Serenity in Suffering

Finding Peace and Purpose in the Storms of Life

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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

When Light Waits: Embracing the Slow Rhythms of God’s Promises
The Beauty of Shadows
Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places
The Taste of Peace: Seasoning Every Table with Gentleness
The Quiet Seasoning-How Small Graces Change the Atmosphere

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On the occasion of the winter solstice, I am shari

On the occasion of the winter solstice, I am sharing a photo I captured of a real snowflake. It's not super clear because I took it with my phone, not having my 35mm camera with me, and because to see a snowflake in real time, you need a macro lens.

Also to see a snowflake in real life you have to get super close, in a posture of intimacy, face to face if you will.

I'm not sure what prompted me to even try and capture this photo, it was total spontaneity.

But isn't it magnificent?

Even if you've seen macro photography of one, there is nothing like seeing it with your own eyes.

As I stared at the photo later, I marveled at how each snowflake is unique and intricate in design—an object lesson on how God formed and relates to us.

Perhaps it was the arrival of the winter solstice, but the lesson I learned here was finding light yet again in an unexpected place.

Sometimes, like beholding the magnificence of a snowflake, you have to get close, really close to Jesus to see the treasure in the hardest places.

Enjoy my poem, "Winter Soulstice" (and no, I did not misspell "solstice" it's wordplay)

Winter Soulstice

There is a place where darkness abides,
where deepest longings lay frozen inside.
Where prayers from languid lips uttered—
wither in the frost of unbelief.

In the chill of disillusionment and grief,
there is a treasure not all will see—
God’s work and ways are often wrought
where light lingers in intimacy.

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 #december #advent #wintersolstice #darkness #grief #light #godslove #hope #faith #redemption

Do you struggle with winter's shorter, darker days

Do you struggle with winter's shorter, darker days?

Though I'm getting better at accepting the dreariness of cloudy days, November and December have had a total of 6 sunny days where I live.

Some days started sunny, but after an hour or so the clouds took over.

I wrestled with guilt over my ungratefulness, and yes, I know every day can't be sunny, God is wise in His ways for the earth.

But still.

Then one day as I read in Isaiah 45, God reminded me of this truth.

" I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name." Isaiah 45:3

"I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things." Isaiah 45:7

God uses both darkness and light in ways we simply cannot understand.

Sharing a favorite photo, I took after a recent snowfall, as I was fascinated with the clouds. Here is the poem I wrote after pondering these verses
Treasures of the Dark

Weary of my dismal days
I asked for light my path to cheer—
Instead, the gray grew dark and drear.

Into the cloud my feet walked on,
though blind and unknowing, I found
God’s voice the only sound.

“Let go of all the searching.”

Stripped of self and sight,
learned I this lesson of trust and light—
Not all light is seen; not all trust is true.

But God who darkness creates,
Bestows its treasures on those who wait.

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 #december #light #darkness #poet #poetry #hope #faith #trust

Holding space for the hard reality of my husband's

Holding space for the hard reality of my husband's cancer and all the unanswered questions and waiting such a journey requires, God is teaching me a sweet lesson this Advent season.

Advent is the season where we learn that waiting is not wasted, but the very shape of hope.

Watching the winter sunrise weep across the farm hills filled my heart with wonder, but it also reminded me light has its own rhythm. The full joy of the sunrise emerged through the waiting, as the ribbons of color unfurled in lazy undulations.

In Week #3 of my Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places, I wrestle with holding my pain in God’s presence, not rushing to the comfort of the light, or avoiding the pain through Christmas noise.

When we make room for God in the dark places of our pain, we open ourselves to His deeper healing light.

Light waits on the edge of darkness in the Advent story allowing us to perceive the story by slowing down long enough to receive it.

Head over to the blog to read the entire essay, "When Light Waits: Embracing the Slow Rhythm of God's Promises", leading me to Hope in a hard place. Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #suffering #trials #grief #december #advent #light #godslove #godspromises #hope #faith #redemption

Have you lost your smile? My granddaughter asked

Have you lost your smile?

My granddaughter asked me that question. And in a way I think I had lost my smile.

But she brightly concluded she would give me hers, just like she gave it to the snowman!

OK, so who wouldn't smile at that? Here's a little haiku to brighten your day!

