I remember praying with a friend through back-to-back hard. Her family was on mission in a country with an attempted coup, their monthly support had been cut and they were looking at a pile of medical bills from a summer-long health scare. Betsy de Cruz shares today about how to approach quiet time when life is hard.
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I’ve gone through seasons when I struggle to have a quiet time. Haven’t you?
Stress and a busy schedule can make it impossible to quiet our racing thoughts. When trouble weighs us down, or heartache seems to grow each day, we’re not able to focus long enough to even sense God’s presence, much less hear what He might want to say to us.
During times of trial, getting through the day can require all our physical and spiritual energy. Just when we need God most, we lack the strength to draw near to Him or the ability focus on prayer or Bible reading.
How can we keep showing up to invite God in when life is hard?
Maybe we need to first let go of our preconceived notions of what we’re supposed to do during our quiet time: follow a Bible reading plan, read a devotional guide, journal what we’re learning, and pray. Some days, we need to scale back and find simpler steps to reach out for God.
When life is hard, we need to embrace simple ways to invite more of God into our lives. I’m sharing 5 ways to approach quiet time when life is hard.
1. Remember He’s Near
Friend, Satan’s greatest goal is to separate us from God. When we’re struggling, the father of lies whispers to us, “God doesn’t care, and He isn’t there.”
Yet Scripture tells us God is always near: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
When we call, God draws near. It only takes a one-word prayer: “Jesus.” We need only call His name.
2. Get Real with God
We don’t have to put on a happy, holy face to draw near to God. When we’re struggling, we can show up with our pain, discouragement or even our angst. We can pour out our hearts to God just as we would to our best friend.
Last year, I experienced a deep healing time after a season of loss when I poured out a list of my grievances to the Lord. It was not a holy moment. It was tearful me ranting and raving, but I felt God’s listening presence. I realized He held me.
When we get real with God, He becomes more real to us.
3. Go Back to Simple Truths
Some days, I can’t get my mind around complicated Bible study, and I can’t focus long enough to journal or pray elaborate prayers. I return to simple truths my mind can lay hold of, and I repeat them to myself:
- God loves me. (Romans 5:8)
- The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1)
- Jesus died to give me new life. (1 John 4:9)
- God is with me. He will never leave me. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
4. Embrace Silence
When our struggle is great, sometimes we have no words. All we can do is sit in silence. Perhaps we need to be still and know that He is God. If you’re experiencing one of those wordless times, ask God to pour over you a deep sense of His presence. Imagine yourself in God’s lap and let Him hold you close. Remember His everlasting arms: “The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you” (Deuteronomy 33:27).
5. Read a Psalm
When problems and trials beset me, I can barely think straight, but the Psalms provide familiar comfort and encouragement. When I don’t know how to pray, the Psalms offer words I can read aloud to God.
During my most difficult times, I downsize my quiet time to reading just one Psalm a day. The Psalms offer us simple reassurance through words like these: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
Friend, no matter what your struggle might be, God longs to supply your need. He delights to pour out His comforting presence, show you compassion, or give you wisdom and strength.
For the hard times when having a quiet time is more than you can manage, He waits to pour out His love over you.
One desperate prayer brings Him to your side. One moment of silence is all the invitation He needs.
GIVEAWAY: I’m giving away a copy of Betsy de Cruz’s new book More of God: A Distracted Woman’s Guide to More Meaningful Quiet Times. This book is a chock full of practical and personal ways to get the most out of daily devotions. Comment below to be entered and on Instagram for an extra entry.
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Betsy de Cruz writes and speaks to encourage busy, distracted women to get God’s Word in, so they can live their faith out. Her book More of God is a Distracted Woman’s Guide to More Meaningful Quiet Times. She wrote it to help women take small steps to invite more of God’s presence and power into their lives and find creative ways to enjoy spending time with Him. You can find both print and Kindle versions of More of God on Amazon. Connect with Betsy online at faithspillingover.com, where she shares Bible study and prayer tips, as well as encouragement for faith and family.
Lisa, thanks so much for sharing your beautiful space with me today, friend. I’ll forever be grateful for your partnership in the Gospel AND your prayer support during that difficult time you refer to at the opening of this post! Love you!
