Things Will Get Better

A loving reminder and 3 ways to find hope again

Stefano Ganddini

May 16, 2024

Somtimes it can feel like things are never going to get better.

Sometimes it can feel like no matter what you do, you still always end up in the exact same place.

Sometimes it can feel like life is… hopeless.

And when it feels like this, the temptation to give up is as real as ever.

Trust me, I know the feeling. I’ve been there many times before. In fact, I found myself there yet again, just last week.

Fortunately, by the grace of God, I’ve managed to come out on the other side feeling a renewed sense of hope, strength, and purpose.

But before I share with you a few practical ways to overcome these seasons of hopelessness, I want you to know—you’re not alone.

When you’re going through a period of spiritual desolation (episodes of hopelessness, despair, etc.), it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you’re the only one who ever feels this way.

But the reality is that spiritual desolation is a universal spiritual experience. Meaning, everyone goes through it, at one point or another. If they haven’t yet… they will.

Granted, some of us, let’s say… more sensitive souls… may struggle with these feelings more often or more deeply than others, but nonetheless, everyone experiences these feelings of hopelessness to one degree or another.

So please, understand:

Nothing is wrong with you for feeling what you’re feeling.
There’s no need to feel any shame for having these feelings.
These feelings are an inevitable part of the human condition.

Got it? Good.

Because here’s the harsh reality…

Suffering Cannot Be Avoided In This Life

The sooner you come to accept this fact of life, the better off you’ll be.

You can try to run from this reality…

You can try to deny it through your own self-delusions, avoid it with distractions, mask it with pleasures, or numb yourself from it with drugs…

You can even attempt to “transcend” all suffering with New Age practices which (falsely) promise eternal bliss and ecstasy, in the here and now, through divination, sorcery, and the “expansion of your consciousness”…

But I promise you, speaking from personal experience as someone who did all of the above for many years…

It will lead you nowhere good.

After spending over a decade attempting to solve the problem of suffering through the above means, only to then find myself at the darkest and lowest place of my life, I’ve finally learned (the hard way) to accept this undeniable reality:

Life is hard, and there’s no way around it.

The only question is, “How are you going to choose to respond to the inevitable difficulties, hardships, and tragedies of life?”

Every time you face a difficult experience in life, you can either:

a) Run away from it and see where that leads you. I really don’t recommend this approach, but hey, if you don’t believe me, have it your way.

OR…

b) You can learn to confront it head-on and by the grace and power of God, come out of it better, stronger, and wiser than ever before. This is the much harder path (the narrow path, as they call it), but the only path that leads to true growth and fulfillment.

These are your choices—take your pick.

But whatever you do…

Don’t Believe The Devil’s Lie

The only thing that makes a hardship go from feeling difficult (but overcome-able) to impossible (and hopeless) is believing the following lie from the devil: “Things will never get better.”1

Any voice that tells you that this hardship, this challenge, this darkness that you are facing will never end and that it will just go on and on and on, forever and ever… comes from the spirit of Satan.

Whenever the devil whispers this lie into your ear, do not believe it!

Instead, firmly rebuke this lie in the name of Jesus Christ and speak the truth in its place.

What’s the truth?

The truth is that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) and that no matter how difficult, impossible, or hopeless your situation may seem right now…

Things will get better.

If not in this life, then certainly in the next. As a Christian, this is where my eternal hope comes from. Knowing that no matter what sufferings I may experience in this life, they are temporary to this life and one day there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:4).

This is the antidote to hopelessness.

Lies will lead you to hell, but the truth will set you free.

Now, admittedly, your situation may very well be impossible… if you were to go at it on your own. But remember—with God, all things are possible.

Know someone who needs to hear this word of encouragement? Take a second to share this post with them.

3 Practical Ways To Find Hope Again

Alright, so now that you understand that a) you’re not alone, and b) all things are possible with God and therefore things will get better…

Let’s get practical.

Here are 3 actionable ways to overcome seasons of despair and come out on the other side with a renewed sense of strength, confidence, and faith.

Break the silence.
When you’re struggling, find someone you trust that you can open up to. The evil spirit will always want you to isolate yourself, to suffer in silence, and to not say anything to anyone. Do not do this! Instead, do the opposite. Find a trusted confidant (whether it be a family member, a friend, a counselor, a priest, or some other spiritual director) and talk about what you’re going through, as honestly as possible. Remember, the truth will set you free (and lies will lead you to hell). So, don’t hold back. Say the thing you don’t want to say. Whatever you do, do not isolate yourself.
Find purpose in your suffering.
Instead of wishing for your suffering to go away, find purpose in it. I used to believe the purpose of life was to transcend suffering. This sounds nice, but it only led me to more suffering. Now I believe the purpose of life is to find out what (or WHO) your life is worth suffering for. This may not sound as nice, but my life has hope again. I truly believe that the most beautiful souls are the ones who have suffered the most, but instead of allowing their suffering to harden their hearts, have chosen to soften their hearts and used it to increase their empathy and compassion for others. In one of my all-time favorite books, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” author Viktor Frankl states “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” What’s your why? My why is a WHO… and His name is Jesus Christ. Through Him, with Him, by Him—I can do all things.
In all humility, ask God to reveal the path forward.
Stop trying to figure things out on your own. Get on your knees and ask God to help you. Beg God to help you. Let go of your pride and admit that you cannot solve this problem on your own. Don’t pray for life to be easier. Don’t pray for unearned favors. Don’t pray for power, wealth, or any materialistic, superficial, selfish things. Instead, pray for God to reveal the path forward. Open yourself up to revelation. When you can’t see a way forward, ask Him to open your eyes and show you the way (and then give you the strength to follow through)… and I promise you, He will.

Remember, no matter how bad things may seem right now—things will get better.

And when they inevitably do, don’t forget to praise God, through whom all things are made possible.

In the meantime, I know it’s not easy, but hang in there…

Find purpose in your suffering…

And don’t give up…

Because God’s not done with you and the best is yet to come.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

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I learned this from Rule #8 of the 14 Rules for the Discernment of Spirits, as taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola.