Serenity in Suffering

Finding Peace and Purpose in the Storms of Life

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Growing in Grace

close up of purple grapes, sunlight shininh through from the back, viewing joy through relationships

Viewing Joy Through Relationships

black and white photo baby's hand placed in man's open hand, when gratitude becomes a sacrifice

When Gratitude Becomes a Sacrifice

light purple adironack chair and stoll on grass near lavender flowers, trusting, resting and praising

Trusting, Resting, and Praising

yellow swallowtail butterfly on dark purple butterfly bush the garden grace of the butterfly

The Garden Grace of the Butterfly

green and purple plants over flowing 2 clay pots, when my heart is overwhelmed

When My Heart is Overwhelmed

lavender arm chair, cozy pillows, next to coffee table with large book, celebrating joy in the ordinary moments

Celebrating Joy in the Ordinary Moments

Seashore at sunset, driftwood, overcoming weariness in well doing

Overcoming Weariness in Well-Doing

lavender and white veil blowing in the wind on sandy beach reflecting on christian freedom

Reflecting on Christian Freedom

Vikos Gorge through clouds, trusting when joy seems hidden

Trusting When Joy Seems Hidden

garden bench in background, purple flowers in foreground, are you growing spiritually

Are You Growing Spiritually?

Large planter of purple petunias foreground blured background, the wisdom of god when life is hard

The Wisdom of God When Life is Hard

exspansive field of lavendar the limitless mercy of our god

The Limitless Mercy of Our God

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Hi, I’m Donna!

Welcome!

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

  • Unhustled: Reclaiming the Sacred Art of Doing Less
  • The True Light Has Come
  • When Light Waits: Embracing the Slow Rhythms of God’s Promises
  • The Beauty of Shadows
  • Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places

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serenityinsuffering

What if the holiest thing we could do at the start What if the holiest thing we could do at the start of the year is…less? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What if restraint, not ambition is the doorway to renewal?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
For those of us who are still holding space for the weariness of walking hard paths in 2025, a softer approach invites us to step out of the cultural current and rediscover the sacredness of margin, rest, and unhurried presence with God. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Maybe instead of hustling into the new year, reclaiming the sacred art of doing less resonates with you.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In the past, even if I have not yet set goals or composed a list of new habits for the new year, I have a focused direction. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
But this year I sense a distinct nudge from God to a time of rest, reflection and refinement.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Though it feels counter cultural, when my peers seem full of energy, busy tackling new projects and goals, it also feels empowering.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Join me on the blog to explore some practical ways this might play out for you in my new post, "Unhustled: Reclaiming the Sacred Art of Doing Less". Link in bio!!⁣
⁣
#serenityinsuffering #suffering #rest #reflection #hope #newyear #2026
Are you still carrying weariness from walking the Are you still carrying weariness from walking the hard paths in 2025?

Maybe like me, you feel overwhelmed with goal setting, resolutions, or big plans for 2026. Or maybe you're just tired of having to keep up with cultural norms and the expectations of others.

Join me in trying a softer approach to the new year, one which nourishes your soul and transforms your heart.

