There are going to be days when you wake up and wonder why you even bother. Days when you look at your job and feel drained, when you look at your spouse and feel more annoyed than connected, and when you look at yourself and question if you’re enough. If I’m being honest, I’ve had those days more than I’d like to admit. The kind of days where all I can see are the flaws, the disappointments, the struggles. When I focus only on those things, it makes life look so much worse than it really is.
It reminds me of a rose. From far away, a rose is breathtaking, its color, its fragrance, its petals. But if you look closer, the beauty gets overshadowed by the thorns. The petals may have little tears, or maybe there’s a bug hiding in the folds. The truth is, the rose is still beautiful, but if you stare long enough at the thorns, at all the little details that are wrong, you’ll convince yourself it’s not. That’s exactly what I sometimes do with my life.
Some days I feel defeated, like I’m just going through the motions without understanding why. I start focusing on every single bad detail: the stress at work, the responsibilities piling up at home, the arguments, the things that didn’t go my way. And the more I focus on those things, the more I convince myself that my life is nothing but thorns. But then there are moments when God whispers to me, reminding me of what’s true. I did wake up this morning. I do have a job that provides. I do have a family that loves me. I am surrounded by blessings that I often overlook because I’m too busy staring at what I don’t like.
I’ve learned that not everything in life comes with an immediate explanation. Some struggles I’ve faced, I look back on now and realize they were shaping me, teaching me, or protecting me from something I couldn’t see. Other struggles, to this day, I still don’t understand and maybe I never will on this earth. But what I’ve come to accept is that even when I don’t understand, God does. He sees the full picture when I can only see the scattered pieces.
Romans 8:28 reminds me that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” That verse has carried me through so many seasons because it tells me that even when something doesn’t look or feel good, God is still using it for my good. In 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, Paul writes that although outwardly we may be wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day, and that our troubles are “light and momentary” compared to the eternal glory God is preparing for us. It doesn’t always feel light when you’re in the middle of it, but Scripture reminds us that what’s temporary will not compare to what God has in store.
James 1:2–4 encourages us to consider it joy when we face trials, because those trials produce perseverance, and perseverance makes us mature and complete. I’ll be honest, finding joy in trials is one of the hardest things for me. When I’m hurting, frustrated, or stressed, joy is the last thing on my mind. But I know God isn’t asking me to enjoy the pain, He’s asking me to trust that what the pain produces will be worth it. Galatians 6:9 has also become a lifeline for me: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That’s the reminder I hold onto when I feel like all my efforts are going unnoticed, that my prayers aren’t being answered, or that I’m just stuck. The harvest is coming, but only if I don’t quit.
When life feels heavy, I’ve started making a practice of stepping back and looking at what I do have. Gratitude has a way of shifting my focus. Instead of waking up and groaning about the day ahead, I try to remind myself that waking up at all is a blessing. Instead of complaining about the stress of work, I thank God that I have a way to provide for my family. Instead of focusing on imperfections in my marriage or in myself, I thank Him for the love that is still present and the grace He gives us every single day.
The thorns in life don’t disappear. They’re always going to be there in some form. But when I choose to focus on the rose, the blessings, the miracles, the goodness of God, the thorns don’t seem so overwhelming anymore.
So, if you’re reading this and you’ve been feeling like giving up, please hear me: you are not alone. I’ve been there. I still have those days. But the same God who has carried me through every dark season is the same God who will carry you. You don’t have to understand everything to trust Him. Not everything will make sense, and not everything will feel fair, but He hasn’t left you. He sees your pain, He knows your heart, and He’s working even when you can’t see it.
The truth is, life will never be perfect. Some days will feel heavy. Some days will test every ounce of your faith. But on those days, remind yourself: I am blessed. I am loved. I have a purpose. And with God by my side, I will not give up. I will keep pushing forward, one day at a time.
What’s one blessing you can thank God for today, even in the middle of your struggles? Share it below, I’d love to hear your story.
Holy mess 