Life In the Middle

A Personal Note

I’m writing this while I’m still very much in the middle of grief—the loss of my mom is still fresh, and some days the weight of it is heavier than others. Christmas Eve by her tree, singing carols, and lighting real candles have passed. The Christmas Day text I received every year, never came, and so many other firsts are yet to be encountered.

Right now, it hurts. So I don’t write this from the other side of pain, but from within it—choosing to believe that hardship doesn’t get the final word. Jesus does. And He is not only present in our suffering; He is on the other side of it, redeeming what feels broken and carrying us toward what is still to come.

If you’re reading this while hurting too, you’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re walking a hard road—and you’re not walking it alone.

Something my mom would always tell us in the midst of many years of her own suffering is this, “This too shall pass“. It’s one of those phrases we often hear in hard seasons. Sometimes it comforts us. Other times it feels dismissive—like a reminder we didn’t ask for when the pain is still very real.

The truth is, suffering doesn’t disappear just because we know it won’t last forever. Loss still aches. Anxiety still tightens our chest. Grief still shows up uninvited. And acknowledging that doesn’t mean we lack faith—it means we’re human.

Yet, there is a deeper hope hidden inside this phrase.

“This too shall pass” doesn’t mean it never mattered.

It means it won’t have the final word.

There are seasons that mark us—moments that change us—but they don’t get to define our entire story. Pain may shape us, but it doesn’t own us. What feels endless today is not eternal. God is still writing, still redeeming, still present—even when progress feels painfully slow.

For those who are hurting, you don’t need to rush healing. You don’t need to pretend you’re okay. You can grieve honestly and still believe that better days are coming. Faith doesn’t erase sorrow; it anchors us while we walk through it.

A Practical Next Step

Instead of telling yourself “I just need this to be over,” try asking:

“What do I need today to stay grounded?” A walk. A prayer. A conversation. Rest. Sometimes the most faithful step forward is simply staying present.

Scripture for Encouragement

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:17

Your pain is seen. Your tears matter. And this season—no matter how heavy—will not last forever.

This too shall pass.

And until it does, you are not alone.