Hi Lisa:
I would love to receive a copy of More of God!! I certainly need more of Him everday. At this time my husband has been without a job since the beginning of December and it is really tight and a daily struggle to remember God is in control of this entire situation. Through all of this my family is changing and growing with the LORD. Something in 17 years I have not seen. I could go on and on. God is doing a huge work and clean up in our home!!
Oh Krissie, my heart goes out to you. I’ve been through those “tight” times as well. So hard! May the Lord show Himself faithful to you! He always does. His steadfast love endures forever.
Thank you so much Betsy. Your blog here spoke so much to me. I struggle in my quiet time, doing my check off list and not getting into God’s presence at all. This was what the Lord was drawing me to today. You are my inspiration and my blessing.
Thank you, Kathy! May the Lord draw you into His presence. Day by day.
Thank you for those encouraging words. Life is hectic and seems like there are not enough hours in a day.
Praying for moments of peace for you now, Carole.
This is exactly what I needed today. Thank you Lisa and Betsy for this post. I am currently going through the book of Job and have found myself struggling to remain focused. Your Life is Hard list is wonderful and I love, love #3…Go Back to the Simple. I have written the list in my journal and highlighted #3. When I can’t seem to focus due to all of the outside distractions I will come back to His simple truths. It really is simple in the midst of the hard.
Yes to simple truths, Jamie! I’m glad that encouraged you! Kudos to you for sticking it out through Job. One thing that helps me is to look for one nugget (one encouraging/challenging verse) each day. Job has a lot of content! So easy to get bogged down.
Just the title of the book makes me excited and can’t wait to read it. Sounds like the perfect guidebook to decluttering our minds and hearts and finding that quiet time, just focusing on God’s Word, on God! Just writing gives me an “AHA” moment I so long for and desire daily. Sometimes I found myself just going through the motions but not extracting, not allowing the God’s Word to takes it’s proper place in my heart because I am rushing through the Word because the clock is ticking and I need to get through the chapter so that I can get to my next task. Need to respond to the many text messages that were distracting me while reading God’s Word. But is God is Good because He is doing amazing things and in my distractions, He is still stirring up a longing for His Word! Our goal and aspiration should always be to experience a “More Meaningful Quiet Time” with God every time! So even if I am not a recipient of this generous giveaway, I am looking forward to getting a copy, reading it and living our my faith. Thank you and Blessings to ALL!!
May the Lord bless you and draw you closer, Jeannette! I’m praying now that He’ll speak to you each day! I get so distracted myself, which is why I wrote the book. <3
This would be so timely for me!
Thank u for the blog post!
So glad you stopped by to read!
Overwhelmed, scatter-brained, forgetful – a few of the adjectives that describe this current season for me. Sounds like More of God would be great!
Oh Kelly, maybe we are soul sisters, ’cause those 3 words describe me perfectly! That’s why I wrote the book, for women like us.
Lisa, your writings are pure, simple but profound, and a gift to all who are blessed to find them. Thank you.
Timely and much needed in a rush up and hurry world. Life hits hard and sometimes quiet is hard to find.
I’m distracted even as I type this comment! I would love a copy of the book. I meet with several ladies from my church each Saturday morning, and this would be a great book for us to discuss and pour over. Thank you for serving the Lord, and us, in this way.
That’s great that you meet with other women on Saturdays!
Would love to read this as we walk through another season of unemployment and the inevitable change that lies ahead…our house goes on the market next week and that is a “season” when quiet times become distracted. We have been praying for an open door for four months now and sometime I feel like there is nothing left to say to God except, “I trust You”
Oh Ann! I’m so sorry for your season of unemployment. May the Lord pour out His steadfast love over you each day! He is faithful, but the wait can be so hard!
Just what I needed during a stressful and crazy time. Thank you!
Thank you for your encouragement! When things are hard and life seems a mess, it is easy to get distracted and seek everything BUT the Word of God.
May He bless you in all that you do!
Blessings to you too, Wendy!
A most helpful post. Thank you.
I could see myself in so many of these situations. Thank you for your wisdom, inspiration, heartfelt truth, and faithfulness. I too would like to have this book. Thank you.
These are great reminders and tips! As a single mom it can be hard to get that time in some days when school gets cancelled or a kiddo is home sick.
Gina, may the Lord give you all the grace you need! This IS a challeng for single moms. I am sure! May the Lord bless you as you raise your family!
Really needed to read this today. My quiet time has started coming in the middle of the night. I know God is with me at all times but just seems closer at night.
