The Power of ‘And’
Have you ever faced a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome? Maybe it felt like a dead end, a situation with no good outcome. But what if there was another way to see it?
God often invites us to shift our perspective—not to ignore our struggles, but to view them through His lens of grace, growth, and possibility. Life is rarely just one thing; joy and sorrow, struggle and blessing, pain and healing can exist together.
C.S. Lewis once said, “The pain now is part of the happiness then. That’s the deal.” In other words, hardship doesn’t cancel out joy, and joy doesn’t erase hardship. They can—and often do—coexist.
Think about Joseph’s story. He endured betrayal, injustice, and suffering, yet at the same time, God was shaping him for something greater. The hardship was real and God’s purpose was real. The waiting was painful and it was preparing him for leadership.
The word “and” is powerful—it reminds us that we don’t have to choose between acknowledging our struggles and recognizing our blessings.
You can be grieving a loss and grateful for the love you had.
You can be waiting for a breakthrough and still find moments of joy.
God holds it all, and He invites us to trust that His goodness isn’t absent just because pain is present.
This week, I encourage you to embrace the tension of the and. Bring your full heart before God—your sorrow and your gratitude, your questions and your faith. Ask Him to help you see your situation through His eyes, knowing He is present in all of it.