My newest devotional, The Grace of Gratitude: A 21-Day Journey to a Heart Transformed by Grace, is a gentle way to ground your weariness while refocusing on your relationship with God. 📚💛⁣
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This gentle, Scripture-centered devotional invites you to slow down, notice God’s quiet mercies, and let gratitude soften your heart one day at a time.⁣
⁣
Inside you’ll find:⁣
🌿 21 daily reflections⁣
🌿 Scripture-centered encouragement⁣
🌿 Heart-level journaling prompts⁣
🌿 A companion gratitude study section⁣
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If your soul has been craving rest, renewal, or a fresh way to notice God’s fingerprints in ordinary days—I wrote this for you.⁣
⁣
✨ Grab your copy here today! My Smart Bio has a special button with the link to the book on Amazon, get your copy today!
⁣
Your support—purchases, reviews, prayers—means more to me than I can ever say.⁣
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#serenityinsuffering #serenity #devotionals #gratitude #hope #faith #rest #grace #godslove
What if the holiest thing we could do at the start What if the holiest thing we could do at the start of the year is…less? ⁣
⁣
What if restraint, not ambition is the doorway to renewal?⁣
⁣
For those of us who are still holding space for the weariness of walking hard paths in 2025, a softer approach invites us to step out of the cultural current and rediscover the sacredness of margin, rest, and unhurried presence with God. ⁣
⁣
Maybe instead of hustling into the new year, reclaiming the sacred art of doing less resonates with you.⁣
⁣
In the past, even if I have not yet set goals or composed a list of new habits for the new year, I have a focused direction. ⁣
⁣
But this year I sense a distinct nudge from God to a time of rest, reflection and refinement.⁣
⁣
Though it feels counter cultural, when my peers seem full of energy, busy tackling new projects and goals, it also feels empowering.⁣
⁣
Join me on the blog to explore some practical ways this might play out for you in my new post, "Unhustled: Reclaiming the Sacred Art of Doing Less". Link in bio!!
If you feel weary with the performance and self-im If you feel weary with the performance and self-improvement treadmill and want to join me, read on.

Though counter cultural, I believe January, as the first month of each new year is not for bolting out of the starting gate, racing toward ill-formed goals and resolutions, no matter how well intentioned.

Rather January offers a time of rest, reflection, and refinement under God’s infallible guidance.

A new year represents fresh, blank pages, and the temptation to fill them feels energizing. 

But I have found holding space for the empty page of a new year without the need to fill it, creates opportunity for meaningful becoming instead of hurried happening.

Societal voices insist we shift into hustle mode with the flip of a calendar page, armed with goals designed to improve our appearance, finances, careers, and just about every other area of our lives.

Especially in challenging or painful seasons, adding the need for overhauling areas of our lives which fall short increases our soul burden.

Join me over on Substack for my new post, "The Quiet Reordering", where I share practical advice for a softer launch into the new year, plus TWO FREE, Resources for download to help you!
Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #newyear #2026 #newyearsresolutions #january #quiet #rest #reflection #rest
What sitting with death taught me about light— Wh What sitting with death taught me about light—

While feeding a stage IV cancer patient during my shift at the hospice inpatient center, I noticed family had left a radio on, tuned to a local Christian music station.

I asked the gentleman if he knew Jesus, and he replied, "I sure do, and God is my light in this dark place."

As it was difficult for him to talk, I simply sat with him as we both worshipped in the fellowship of silence, listening to the music.

As I prayed for him, the words to Psalm 36:9 came to me, "For with Thee is the fountain of life, in Thy light, shall we see light."

Even in our darkest places, God's light is there—and in His light, we see light.

In Your Light

Though harsh realities
shadow my days,
and sorrow steals my smile—

The Light of Your
unfailing love fills
my darkness with hope.

While this life ebbs away
in cruel defeat,

The truest part of me
feasts on promises
of everlasting life—
where neither death nor 
darkness dim.

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

@serenityinsuffering @darkness @death #dying #eternallife #godslight #godslove #hope #light #faith
Are you finding it hard to see any light right now Are you finding it hard to see any light right now?

When my husband's cancer diagnosis brought the darkness of uncertainty and confusion about the way forward, I found it hard to see any light.

I prayed asking God to show me the light of His love and presence. And an unexpected truth about light met me while watering my plants.

I noticed how a particular plant reached toward the tiny bit of light in this winter season.

Ever so slightly, each plant orients towards the light, no matter how faint the light source.

God reminded me at times when we walk through a dark season, we strain to find light as it was in brighter times.

But in the darkest seasons, light shines in new ways.

God is always with us—even in the dark, but sometimes the only light we can "see" isn't perceived with our eyes, it's perceived with His.

But only if we turn toward that Light.

Turn Towards the Light

The weight of unseeing thwarts my steps.
Groping for illumination, courage eclipsed
by despair, I sink beneath 
the cloak of darkness.

