2025 seems to have started in very heavy ways for many of us.
Life has a way of testing people, and for every season of joy, there are also seasons of grief, uncertainty, and hardship. Whether you’re facing personal struggles, collective grief, or an unexpected tragedy, it’s natural to feel lost, overwhelmed, or even hopeless. But in the midst of difficulty, one truth remains: you are not alone, and this moment will not last forever.
While pain is a part of the human experience, so too is resilience. So too is healing. So too is the ability to find meaning, even in the hardest moments. If you are struggling right now, I want to offer you some encouragement – not to dismiss your pain, but to remind you that even in darkness, there is light.
How do you get through it?
Acknowledge What You’re Feeling
It’s okay to not be okay. Too often, we’re pressured to put on a brave face, to suppress our emotions, or to “stay positive” even when our world feels like it’s falling apart. But emotions don’t disappear just because we ignore them. In fact, pushing them down often makes them heavier.
Instead of judging yourself for how you feel, try sitting with your emotions as if they were a friend. Ask yourself: What am I feeling right now? What do I need at this moment? Maybe you need a quiet space to process, a good cry, or just to acknowledge that things are hard. Whatever you feel, know that it is valid.
Encouragement: It’s okay to be where you are right now. You don’t have to rush through your feelings.
Connect, Don’t Isolate
Hard times can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go through them alone. Whether it’s friends, family, colleagues, a therapist, or a support group, having people to lean on makes a difference. Even if you don’t know what to say. Even if you’re not sure what you need. Just letting someone be there with you can ease the burden.
If reaching out feels difficult, start small. Send a simple text. Accept an invitation, even if you don’t feel up for it. Be honest with someone you trust: “I’m struggling right now, and I just need someone to listen.” You might be surprised at how many people want to support you but just don’t know how until you let them in.
Even if you don’t feel like you have a strong support system, know that you are not alone. There are people out there who care and want to help, from professionals to online communities.
Encouragement: Seeking support is an act of courage.
Focus on What You Can Control
When hardship hits us, it’s easy to feel powerless. So much of life is beyond our control—other people’s actions, unexpected losses, the twists and turns of circumstances. But there are always small things within your control, and focusing on those can help you regain a sense of stability.
Ask yourself: What is one thing I can do today to take care of myself? It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe it’s drinking enough water, getting some fresh air, or writing down one thought in a journal. Maybe it’s simply allowing yourself to rest without guilt.
Encouragement: You don’t have to have all the answers right now – you just have to take the next right step.
Remember That Restoration Is Not Linear
Some days will feel lighter, others will be heavy. You might have a day where you feel like yourself again, only to wake up the next morning with the weight of sadness pressing down. This is normal. Healing is not a straight path – it’s a winding road with stops and setbacks along the way.
Give yourself grace. Just because you’re struggling today doesn’t mean you haven’t made progress. Just because you have hard days doesn’t mean you’re going backward.
Encouragement: You are moving through this in the best way you can, and that is enough.
Seek Meaning in the Struggle
Not everything happens for a reason, and sometimes pain feels completely senseless. But even in the darkest moments, we can find meaning – not necessarily because of the hardship, but in how we grow through it. Difficult times can teach us what truly matters. They can deepen our empathy for others, strengthen our resilience, and shift our perspective on life. They remind us of our capacity to endure.
That doesn’t mean we have to find a silver lining in every hardship. Some pain just hurts. But when we’re ready, we can begin to ask: What is this teaching me? How can I use this experience to help myself or others?
Encouragement: Often, our struggles shape us in ways we never expected.
Hold Onto Hope – Even in Small Ways
Hope doesn’t always look like a grand vision of a better future. Sometimes, hope is just a quiet belief that things will not always be this hard. It’s the small reminders that light still exists – a kind word, a moment of laughter, a memory that brings comfort.
Even in the midst of pain, there are glimpses of goodness. A sunrise. A favorite song. A deep breath. Seek them out. These small moments of light won’t erase the darkness, but they remind us that light still exists, and that one day, it will feel brighter again.
If you can’t see hope right now, that’s okay. Sometimes, others hold it for us until we can carry it ourselves.
Encouragement: Trust that even if you don’t feel it yet, hope is still there, waiting for you.
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
In a culture that glorifies productivity, it’s easy to feel like you should be “doing more” even in your hardest moments. But struggling does not mean failing.
Renewal takes energy. Processing emotions takes energy. You are carrying something heavy, and it’s okay to set it down for a while. If all you did today was get through the day, that is enough. Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can, and that is more than enough.
Encouragement: Rest is not laziness—it is necessary.
You Are Stronger Than You Know
Whatever you are facing, remember: you have survived every difficult day before this one. You have already shown resilience in ways you may not even realize. This moment, no matter how painful, will pass. And when it does, you will still be here – stronger, wiser, and ready for whatever comes next.
Until then, take it one day, one breath, one small step at a time. You are not alone. You are loved. You are capable.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to share this message with someone who might need it today. We are all walking through this life together.
