Serenity in Suffering

Finding Peace and Purpose in the Storms of Life

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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

Do you need a hug from God today? I know that sou

Do you need a hug from God today?

I know that sounds silly, but some days that's exactly how I feel. Facing a hard path or just weary from one day pouring into the next with no end to the struggle.

As I gazed through the recent snowstorm at the endless rolling hills painted with iridescent white, the purity and infinite nature of it took my breath away.
Capturing this photo and the following photos, I later savored their beauty.

And a wonderful moment occurred as the verse from Jeremiah came to my mind. The serene, endless, pure beauty of the snow was the hug from God I needed.

The loveliness of even the stark lavender and azalea spoke of hope in the harsh places.

The shadows across the snow mingled with the brilliant light of the sun, with comfort of knowing God's light will always defeat the darkness of our pain.

I share the beauty of my photos with you today as a hug from God, reminding you His love:

Has no beginning.
Has no end.
Is near and intimate.
Is without measure.
Is unchanging.

Dear one, you are held, held in the warmth of an infinitely, splendid love which speaks hope and healing over your harsh reality today.

Let's keep it going, share this with someone you know who needs a hug from God today.

#serenityinsuffering #snow #snowstorm #godslove #hope #healing #faith

Are you feeling stuck or discouraged? Or maybe you

Are you feeling stuck or discouraged? Or maybe you feel forgotten by God, unable to perceive His work in your life.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Where in your life does it seem nothing is happening?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Of all the seasons, winter’s identity appears most deceptive. ⁣⁣
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Flaunting stillness, through bare branches, frozen ground, and muted skies, everything seems paused.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Yet, beneath the surface, winter’s heart beats with secret life as creation repairs, restores, and prepares for a future outcome.⁣⁣
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What if God’s work in this season of your life bustles unseen beneath the surface?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Appearing deathlike on winter’s surface, the deep work of creation’s dormancy forged in the hidden places, mimics God’s most transformative shaping of our lives in the seasons where nothing seems vibrant, and progress stagnant.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
January invites us into a posture of trust in God’s hidden work, without the need to force a visible outcome.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Check out my recent Substack publication, "The Hidden Work of Dormancy", where I wrestle with these same things in my own life. ⁣⁣
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Come find hope and peace in the hidden places. Link in bio!

Reflecting tonight on the beauty of God's voice. W

Reflecting tonight on the beauty of God's voice. When I feel anxious, the simple random song of the wind chime outside my window reminds me God is near.

We're in the path of the biggest snow storm in years. My husband's job requires him to be there through it as he works in a skilled care facility.

I'll be braving it alone. And yet not alone.

"I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hang & says to you, do not be afraid, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Are you feeling stuck or discouraged? Or maybe you

Are you feeling stuck or discouraged? Or maybe you feel forgotten by God, unable to perceive His work in your life.⁣
⁣
Where in your life does it seem nothing is happening?⁣
⁣
Of all the seasons, winter’s identity appears most deceptive. ⁣
⁣
Flaunting stillness, through bare branches, frozen ground, and muted skies, everything seems paused.⁣
⁣
Yet, beneath the surface, winter’s heart beats with secret life as creation repairs, restores, and prepares for a future outcome.⁣
⁣
What if God’s work in this season of your life bustles unseen beneath the surface?⁣
⁣
Appearing deathlike on winter’s surface, the deep work of creation’s dormancy forged in the hidden places, mimics God’s most transformative shaping of our lives in the seasons where nothing seems vibrant, and progress stagnant.⁣
⁣
January invites us into a posture of trust in God’s hidden work, without the need to force a visible outcome.⁣
⁣
Check out my recent Substack publication, "The Hidden Work of Dormancy", where I wrestle with these same things in my own life. ⁣
⁣
Come find hope and peace in the hidden places. Link in bio!

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!
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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

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