration, but I also believe that there are some things he just holds back until we are able to really hear it.

 

When God is silent, lean in and lay your head on his chest.  Rest in his presence and let him do the heavy lifting.  Savor the silence and rehearse his promises.

 

 

 

 

 Lessons learned in the dark seasons of hard

 

The lessons learned in the dark seasons of hard are life changing.  Difficult stuff has the potential to refine and fortify the soul, burning off the rough edges and polishing the inner stone. I am not the same person I was two years ago and neither is Ryan.

 

Here’s the thing, there is no way we would have asked to walk this Cancer journey.

When the Doctor’s diagnosed it we prayed for a creative miracle of instant healing, which did not come.  Ryan has walked through treatment, actively trusting God with every single detail.

 

Looking back we see clearly how God’s hand was on Ryan, but I need to tell you, we felt his presence even in the darkest, hardest moments.  We practiced these lessons, leaning in even when felt impossible.

 

“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!”

Psalm 34:19-20

 

That’s the verse the LORD gave me the night of Ryan’s diagnosis.  We have it painted on a wooden board, which hangs in our family room.  This has been our tangible rock of truth, the promise we have declared every day since beginning this journey.

 

Ryan’s life is a walking Testimony, of answered prayer again and again.  As of this writing his doctors tell us he is in 99% remission.  We are believing for complete healing with no more traces of Cancer in his body.  Please pray with us for clean, clear bones!