Growing Through The Storm

Over the past few days, I've been struck with a particular kind of grief that comes from having my faith tested in real time.  The recent floods in Texas have strained my relationship with God, and it's difficult for me to respond.  

It's one thing to talk about the goodness of God and God's presence with us while suffering, and quite another to sit and wonder where God is when little children are being swept away in a catastrophic flood.  

Suffering is a part of life.  That simple and profound statement is one that we all agree with, and yet when suffering lands upon us, or we witness it in others, we want it to mean something for us to endure it. 

I don't have many answers to this, to be honest, but I've been thinking about it a bit, and perhaps what I have to share may be of help to some of us.  

Difficult seasons in life often leave us disoriented, questioning our strength and even our faith. We may wonder why God allows pain, confusion, or sadness to linger. 

Yet, amid such turmoil, spiritual growth is quietly unfolding—like seeds breaking open underground before they bloom. Donna Goddard offers profound insight into this mysterious process when she writes:

“Don’t feel bad about feeling bad. Don’t be frightened of feeling afraid. Don’t be angry about getting angry. There is no need to give up when we are feeling depressed. Nor should we be dismayed at the grief which often accompanies the outgrowing of anything which needs outgrowing. We can be glad that our soul is speaking to us and pushing us onwards. We frequently need to persevere with a period of inner turmoil before the dust can settle and be swept out the door.”

Goddard reminds us that emotional struggle is not a sign of spiritual failure—it’s part of the soul’s transformation. Grief, fear, anger, and sadness are not enemies but messengers, alerting us to deeper shifts occurring within. Sometimes, they are indicators that we are outgrowing habits, relationships, or mindsets that no longer serve the growth God desires for us.

Scripture speaks powerfully to this truth. In Romans 5:3-5 (NIV), we read:

3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Spiritual maturity is not born in ease, but in perseverance. God uses trials to refine us, not to punish us. The "inner turmoil" Goddard describes is often the Spirit stirring us to greater surrender, calling us to release what we’ve outgrown and step into a deeper identity in Christ. The dust must be unsettled before it can be swept away.

So if you are walking through a storm today, do not despair. Feel what you need to feel—without shame—and know that God is working in the depths. Let your soul speak. Let your heart grieve. And keep going. The breaking is not the end; it is the beginning of something holy.

Persevere, beloved. Trust that God is forming something new in you. There is purpose in this pain, and on the other side, there is a beauty that only storms can grow. 

May you come to know this deep within you.  And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.