All at once, a voice knifes through the gloom.
A thin shard of light etching the way forward
into the familiar comfort of His voice.

Where He whispers, “Trust the Light eyes cannot see—rest in my voice and follow Me.

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

#serenityinsuffering #darkness #light #suffering #poet #poetry #hope #faith #trust
Does your story ever feel like this famous movie t Does your story ever feel like this famous movie title, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"?

I had a unique experience with Light on my daily walk through my neighborhood. 

Going down a street I rarely frequent, I stumbled upon this woodshed painted by a neighbor. 

At first enamored with the novelty and talent of my neighbor, I moved on.

I wryly commented to myself that my story could easily be titled the same. Maybe you feel the same way.

A well-known spaghetti western, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" chronicled the quest for hidden confederate gold. It also showcased the common graying of the line between good and evil.

The alleged "Good Guy", played by Clint Eastwood joined forces with the "Bad" & the "Ugly" in order to exact justice.

A fine reminder that the end does not justify the means.

But isn't life often the same?

Our own stories hold chapters we call "good", when things go well, and we get the expected outcomes.

Then we have those "bad" chapters where things don't go as planned, and we experience pain.

And worst of all are those "ugly" chapters filled with shame and failures.

And while we long to manipulate things to get our happy ending, or tear out and rewrite those undesirable chapters, they are as much a part of the treasure of our lives as the good ones.

Maybe, even more valuable.

Because God uses those chapters for good. No matter how poorly written our stories seem today, God's redemptive ink has not written the last chapter yet.

A Fairy Tale Reimagined

My story, though never a fairy tale,
once held light and beauty, until
suffering, betrayal, and shame 
buried all the goodness deep.

To tear those painful chapters out,
I took the pen to write my own—
But no ink of mine could right the wrongs.

Yet when the pen surrendered, sat still,
God picked it up, and with gentleness, said,

“My child, when I, the story write,
redemption’s ink rescripts pain
into purpose, and shame into strength.”

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

#serenityinsuffering #discouragement #fairytales #poet #poetry #hope #faith #redemption #light
Does this Christmas find you reluctantly holding s Does this Christmas find you reluctantly holding space for grief or disappointment?

One thing that stands out to me this Advent season as I wait in my own darkness of suffering and grief for God’s Light to shine, is that Advent’s paradoxes teach us light is not simplistic. 

Rather, it is layered, fragile, and unexpected.

While Christ’s birth fulfills our waiting, transforming shadow into glory and silence into song, the Light of the World came not to erase darkness, but to redeem it.

Though Advent waiting ends, it is but the beginning of living in the radiance of God’s presence. 

If life has you in a season of shadow or outright darkness, remember, God’s Light shines brightest in the darkest nights.

I have a special gift of Hope for you in my last installment of my Advent Series, with my post, "The True Light Has Come", live on Substack now. 

Find encouragement even in the hard places this Christmas. Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #december #advent #christmas #birthofchrist #hope #faith #redemption
If you are feeling alone this Christmas even surro If you are feeling alone this Christmas even surrounded by people, this poem is for you.

I snapped this photo as I sat alone in front of the fireplace, while everyone else mingled, talked, and enjoyed the party.

Some years it's just hard to be festive when your heart just isn't in it. 

I didn't expect anyone else to understand, and honestly, I wasn't looking for comfort.

I felt the need to lean into the dark, into the hard place and look for Him. The Man of grief acquainted with sorrow.

And He met me there, right where I was, and when I leaned in, I knew I was known, and it was enough.

Hope Collects My Tears

Enveloped in utter darkness,
bound in pain and grief—
I feel my way forward.

Crawling toward the hope
held in the whisper
of Your voice.

Longing for light, I swallow darkness.

Though the blackest night
obscures my path,
faith follows Your voice.

into the Light which
no darkness can quench—
Where Hope collects my tears.

Joining @loved_letters_ and their "Look for the Light" poetry challenge for December. Where we look for light, snap a photo, and write a poem!

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #grief #darkness #loneliness #poet #poetry #hope #faith
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