Judy, sometimes my most meaningful times with God are when I just can’t seem to sleep and I get up in the middle of the night to pray or read Scripture.
Embrace silence! So hard to do sometimes. What an encouraging article. Thank you!
It IS hard to do, Rhonda! Believe it or not, sometimes I use a timer set for just a few minutes. Some how it quiets my mind. I know I can relax until that timer goes off.
I’m in a transition phase and just when I think I’ve settked into “new” something that changes. I was my mom’s care giver for 6 years until she died this past summer. Around the time I started to figure out how to live without her, my husband and I learned our daughter had chosen to live in a sinful lifestyle and to estrange herself from us and now it looks like our son and daughter-in-love will be moving 10 hours away (for good reason. .. a new ministry opportunity but still hard for Momma). I sometimes just feel too weary to connect with the Lord as I should. Love you tips.. honestly knew them already but sometimes it helps to be reminded.
Wow, I started crying when I read this! Betsy, your blog is just what I needed. I’m going through some health struggles and sometimes I do have a hard time focusing on my one-year Bible reading plan. Thank you so much, Lisa, for sharing this!
Oh Diana, I’m so sorry! I’m praying for your health now. I have lived through chronic health issues, and it can be depressing and debilitating. may God give you strength and joy, draw you to Himself!
Thank you for keepin it real Betsy….. sohelpful for me.
Bless you
This is so encouraging — when life feels complicated it’s sometimes difficult to remember these simple things. I smiled at #2 Get Real with God because I just read the story of Hannah again & found such relief in how she prayed with all of her emotions. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Betsy, for verbal grace here. So often the message is push, push, push, but the truth that God is near and will meet us where we are during hard seasons is so comforting, and it keeps us in the game with good habits until life uprights itself once again.
Amen. I love your level-headed perspective, my friend.
Lisa, thank you for sharing Betsy here. Betsy, this was such a beautiful post. Each point resonated with my heart, especially the getting real with God one. It’s so true. When I’ve ranted and cried ugly cries, I’ve known His presence and that He was listening. And isn’t it special how, after we’ve bared our hearts before Him, He’s there, reassuring and comforting us with His words and presence. It took me years to come to the point where I could be gut-level honest with my Father. I’m thankful for His grace and His presence.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom here, Betsy!
Betsy – you continue to teach me more and more about just sitting with God. We don’t need to make it complicated or follow a formula, we just need to be present and listen. One of the things that has helped me recently, as life has been so full, is starting my day with gratitude. It seems that spending extra time in the quiet has not worked, but sitting in gratitude allows me to say thanks every time it is brought to mind.
I am thinking of grandson right now as I write this comment. 🙂
Oh, Mary, I’ve seen pictures of your grandson, so I know you have a lot to be grateful for. Gratitude shifts my perspective like nothing else.
I have been waiting for this book. How perfect and encouraging for me especially during this season of my life. As an adult I am realizing I am so easily distracted. Or when I can sit in evening after being a busy working Mom, I’m so tired to focus !!!!!
What wonderful words you spoke to me today. I have been having quite a bit of troubles. Also, of course with my quiet time. I would love to have your book. And I love your true love of Jesus. I’m still taking baby steps back to him. I know he’s there always though! Thank you💞
I have been reading your book, Betsy and enjoying it. Love these points. Sometimes we make having quiet time to complicated and full of our own rules. When we need to simplify it.
Thanks so much for reading, Theresa. I appreciate you!
There’s nothing better than embracing the silence–and having friends that will embrace it WITH you. I hope to be the kind of friend that can embrace silence with those who grieve.
How fun to see the two of you here together! Betsy, I think these are solid suggestions. Reading a Psalm especially touched me. I tend to go to Proverbs when I don’t know where to read or life gets hectic. Lisa thank you for sharing your space here.
As a mom of 7 and grandmother of 3, 25 years of marriage, I have been thru all of these seasons! Would love to have Betsy’s book for insight and wisdome, also to share with kids! Thank you for your ministy!
This is right where I am now. These are the very things I have been doing. The enemy likes to try and tell me it is not enough or discourage me but I felt God encourage me through your words today. He is letting me know, “it is good.” I am still drawing near and inviting Him in and that is good. Thank you, Betsy! You are a blessing!! I am loving your book.