Finding God in Hard Times: Grace Moments in Parenting and Medical Storms
Can I tell you something real? Finding God in hard times is never about getting a perfect answer or a quick fix, but finding faith after loss can guide you through grief. It's about seeing those small, surprising moments of grace right in the stress, mess, and uncertainty we never asked for. In our latest "Perspectives Into Practice" podcast episode, I sat down with a friend who is living this story. Her words reminded me that God shows up right in the trenches—especially when life is not what we expected.
What Does Finding God in Hard Times Look Like?
Here's the thing: most of us love talking about faith when life feels calm, deepening relationship with God. It's easy to be hopeful when everything is going according to plan. But what about when you get news you never wanted? Or when every day brings new medical challenges, new questions, and you feel the weight of your child's pain heavy on your chest?
Finding God in hard times isn't about pretending you're fine. It's about bringing Him every tear, every anxious thought, and even every question you can't even put into words. I remember those nights when the house was finally quiet but my heart wasn't. I sat in the dark, exhausted, asking God, "Why me? Why now?" Maybe you've asked those questions too.
The Unexpected Can Teach Us
Sometimes, what we thought was the worst news is what brings our faith into the real world. My friend in the podcast shared about finding out her youngest daughter would face things she never imagined. And yet, in that NICU room, with alarms beeping and doctors bustling around, she found moments when she felt seen by God in a way she never had before. That's what finding God in hard times can look like. Ordinary moments cloaked in holy comfort, Christ's love in crisis.
How Do You Recognize God's Presence When Life Hurts?
Let me tell you, it rarely looks like a lightning bolt or an immediate answer. Most of the time, it looks like a friend dropping off dinner when you have no energy left. Or a nurse who holds your hand when nobody else is allowed to touch you during a pandemic. Or the miraculous feeling of peace that doesn't make sense but helps you get through the day.
Finding God in hard times sometimes means holding onto the smallest moments of grace, gratitude practices for healing. There are days when you feel completely spent and unqualified as a parent, trusting God through waiting. (I felt that every day during those newborn months, medical emergencies, and long stretches where hope felt thin.) And still, God meets us there—not with a clear explanation but with His quiet presence. That's why I love the word from Genesis where Hagar calls God El Roi, the God who sees. Not just the God who notices you, but who knows every hidden fear and walks with you through them.
Grace for the Very Real and Messy Moments
I remember the grocery list I couldn't finish, the dinner I forgot to make, the puppy’s water bowl left empty while chaos swirled around me. Does that sound familiar to you? Life gets so overwhelming that small tasks feel like giant mountains. In those moments, finding God in hard times looks like an unexpected hug, a timely word, or just breathing in enough hope to keep going.
And, honestly, that's how God often shows up: in the grace of enough for today, not answers for the next five years. That is where faith takes root, right there in the mess.
Trusting God When Parenting Feels Like Too Much
I know so many moms and dads who feel like they're barely treading water. Medical appointments, therapies, forms, and the worry that never turns off. Can I tell you something? You are not alone. Finding God in hard times doesn't mean you have to be strong all the time.
I'd love to say trusting God means fear disappears. But it's more like finding a place to rest right in the middle of fear. Like my podcast guest said, you start to realize you can't map out three years from now—sometimes, you can barely think past next week. And that's okay. Sometimes, the only next right thing is to take the next tiny step and trust God will meet you there.
Letting Go of the Plan
How many of us build our life around plans that feel safe and predictable? But then something happens, and it feels like all those dreams leave the room. Finding God in hard times often means letting go of what you thought life would be and opening your hands to the unknown. I remember my friend's words when she said she had to release those hopes onto the water, like a Viking funeral, and ask God for new dreams—even when the loss felt huge.
But what rises out of that loss is the chance to see God work in new ways. You may not get your old plans back, but you can find a peace you couldn’t have known any other way.
What Scripture Says About Endurance and Hope
I keep coming back to the story of Joseph in Genesis. There’s a verse that grounds me: “But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden.” (Genesis 39:21, CSB). Joseph was not rescued out of difficulty immediately. He found God right in the middle of his hardest place. That’s the hope I hold out to you today. Finding God in hard times doesn’t always look like rescue or instant victory—sometimes, it’s knowing He is with us, even in the hard.
Grace Upon Grace, One Day at a Time
There are days when you wonder if you are the right parent for your child. Or you question why God picked you to handle something so hard. Maybe you feel unqualified. Maybe you feel like you’re failing. Can I remind you of something? God never makes mistakes in who He trusts with His precious children.
Even when you feel empty, grace shows up. Through a sibling who carries a heavy backpack for his sister every morning. Through a community who brings meals, checks in, or just sits quietly when you need space. Through the love that your family grows in, day by day, even when life looks nothing like you pictured.
How Do You Stay Spiritually Grounded When Everything is Heavy?
Let’s be honest. Some seasons, you’re just surviving. You have no fancy plan. Church might be online, Scripture reading is scattered, and prayers sound like desperate whispers. That is real, and that is enough. Finding God in hard times isn’t about doing it all the right way. It’s about turning toward Him, even with just a mustard seed of faith.
We prioritize our home first. I shrink my outer circle so my family can be cared for. I volunteer when I have extra to give, but I don’t feel guilty for needing to say no. Our family talks openly about what is hard and what is beautiful. We look for small moments together—a favorite meal, a chance to walk outside, laughter in the middle of stress.
Healthy Rhythms Build Hope
We try to eat real food, move our bodies, limit junk, and keep each other encouraged. We talk about what it means to be healthy—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. My kids know that helping each other is just what we do, not because our life is easy, but because we are all in this together. That’s a real picture of finding God in hard times.
Practical Grace: Action Steps for Today
- Let yourself grieve what you expected. It matters, and it’s part of your story.
- Notice even the smallest moments of grace—a helping hand, a heart-to-heart, a smile.
- Read one verse or a short prayer today. Genesis 39:21 reminds us God is with us, not just when things are good, but always.
- Tell someone else what’s really going on. Community is how God cares for us.
- Remind yourself: God chose you for your children, and He will give you what you need, step by step.
When You Feel Like You’re Failing
Hear my heart. You are not a victim of your circumstances. Your family’s story is not defined by a diagnosis or crisis. You get to choose every day to look for God’s presence and believe He is not finished working. And in all of it, those small grace moments add up. That’s what finding God in hard times is about—it’s about trusting His heart remains good, even if your story looks different than you planned.
Finding God in Hard Times Is for Every One of Us
You might not be in a medical crisis right now, but maybe you’re walking through something that hurts and confuses you. Maybe the future feels foggy. Or maybe you’re trying to rebuild hope after disappointment. I want you to know: God is there too. He isn’t waiting for you to get it all right. He is steady, present, and always working grace into ordinary days.
In our podcast episode, I heard so many pieces of hope in my friend’s story—a willingness to see blessings, a commitment to honesty, and that steady faithfulness to show up for her daughter even when she felt at her weakest. That is what finding God in hard times actually looks like. Not perfect. Just real, surrendered, and full of daily grace.
If you’re looking to hear more honest stories about how faith and real life mix, I hope you’ll listen to the full episode. Sometimes, all we need is to hear someone else say, “Me too. I see you. God is here.” Listen for those moments. Find God in your own hard times. You are never alone.
