The last ten days in Nashville have felt anything but normal. Ice-covered streets, fallen trees, power outages, canceled plans, and cabin fever have stretched all of us in ways we didn’t expect. What began as a brief winter event turned into a long lesson in patience, flexibility, and perseverance.
For many, the challenges have been practical—figuring out childcare, finding safe ways to get to work, protecting homes from frozen pipes, and checking on neighbors. For others, it has been emotional—feeling isolated, anxious, or simply worn out by the disruption.
In seasons like this, it’s easy to focus only on what has gone wrong. But God often does some of His best work in hard, inconvenient moments.
The apostle Paul reminds us, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3–4, NLT).
None of us would have chosen icy roads or freezing temperatures. Yet many beautiful things have quietly happened: neighbors helping neighbors, churches opening their doors, strangers lending a hand, families spending unexpected time together, and communities remembering how much we truly need one another.
Difficult days have a way of revealing what’s already inside us. They show our limits—but they also reveal our resilience.
Isaiah 41:10 offers a gentle promise for moments just like these: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
If you’ve been working hard to keep things together—thank you. If you’ve been exhausted from juggling schedules and solving problems—God sees you. If you’ve felt overwhelmed—His grace is still sufficient.
Even when sidewalks are slippery and plans feel uncertain, the Lord remains steady. “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy” (Psalm 28:7, NLT).
As the ice finally melts and life slowly returns to normal, let’s carry forward what we’ve learned. Let’s remember the value of kindness, the gift of community, and the faithfulness of God in every season.
Hard weeks don’t last forever. But the character they build—and the hope they deepen—do.
“Let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9, NLT).
If you’re weary today, take heart. You’ve made it through a challenging stretch. And you didn’t walk through it alone.
Better days are ahead.
Gary Morgan (Pastor at Story Church – Nashville, TN)
Church Planting Strategist
Nashville Baptist Association