This morning during my time with God, I read the daily devotional from the YouVersion Bible App that goes along with the daily Scripture. It reminded me that even in hard seasons, suffering is not the end of our story. God is working. Perseverance produces character. Character strengthens hope. And hope does not disappoint — because His love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It encouraged me, and I felt led to share it with you. ⬇️ Joy in Hard Times Nobody enjoys suffering. It’s hard to find joy in the midst of trials or difficult seasons—it’s much easier to feel sadness or misery. That’s why Paul’s encouragement in Romans 5 may sound contradictory. Paul was writing this to the church in Rome experiencing suffering from ungodly rulers, and yet he encourages them to rejoice in their suffering. It wasn’t enough to just endure suffering—he tells them to have joy. Paul knew that it wasn’t natural to be joyful in hard times, but through the work of Jesus, Christians have peace with God and access to faith (Romans 5:1-2). Faith allows us to hold onto the hope that suffering isn’t the end of our story. Because we know that God works within our difficult situations, we can have patience and perseverance for God to complete His work. Perseverance refines our character. As we wait on God, we become people who look more like Jesus, and our trust in God grows stronger. This increases hope within us. It’s not easy to have hope when you're suffering. But as we trust in God, we are strengthened to continue to endure. When we look at suffering from God’s perspective, we begin to realize that He is working to bring glory to Himself in every situation. God has shown us through the Holy Spirit that He loves us. He suffered and gave Himself for us so that we could have a relationship with Him, and He will continue to give us everything we need to live a life that honors Him. So consider how God is working in your life, even through difficult seasons. Think about the ways God has poured His love into you through the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for strength to persevere, and let that perseverance develop into a strong character that hopes and trusts in God even in hard times. And when persevering gets difficult, hold onto this truth: God has given everything for you, and He will never leave your side.

This week, let’s continue leaning into what God stirred during our Pause + Pray Call. As you move through your classroom and your life, take intentional moments to: • Receive His love before reacting • Renew your mind before responding • Abide in His Word daily • See your students through His lens Remember — we don’t lead from pressure. We lead from overflow. 🎥 If you missed the Pause + Pray Call, the replay is available in the Classroom tab or click here to visit the classroom. 💌 Drop any prayer requests below — I’d love to pray with you. You are loved. You are equipped. You are not alone. 💜

This month inside the membership, we’re focusing on receiving the Father’s love. ❤️ One way we receive His love is by pausing to notice His goodness. In this video, I’m sharing a devotional from Limitless Love that reminded me how powerful praise and gratitude are on both ordinary and challenging days. 🎥 Click here to watch the video: Now I want to hear from you: 🎉 What is one thing from this week you can thank God for? Big or small — it matters. Let’s build a thread of gratitude together. 💛