By Dianna Hobbs // Inspiration // EEW Magazine Online

*Photo Credit: Getty/Delmaine Donson—Illustration: EEW Magazine Online*

Do you feel aggravated because things aren’t working out the way you hoped? Do you wish you could snap your fingers and fix it all? Do you resent how long everything is taking to fall into place? Are you sick of life sucking?

Trust and believe, friend, you are not alone.

Some years ago, our family’s pet betta fish, Skittles, contracted an infection, so we treated him with fish antibiotics. He started doing better, though he was still a bit sluggish. When he first stopped eating and our local pet shop experts couldn’t help, my teenaged son, Kaleb, did his own research and identified an easy solution—or so we thought.

For a few weeks, Skittles regained health, and we were happy that things improved. Unfortunately, not long after, Skittles’ health further declined, and he died. Though losing a pet fish isn’t the end of the world, the experience reinforced an important lesson: we cannot always fix what’s wrong.

Though we desperately attempt to mitigate pain, suffering, loss, and unpleasant circumstances in our lives, there are seasons when life sucks, and we just don’t have the answers.

“Every problem doesn’t have an easy solution. Life gets hard sometimes. But even when it’s rough, God is there.”

— Dianna Hobbs

In 2 Samuel 12:15-23, things sucked for David. The child he fathered with Bathsheba was gravely ill. The new dad, desperate to save the baby, laid on the ground all night, every night, covered in sackcloth—a symbol of grief—refused to eat, and begged God to spare his child. Despite that, after seven days, the infant passed away.

After the tragic death, David said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (vv. 22-23).

Despite being hurt, David knew that he could not change the outcome, so he accepted it and moved forward. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could turn off our emotions, shrug, say oh well, and keep it pushing?

Yeah, I wish.

That’s far easier said than done, isn’t it? When prayers go unanswered, and results are the opposite of what we hoped they would be, it sucks.

It sucks when the once romantic relationship turns cold and withers. When the previously flourishing career stalls. When the once booming business dries up. When a loved one dies. When our optimal health suddenly fails. When our expectations aren’t met, and our dreams go up in flames.

If you are in a sucky season, you’re probably wondering, what do I do next? Aside from praising through failure as Habakkuk 3:17-19 prescribes, what else do you do?

Well, the best thing to do—even with tears in your eyes—is keep on holding on to faith for your future. Surrender to God’s will when it contradicts your way. Continue believing that the Lord still has a good plan although it greatly differs from yours.

Balance your expectations, meaning, expect miracles and breakthroughs, but also, as a natural part of life, expect trials and setbacks. Jesus already told us in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.”

But, what else did He say, my friend? “Fear not, for I have overcome the world!”

Since Christ the overcomer lives within you, that makes you an overcomer too (Romans 8:37). As weak as you may feel, you have supernatural power to go through and come out on the other side better. It just takes surrendering to your sucky season and declaring by faith, trouble won’t last always.

Listen, I believe God sent you here to read this because He has good things in store for you and doesn’t want you to give up hope. He sent your girl Dianna Hobbs to tell you that there are great blessings He will release. And although He may not come when you want Him—or how you want Him—He’s always right on time and on point.

Trust Him through it all.

In the meantime, while you’re doing time in Sucky Valley, I want you to cling to the beautiful promise found in Isaiah 46:4 GNT: “I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.”

As you internalize this assurance from the word of God, it will encourage you through the sucky seasons as you’re on your way to breakthrough!

Now let’s pray.

God, life feels hard right now, but I still believe Your word in Psalm 30:5 that promises me, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Though circumstances are sometimes bad, I declare that You are always good and ever faithful to perform Your word. Therefore, I eagerly await the manifestation of Your good plan of deliverance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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