Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad

Can I be honest with you?

I’m exhausted.

Maybe it’s the aftermath of a tough year, the daily tantrums of my two-year-old, the lack of sleep, the endless to-dos—or a combination of all of it.

I don’t feel entirely comfortable sharing that parenting is challenging for me right now. After all, I only have one child (other moms seem so confident with four!) and I don’t want to sound negative about motherhood.

My friends know that I am a very happy mom. And yet, some moments are hard. Not bad—hard.

“Hard is not the same thing as bad.” – Abbie Halberstadt

This week, I was reminded once again that God sees me. On a particularly tough day, I ran into an experienced mom from our church while out grocery shopping—even though she usually doesn’t shop there.

She gave me this advice: Ask God specifically for ideas on how to handle the hard situations.

He’s not doing this for the first time. I am. And when we pray, He guides us—thoughts and strategies for navigating our struggles.

It’s so simple, yet we often forget it, right?

Later that day, I actually had a new idea for how to respond to Malea in her tantrum moments.

You are not alone. God sees you. He sees your struggles—whatever they are. And He delights when you bring them to Him in prayer. He is the best guide. Just try it! 🤍

Love,
Mirjana Joy