Wonder in a Smile

Light in her smile
fills my heart with new wonder
thaws frigid memories

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 #december #snow #poet #poetry #light #hope

Are you a fan of the snow? I confess, I'm not. I

Are you a fan of the snow?

I confess, I'm not. I used to be, as a child, and then as a young adult who lived to ski the toughest slopes I could find in Vermont.

But then I grew up. That is to say, I lost my wonder in the snow. I suppose life's hard places convinced me wonder died long ago with other childhood fancies.

But slowly God has been wooing me into the land of wonder again.

I ran about my yard with my dog Shalom (see slide 9) capturing these photos, and later with a cup of coffee, savored the wonder of it all.

Which one is your favorite?
What wonder-filled snow memories do you have?

#serenityinsuffering #december #snow #snowdays #wonder #tresuresofthesnow #hope #faith

Can I make a book recommendation? I am supporting

Can I make a book recommendation?

I am supporting my dear friend, Horace Williams Jr., @pleasingtothepotter with the launch of his new book.

Having read my own copy of the book, I can say this is another wonderful book by Horace Williams Jr., filled with hope and encouragement.

He states in the introduction his purpose in writing the book was to compose a love letter to God. In sharing his carefully composed words of love for his God, Horace intoxicates us with seven of God's amazing attributes.

The attributes though timeless, come alive in the author's easy, compassionate voice and superb knowledge of scripture.

Interweaving humor and personal stories of his intimacy with God through many hardships, and his own prodigal experience, the author gently invites the reader to draw nearer to God, no matter what their own story may look like.

My favorite parts of the book are the elegant full color inserts with a takeaway bible verse for each chapter. These give a quick reference for encouragement and add beauty to the book.

One of the most impactful chapters for me was the one on God's faithfulness, and this quote has kept the truth of God's faithfulness in my heart, "Nothing encourages our souls like the comfort of Almighty God. That's why we need to remember. In personal situations that feel chaotic, remember how God continues to show Himself faithful, even when your faith falters."

Though reading this through the eyes of a mature Christian, I see its value for Christians of all ages and stages in their relationship with God. New Christians will learn more about the God they have recently met, and all Christians will benefit by deeper intimacy with an Amazing God.

I invite you to grab your own copy and one for a friend, to encounter anew our Amazing God! Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #newbooks #godslove #newrelease #christianbooks #hope #faith

This time of year can be hard even amid all of the

This time of year can be hard even amid all of the joy and festivities.

Sometimes the smiles we wear are little more than window dressing for a soul barely able to hold the weight of grief.

Despite my best efforts, I stumbled under the weight of my grief this year, yet Christ met me in a deeply personal way through this tiny candle I didn't even want to light.
Perhaps the words of this poem will bring light to your dark places today.

A Voice in the Dark

In the darkness of my fears,
my disappointments and my grief—
In the shadows of sorrow deep,
bitter, languishing, I weep.

Yet burns bright a lonely flame,
a comfort to my soul’s deep pain—
A voice amid a cold, dark night,
speaks the Hope of coming Light.

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 #depresion #darkness #light #godslight #december #advent #poet #poetry #hope #faith

Holding space for the hard reality of my husband's

Holding space for the hard reality of my husband's cancer and all the unanswered questions and waiting such a journey requires, God is teaching me a sweet lesson this Advent season.

Advent is the season where we learn that waiting is not wasted, but the very shape of hope.

Watching the winter sunrise weep across the farm hills filled my heart with wonder, but it also reminded me light has its own rhythm. The full joy of the sunrise emerged through the waiting, as the ribbons of color unfurled in lazy undulations.

In Week #3 of my Advent Series: Light in Unexpected Places, I wrestle with holding my pain in God’s presence, not rushing to the comfort of the light, or avoiding the pain through Christmas noise.

When we make room for God in the dark places of our pain, we open ourselves to His deeper healing light.

Light waits on the edge of darkness in the Advent story allowing us to perceive the story by slowing down long enough to receive it.

Head over to the blog to read the entire essay, "When Light Waits: Embracing the Slow Rhythm of God's Promises", leading me to Hope in a hard place. Link in bio!

#serenityinsuffering #serenity #suffering #trials #grief #december #advent #light #godslove #godspromises #hope #faith #redemption

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#serenityinsuffering #serenity #devotionals #gratitude #hope #faith #rest #grace #godslove

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