Serenity in Suffering

Finding Peace and Purpose in the Storms of Life

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Growing in Grace

brown wooden bench in the garden surrounded by green plants and flowers, spending time in the garden

Spending Time in the Garden

purple lilacs in brown basket on white wooden table, five reasons to choose faith over fear

Five Reasons to Choose Faith Over Fear

Close up of pussy willows, finding joy in sanctification

Finding Joy in Sanctification

close up of 2 purple crocuses, spring speaks of god's faithfulness

Spring Speaks of God’s Faithfulness

woman's arm in plaid blouse with gardening shovel planting purple flower in soil, surrounded by flowers of various colors and metal watering can, the art of sowing seeds of faith

The Art of Sowing Seeds of Faith

stone rolled aside the tomb opening, hope in the resurrection

Hope Found in the Resurrection

wooden cross, crown of thorns on purple tablecloth, were you there when they crucified my lord?

Were You There When they Crucified My Lord?

open bible, wooden cross draped in purple, crown of thorns laying on a purple tablecloth, praying the biblical stations of the cross

Praying the Biblical Stations of the Cross

close up of violin on sheet music Jesus joy of man's desiring

Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring

pink candle in wooden cup on wooden table with sprigs of lavender, a mindfulness approach to prayer

A Mindfulness Approach to Prayer

wooden cross on ground, crown of thorns, hammer & nails, betrayed by an intimate friend

Betrayed By An Intimate Friend

Black and tan charger, with bowl and wooden spoon, nurture humility with alternative fasting tips

Nurture Humility With Alternative Fasting Tips

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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

  • Saving (and Savoring) My Summer Life
  • A Life You No Longer Recognize
  • The Healing Power of Grief
  • Doubts, Darkness, and Unanswered Questions
  • Where is God in the Silence?

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serenityinsuffering

Walking by faith means trusting God’s timing in Hi Walking by faith means trusting God’s timing in His revealing all you need to know for each step of your journey. Surrendering your need for all the answers before you step out in faith leads to truly resting in God.

Where is this most difficult for you right now? Share in the comments.

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #restingingod #trust god #hope #faith
Are you in a spot where you need answers, but none Are you in a spot where you need answers, but none are forthcoming?⁣
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While facing the cold reality of my husband’s cancer diagnosis requiring urgent surgery, which cannot be performed due to critical, life-threatening heart issues, a real life Catch 22 situation, I had one of those conversations with the Lord the other day; you know the ones where He’s clear on the directive, but short on details?⁣
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Many people lament their lack of ability in hearing God speak to them regarding decisions or the need for direction in their lives. ⁣
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I felt much the same way for many years, until realizing I had no problem hearing God’s direction.⁣
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My problem centered on reluctance in moving forward when I still held so many unanswered questions.⁣
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Resting in God without all the answers seemed both my ultimate freedom and my worst nightmare.⁣
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If this resonates with you, head over to read my recent Substack article, "Resting in God Without All the Answers", where I take a deep dive into Psalm 27, and uncover Hope for hard seasons. ⁣
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Link in bio!
Traveling through the hard places of life wears us Traveling through the hard places of life wears us down; challenging the goodness of God. Jesus told us in this world, trouble travels as our companion.

But how do we hold this truth?

Swipe through for 4 steps to help you focus on God's goodness in the hard places and find hope for your suffering.

Which one speaks most to your current situation? Let me know in the comments!

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #hardplaces #godsgoodness #trustgod #hope #faith
Traveling through the hard places of life wears us Traveling through the hard places of life wears us down; challenging the goodness of God. 

Jesus told us in this world, trouble travels as our companion. (John 16:33) 
At times my request for a new traveling companion supersedes my desire for suffering to have its perfect work in my life. 

I believe pain distracts from the truth; pushing us for a way out, rather than a way through. 

But the wisdom of God when life is hard, begs us embrace the pain, befriend the suffering and in so doing, reap a heavenly reward.

But therein lies the rub: befriending the pain.

I am becoming more aware of my avoidance of emotional pain. And with that awareness, I am learning to self-protect less, opening up to God's presence in those painful places.

