Serenity in Suffering

Finding Peace and Purpose in the Storms of Life

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Encouragement

silhouette of woman facing toward light, turning toward the light when darkness falls

Turning Toward the Light When Darkness Falls

woman with long hair looking out window, find the comfort you need now

Find the Comfort You Need Now

woman in red skirt running with balloons, the god who births laughter

The God Who Births Laughter

hummingbird at purple flower, wounds or wonder, what's your perspective

Wounds or Wonder, What’s Your Perspective?

shadow of a woman walking into the light at the end of the forest, from despair to unchained hope

A Journey from Despair to Hope

candle, cozy throw and mug in front of winter window, waking up to purposeful rest

Waking Up to Purposeful Rest

woman with long blonde hair, long furry vest, boots walking away in snow, slow and steady wins the race

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

clock a few minutes before midnight, what new thing is God doing?

What New Thing is God Doing?

light shining into darkness over a white flower, let there be light

Let there Be Light

Woman with backpack walking in desert, miracle walk

Miracle Walk

women's lower legs and feet walking in water, a walk to remember

A Walk to Remember

elegant autumn place setting, a feast for a starving soul

A Feast for a Hungry Soul

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Hi, I’m Donna!

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Welcome to Serenity in Suffering; a safe place to find Hope and purpose in the hard places of life, through intimacy with Jesus Christ.

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Recent Posts

  • A Life You No Longer Recognize
  • The Healing Power of Grief
  • Doubts, Darkness, and Unanswered Questions
  • Where is God in the Silence?
  • Are You Wearing the Fragrance of Christ?

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serenityinsuffering

I made an important discovery in a recent therapy I made an important discovery in a recent therapy session. ⁣
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One of many important discoveries along the way, this revelation was the piece (and peace) I needed at my current crossroads. ⁣
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Relentless at best, resolving and processing past trauma requires continued perspective shifts.⁣
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I now stood at the crossroads of another perspective shift, continue the focus on wounds or shift the focus to the wonder of progress made so far?⁣
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Check out my new Substack post, "How Wonder Transforms Our Wounds" to see the results of my decision, and the important lesson I learned!⁣
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Link in bio!
How would you describe your relationship with grie How would you describe your relationship with grief?⁣
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Though a friend of mine lost her husband to cancer thirteen years ago, she still describes grief as a frequent companion. ⁣
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She says over the years she softened to its presence, though it often comes without warning and never by invitation. After a pause, she added her belief in the healing power of grief. ⁣
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Her perspective resonates with me, and though I feel grief and I are familiar friends, grief’s arrival still brings trepidation, not comfort. ⁣
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No matter how many times you grapple with grief, even coming to terms with its reality—it still feels unfinished. An insatiable chasm of darkness, grief comes seeking more of you when you have nothing left to give.⁣
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Yet, you feel drawn to it. A macabre dance, you embrace grief while simultaneously stiffening your body against it.⁣
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Join me on the blog where I share my very personal journey with grief in two separate and different instances, in my new post "The Healing Power of Grief", link in bio!
How would you describe your relationship with grie How would you describe your relationship with grief?⁣
⁣
Though a friend of mine lost her husband to cancer thirteen years ago, she still describes grief as a frequent companion. ⁣
⁣
She says over the years she softened to its presence, though it often comes without warning and never by invitation. After a pause, she added her belief in the healing power of grief. ⁣
⁣
Her perspective resonates with me, and though I feel grief and I are familiar friends, grief’s arrival still brings trepidation, not comfort. ⁣
⁣
No matter how many times you grapple with grief, even coming to terms with its reality—it still feels unfinished. An insatiable chasm of darkness, grief comes seeking more of you when you have nothing left to give.⁣
⁣
Yet, you feel drawn to it. A macabre dance, you embrace grief while simultaneously stiffening your body against it.⁣
⁣
Join me on the blog where I share my very personal journey with grief in two separate and different instances, in my new post "The Healing Power of Grief", link in bio!
I know why you hide from the truth of your story b I know why you hide from the truth of your story because it's the same reason I hide from mine.

Shame.

Feeling shame isn't just about those unspeakable parts of your story. The promiscuity, deceit, abuse, addictions, things you would never drag into the light of day.

Shame lurks beneath poor choices, failures, impatience with your child, spouse or friends, illness, rejection, and financial hardship.

Shame is the fear gripping you when you feel behind; not smart enough, not successful enough, not spiritually mature enough.

Shame meets you in your suffering, with words of doubt; does God care? Maybe I'm too weak, I'm being punished, or doing something wrong. Perhaps people will tire of hearing my suffering story.

Shame shrouded my life for so long, I began to question the worth of my existence. 

I coped in many ways, the most damaging was to ignore my past. To edit it out of my story. Create a new identity. Because (shame said) if anyone knew, they would not love me.

But hiding the past doesn't negate it ever happened, and shame reminds us of that truth daily.

The more attempts I made at hiding and rewriting my story, the tighter shame's grip on me became.

Until one day God asked for the pen. His tender voice told me He knew every part of my story, and it was beautiful.

At least it would be beautiful in His hands. Right now, it was only a rough draft.

And the best news is that God works exclusively with rough drafts, and He only crafts redemption stories. 

