When the Waves Don’t Stop: A Devotional for the Hard Days
- Admin Acct
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” — Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
There are seasons in life when everything shifts. Maybe it was the job that defined you—gone in an instant. Maybe it was a relationship that grounded you—now fractured or over. Maybe it’s the grief that came after a loss, or the mental fog that won’t lift no matter how hard you pray.
These are the moments that steal your breath, that leave you asking God the hard questions. “Where are You? Do You still see me? Do You even care?”
Here’s the raw truth: God never promised we’d be spared from crisis. But He did promise we wouldn’t face it alone.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
God is near. Not in a surface-level, Sunday-morning kind of way—but in the trenches. In the messy, sleepless, gut-wrenching kind of way. He sees every tear, hears every unspoken prayer, and sits with you in the middle of your storm.
What Can You Do When You’re in Crisis?
Let’s talk about practical ways to hold on when life feels like it’s unraveling:
Name what you're walking through. You can’t heal what you won’t name. Write it down. Say it out loud. Be honest with God and with someone you trust. Denial might feel easier, but truth is what sets you free.
Stay connected to community—even if it's messy. Don’t isolate. Show up to church. Text a friend. Accept help. Community isn’t always perfect, but it’s often how God reminds us we’re not alone.
Talk to God—especially when you don’t know what to say. Groans, tears, silence… He hears it all. Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray. You don’t need the right words—just a willing heart.
Get support beyond yourself. Sometimes what we need isn’t a quick fix—it’s someone to simply be with us. That’s where Stephen Ministry comes in.
What Is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is one of the most quietly powerful ministries at RiverGlen. It’s made up of everyday people—trained, compassionate followers of Jesus—who meet one-on-one with those going through a difficult season. Whether it’s grief, anxiety, divorce, a health crisis, or just feeling stuck, they show up to listen, pray, and walk with you.
Because sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is let someone sit with you in your pain.
If you’re in a season like that—where the waters feel deep and the current is strong—Stephen Ministry might be one of the lifelines God is offering. You don’t have to go through this alone.
You’re loved. Seen. Known. And God’s not finished with your story.
