The Hard and the Holy

The Hard and the Holy

Today’s Guest Post is written by Jen Weaver.

Last year I recorded a series on what’s “Hard and Holy” in the holidays. Turns out, that message was what I needed most.

Sometime in 2020, I’d scribbled an outline for a podcast to help busy Christian women have uncommon conversations with God in everyday moments. I’d wanted to start immediately, as us proactive achiever types often do, but God said wait. He didn’t say why. And He didn’t say how long. He just said not yet.

Let’s fast-forward to summer 2022 because that’s when I felt God’s nudge—Go! That’s all I needed. The Good God Talks podcast would launch by the end of the year. And the content plan that came together first and clearest? The Christmas series. 

The Weight of Christmas

I knew immediately that I wanted to close out the year talking about hard and holy Christmases. This sacred and celebratory holiday often carries complex feelings and complicated circumstances for many. I wanted to minister and bring encouragement for those feeling that weight. Those trusting God in the holy work He’s doing in, through, and even despite the hard work of it.

I created the series for YOU. 

Turns out, I also created it for me.

The mess of both joy and pain coexisting in the same season isn’t new to me. But last year I happened upon it in a different way.

In August, my mom started feeling sick. 

By late November, we knew it was stage 4 cancer.

Through December we connected and celebrated, aware that it could be her final Christmas on earth.

In January, God welcomed her home.

Hard and Holy Things

I have distinct memories of sitting in my comfy gray wingback podcasting chair and talking about how holy things can also be hard. And how hard things can also be holy.

I remember talking with God about the grief I felt over my mom’s illness and the pain she was in. I carefully considered what to share and how to share it, not wanting to add burdens to those already carrying heaviness of their own. And in the moments before and after each recording, I bared my soul to the One who can always handle it.

God of Comfort

Our God is God of all comfort.

One of my favorite Bible verses is from 2 Corinthians 1. I’ve bolded a few fragrant words below to help us sit in them just a few seconds longer.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

(2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV)

As I entered unexpected heartache and ongoing unknowns, our God of all comfort met me there. He used the ministry of my humble offering to minister to me. 

God purposed my time, and His timing, to wrap comfort around my heart and soak it deep into my soul. 

Right now we’re still in the pumpkin spice part of the holiday season. But I’ve lived long enough to know that any time of year can carry what’s both bitter and sweet.

Trusting God

Friend, can I share some of His comfort with you?

Seeking and trusting God in the middle of the hard is holy work.

Offer Him your pain. Ask for His direction, provision, and relief.  Receive the comfort only He can provide. God’s exquisite comfort is not a pass through. You’re not just a delivery mechanism. You begin, and continue, as a recipient. 

Our God of all comfort wants to comfort you.

In walking through what’s hard, in living out what’s holy and set apart, what comfort do you need from Him today? He’ll meet you there.

Jen Weaver is a Bible Teacher who loves to help people talk with God. She’s the host of Good God Talks, a podcast helping you connect with God through uncommon conversations in everyday moments (tune in on your favorite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube). She’s also a Ministry Coach, founder of an online community for Christian leaders called Collective Good, author of A Wife’s Secret to Happiness, which empowers Christian women to partner with God in their marriages (check it out here on Amazon) and frequently serves as a conference and retreat speaker. Married to her best friend Jared, she’s a happy boy mom of two growing sons and is most likely to be found with her hair full of dry shampoo and a coffee mug in hand. She’d love to connect with you via her website thejenweaver.com and on social media (especially Instagram) as @thejenweaver.