Hope for the Weary Ones

by Lois Flowers

Hey there, you with the pinched brow and tired eyes. Yeah, I’m talking to you, but honestly? I’m also talking to myself.

It’s been a tough season, hasn’t it? I don’t know your specifics, and maybe you don’t know mine. But the effect those circumstances are having on your heart, body and mind? I think I can make some educated guesses, and here’s what I want to say about it.

Don’t equate how you feel today with your worth, your usefulness, your attractiveness or your future fruit-bearing potential.

Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.

Yes, you might consumed by it, tired of it, overwhelmed by it, possibly even angry at it. That’s the blunt, current truth.

But let me also tell you this. It will not always be the way it is right now.

It may seem to you (and your loved ones) that your hard thing is all you ever talk about—all you ever think about—and maybe you are right. A day will come, though, when that is not the case.

Your circumstances may not change, but your perspective will. Ask anyone who has suffered great loss. The pain, the sadness and the scars may never fade completely, but life does go on.

Other parts start to fill in. The joy comes back, even.

Then along comes another trial, maybe even harder than the last. The coping muscles that you developed last time will help some, but you will grow more—perhaps in places you didn’t even know strength could exist.

This process—let’s call it the circle of faith—is spelled out in Romans 5:3-4: “Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”

God is still in the business of redemption, my friend, and your life is not exempt from His promises.

Hold on to that truth today. And maybe take a nap if you get the chance.

Lois

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Photo by Esther Ware

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42 comments

Lureta September 29, 2017 - 12:07 pm

Thank you for the encouragement! So needed today.
Blessings

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Lois Flowers October 1, 2017 - 4:37 pm

So good to hear from you, Lureta. I hope you have a good week!

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Maree Dee September 29, 2017 - 8:59 am

Lois,

So true our perspective does change. Great post.

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Lois Flowers October 1, 2017 - 4:39 pm

Thank you, Maree. Speaking of another welcome change, happy October to you!

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Leslie September 29, 2017 - 6:29 am

Lois, I’ve read this post before and thought of all the people it would help. I’ve come back again to read it again from Arabah’s website and thought about how much it helped me this time. Thank you!

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Lois Flowers October 1, 2017 - 4:44 pm

You’re welcome, my friend. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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Dawn September 28, 2017 - 8:31 pm

This is such a beautiful and true reality. God is still in the business of redemption. Thank you for this encouragement and thank you for sharing at Grace and Truth last week. I would love to feature this post tomorrow.

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Lois Flowers October 1, 2017 - 4:42 pm

Hi Dawn … thanks again for sharing this little post at Grace & Truth. When I wrote it, I was talking to myself as much as anyone else, but I’m so thankful it has been encouraging to others as well! 🙂

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Julie September 27, 2017 - 9:45 pm

Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement! It is music to my hears and a healing balm to my weariness!
Visiting from #TellHisStory

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Lois Flowers October 1, 2017 - 4:41 pm

I’m so glad, Julie. Here’s hoping for a more restful October! 🙂

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Tiffany Parry September 22, 2017 - 9:26 am

So good! You reminded my heart once more that nothing is impossible with God. xo

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:55 am

Good to hear from you, Tiffany. So excited for the latest developments in YOUR life, my friend! 🙂

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Michele Morin September 22, 2017 - 8:16 am

Ha! At that first line, I lifted my eyebrows, because there’s this horizontal line that always comes . . .
Thanks for hope-words, and it’s always good to read the way in which you are receiving God’s Words to you at a particular time for a particular purpose.
Blessings to you, Lois.

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:54 am

I don’t even want to think about how all this shows up on my own face, Michele! Thanks for your kind words. Lately I’m finding my blog is much more up-to-the-minute than it’s ever been, but I’m sensing that’s how it should be. One day, one week at a time. 🙂

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Liz September 22, 2017 - 7:20 am

So SO good, friend! A nap may certainly be in my future today! Blessings!

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:51 am

Ha, Liz … I hope you found time for that nap last week! 🙂

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Alice Walters September 21, 2017 - 5:33 pm

Dear Lois, I am so thankful for the insights and wisdom you have generously shared. Also sad for the trials that dug out trenches in your soul for God to fill with his compassion and counsel. Prayers for continued sustenance, and for joy in the middle. XOXO

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:51 am

Thanks so much, Alice. Do you ever make it over to the Kansas side? What fun it would be to share over a cup of something hot (or cold if this ridiculous summer weather lingers)! 🙂

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Sarah Donegan September 21, 2017 - 3:15 pm

God still redeems. Amen!