Dear One, here's the truth: you're not broken, behind, or beyond God's love. He is closer to you now, than you realize. And from this place, with your face buried in the dust of your shame, He is writing the most beautiful redemption story ever written about you.

 A story you will tell forever through the very wounds which drove you into hiding.

Won't you trust God with your story? He already knows all about it and loves you with an unfailing love.

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #shame #rejection #hope #faith #redemption
What do you need every day? No matter how many ch What do you need every day?

No matter how many challenges confront me in this season, signs of new life all around my gardens remind me of the unshakeable hope found in the mercies of God.

Like the garden’s new offerings daily, God beckons me to a fresh encounter with Him each morning, where I find mercies sufficient for today.

His mercies come new every morning, because we are not promised tomorrow, nor hold knowledge of all this day portends. 

Turning the eyes of our hearts upon God at the start of our day reminds us of His steadfast, never-ending love for us.

God’s invitation in the garden bids me consider not only how He nurtures creation, but the necessity of receiving His gifts daily. 

Creation displays His beauty in every sunrise, unfolding leaf, budding flower, and farewell sunset.

But are we receiving His creative gifts daily?

Check out my new Substack article where I share more on God's special nurturing touch, photographs from my gardens and a special GIVEAWAY!!

Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #spring #creation #godslove #hope #newlife #faith
Are you discouraged? Discouragement sneaks up on Are you discouraged?

Discouragement sneaks up on us. From tiny disappointments like a rained-out walk, a less than welcoming response to a coffee date offer, or a washing machine breakdown on an overdue laundry day, to the hard realities of an unexpected bill or troubling news about a family member, discouragement seeps into our lives uninvited.

At times you feel like the proverbial black cloud has become your latest BFF.

Or worse, God has chosen to distance Himself from the tiresome mess your life has become lately.

All of this has been true for me.

But as the earth began telling the resurrection story again through the arrival of spring, my soul found hope.

Though hope may lay buried for a time, it is never truly dead.

Though God seems distant, His love speaks even in the silence. His unfailing love radiates over us.

If you are discouraged today, bring your sadness to the Lord, allow Him to anoint you once again with the oil of Joy.

And remember, hope will bloom again.

Where does your life feel hard today? Share in the comments.

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #discouragement #hope #faith #springrenewal
Are you confused, disillusioned, and wondering whe Are you confused, disillusioned, and wondering where God is?⁣
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Not long ago I spent time with someone enduring a long season of suffering. ⁣
⁣
Sharing many things in common, our visits overflow with easy conversation and genuine connection. ⁣
⁣
A rare friendship where we rest without the need to impress, suppress authenticity, or fear judgment, we open our hearts to wrestle with the hard things in life. ⁣
⁣
We have both found ourselves grappling with doubts, darkness and unanswered questions in our current seasons of life. ⁣
⁣
In these seasons though we determine to persevere with steadfast faith, our hope wavers.⁣
⁣
Embattled by suffering, doubts and unanswered questions swirl amid the darkness obscuring the light of hope so necessary for our souls to find their way home.⁣
⁣
In seasons of complex suffering like my friend has endured for several years, God’s silence leaves us wrestling with guilt over our doubts about His love, disillusionment over our faith, and perhaps worst of all, whether God is who He says He is.⁣
⁣
If this describes your current season, I have something to share with you in my new blog post, "Doubts, Darkness, and Unanswered Questions". Find the link in my bio-see you there!
Are you confused, disillusioned, and wondering whe Are you confused, disillusioned, and wondering where God is?⁣
⁣
Not long ago I spent time with someone enduring a long season of suffering. ⁣
⁣
Sharing many things in common, our visits overflow with easy conversation and genuine connection. ⁣
⁣
A rare friendship where we rest without the need to impress, suppress authenticity, or fear judgment, we open our hearts to wrestle with the hard things in life. ⁣
⁣
We have both found ourselves grappling with doubts, darkness and unanswered questions in our current seasons of life. ⁣
⁣
In these seasons though we determine to persevere with steadfast faith, our hope wavers.⁣
⁣
Embattled by suffering, doubts and unanswered questions swirl amid the darkness obscuring the light of hope so necessary for our souls to find their way home.⁣
⁣
In seasons of complex suffering like my friend has endured for several years, God’s silence leaves us wrestling with guilt over our doubts about His love, disillusionment over our faith, and perhaps worst of all, whether God is who He says He is.⁣
⁣
If this describes your current season, I have something to share with you in my new blog post, "Doubts, Darkness, and Unanswered Questions". Find the link in my bio-see you there!
Are you living with unanswered prayer? Failure in Are you living with unanswered prayer?

Failure in receiving an immediate answer to prayer tests our faith in, and relationship to God. 

Stripping away superficial ideals, false perspectives, and earthly comforts all force us into the light. 

A light which begs answers to the hard questions of why we place belief in God and if God truly is who we believe.

When I suffered a deep personal tragedy involving my son, my limited vision only saw heaven’s door closed in my face; suffering obscured the sight of God's face and the sound of His voice.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to read my personal story over on Substack, in my post, "Suffering in Seasons of Silence", where you may also find encouragement for your own journey. Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #trauma #unansweredprayer #doubts #godslove #hope #faith
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