As I do, I am learning that God can be trusted to keep me safe, where I am held secure in His love and provision.

How are you feeling about befriending the pain within the suffering in your life? Let me know in the comments!

#serenityinsuffering #suffering #emotionalpain #trial #trust #godslove #hope #faith
I’m learning that God speaks through the events of I’m learning that God speaks through the events of my day: through people, things, and even all of creation.

Which has me thinking…

To live in such a way means to be present for the moments of this day, moments which I will never have again,

Which then…

enables me to see past the exterior of what I encounter to the interior truths which will transform my life.

Which changes everything.

Where have you encountered God in your day? Events? People? Creation?

Tell me in the comments!

#serenityinsuffering #encounteringgod #godspresence #hope #faith
The gentle art of welcoming God into every area of The gentle art of welcoming God into every area of your day from events to encounters with people, both expected and unexpected, brings a calm expectancy to your days, instead of a rigid resistance.

How can you welcome God into your current situation? Let me know in the comments!
What's saving your summer life right now?⁣ ⁣ Durin What's saving your summer life right now?⁣
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During a reflective moment resting in the shade, I savored what felt like a rescue from a life I no longer recognized. ⁣
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Despite the triple digit heat wave oppressing my little corner of the world, I had braved an outing with my dog, Shalom. ⁣
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Finding a tiny clearing in the woods sheltered by huge oaks, we settled into the cool grass for refreshment before continuing our walk. As I watched Shalom embracing the simple joy of rolling in the cool grass, my mind wandered to the places bringing me the most joy right now.⁣
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A few of the things coming to mind surprised me, but most spoke of my own growth in the area of finding joy in the simple things before me while living in the present moment more fully. ⁣
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Once back home, I composed a list of 7 things saving my summer life. While you may have your own list, come along and we’ll compare notes rejoicing in the goodness of God.⁣
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Check out my new post, "Saving (and Savoring) My Summer Life", where I not only share the 7 things saving my life right now, but the practical lesson beneath each for savoring what is now. A sweet revelation woven through each changed my perspective on how I view the hard places. ⁣
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Link in bio!!
So excited to share this beautiful edition of @ves So excited to share this beautiful edition of @vesselsoflightjournal "Message in a Bottle".⁣
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A gorgeous Heyzine Flipbook of over 55 stunning poems, stories, letters, and one special feature essay arrived on the rugged shores of Southern California, having traveled from all over the world.⁣
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I am thrilled that my "letter in a bottle" arrived in time to be included in this stunning publication.⁣
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A heartfelt Thank You to @alexisleigh.poet and all the fantastic staff at @vesselsoflightjournal for their excellent work on this publication and for kindly including my letter!⁣
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Swipe to see my letter! You can read my letter in a better format on Page 164 of the Journal. I implore you however to read the entire publication for a truly moving experience. I have included the link in my smart bio!⁣
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An attempt at fiction, my letter is a departure from my usual essay writing. I feel it has more to say, so after reading it, please comment below if you would like to see me expand this into a short story or maybe a novella! Would love you feedback either way!!⁣
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#serenityinsufering #messageinabottle #vesselsoflightjournal #hope #encouragement
Looking for some fresh insight to boost your summe Looking for some fresh insight to boost your summer?⁣
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Facing the July 4th celebration, I am reflecting on all that speaks summer to me. Summer speaks a slower pace to me; a time of lingering, resting, and sampling the best the season has to offer.⁣
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Some of my favorite summer memories as a child reflect the simple pleasures of life; lying in the cool grass while finding pictures in the clouds, a warm summer breeze, juicy peaches and cold ice cream.⁣
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God whispers delight to our souls through the simple treasures wrapped in the sheer drapery of summer.⁣
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Sometimes as adults, we lose our fascination and wonder with creation’s seasonal offerings. Responsibilities, schedules, and life’s challenges numb us to the delights beckoning to us in the midst of a summer’s day.⁣
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And so, what your summer needs now, is a curated page of ideas, encouragement, and inspiration for soul serenity as you find God’s hidden treasures of summer.⁣
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Check out my new Substack post, "What Your Summer Needs Now" for all the details and links!! Link in bio!
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