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:49 am

Yes, Sarah! 🙂

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bethany mcilrath September 21, 2017 - 8:37 am

Thank you, Lois. “Coping muscles” is a phrase I hope to remember. Such an accurate and helpful illustration. The circle of faith too! I’ve long loved that passage but hadn’t thought of it as a circle, and it makes so much sense. Thanks for these insights and this encouragement!

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:49 am

Glad I can contribute to your vocabulary of phrases, Bethany. 🙂 I hope all is well in your world, my friend.

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Trudy September 20, 2017 - 3:53 pm

Thank you, Lois, for this beautiful, hope-filled post. Such great encouragement to keep in my memory bank – “Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.” I’m sorry you have been hit with heavy trials lately, but it’s amazing how God is teaching you so much and using you to spread hope. You are comforting us with the same comfort God has given you through it all. Thank you. Blessings and hugs!

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:48 am

You do the same on a regular basis, my friend. Hugs back! 🙂

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Sandra J September 20, 2017 - 1:47 pm

Lois – I am so blessed by this beautiful post and wisdom. I love your thought – “Contrary to what seems very real right now, you are not your feelings. You are not your season. You are not your trial.” Amen. Glad I stopped by today.

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:47 am

I’m glad you stopped by too, Sandra! Hugs, friend!

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Linda Stoll September 20, 2017 - 9:55 am

Your season of trial is producing sheer gold. Your writing is encouraging us that yes, we, too, can do more than just eek out survival in the midst of the crazyness / trauma / grief, but that God can grow and stretch us in ways that we didn’t imagine.

Thanks for continuing to share what you’re learning, Lois. What a blessing …

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:47 am

Oh, Linda … thank you for this. What I see (in myself and my circumstances) doesn’t resemble sheer gold right now, but I know God’s refining power is always at work. Blessings to you, my friend.

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Meg September 20, 2017 - 8:35 am

This is so refreshing!!! Amen to it all. xoxo

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:45 am

Thanks, Meg! Have a good week. 🙂

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Valerie Sisco September 20, 2017 - 8:30 am

Hi Lois,
Our feelings do make us feel as if we have blinders on and can’t quite see past where we are right now, don’t they? I love this encouragement that what feels so hard and true right now, may not really be the case, and yes, even if our circumstances don’t change, our perspective can! xoxo

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Lois Flowers September 25, 2017 - 11:44 am

Thanks so much, Valerie. I haven’t had a chance to linger elsewhere online lately, but I am so glad you made it through the hurricane and I loved your latest post about it! 🙂

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~Karrilee~ September 19, 2017 - 5:25 pm

So good… so powerful… so true!

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Lois Flowers September 24, 2017 - 4:45 pm

Thank you, Karrilee … so nice to see you here this week! 🙂

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Lesley September 19, 2017 - 2:46 pm

This is great encouragement, Lois! When we’re struggling and weary it can be hard to see beyond our situation but your words here are full of hope. Thanks for sharing!

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Lois Flowers September 24, 2017 - 4:45 pm

I’m glad you found it encouraging, Lesley. Also, thank YOU for your blog help last week … it was exactly what I needed to accomplish the task!

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Sandy L September 19, 2017 - 8:22 am

Needed to hear exactly that! Thanks, Lois!

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Lois Flowers September 24, 2017 - 4:44 pm

You’re welcome, Sandy! Have a great week. 🙂

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Suzy Taylor Oakley September 19, 2017 - 7:15 am

Wow, this is just the encouragement I needed to hear. The Lord spoke to me through you today, Lois (He usually does!).

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Lois Flowers September 24, 2017 - 4:43 pm

I’m glad, Susie. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

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Leslie September 19, 2017 - 6:20 am

Lois, if this doesn’t spread hope for when we’re weary of walking through a trial, I don’t know what does. Thank you for this encouragement today! I’m sharing this!

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Lois Flowers September 24, 2017 - 4:43 pm

Thanks so much for your kind words … and for sharing, Leslie! Many blessings to you this week. 🙂

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