Day 87 of 100 Days of Hope

This Isn’t Going to Last Forever

When you’re in the middle of a hard season, it can feel endless. The worry loops. The questions multiply. The weight of uncertainty settles in your chest and convinces you that this is just how life is now.

But it isn’t.

I know this because I’ve lived it—and because I’ve seen it again and again in my own life and in the lives of others.

Not long ago, I was reading through one of my old journals. Page after page reflected a version of me that was struggling deeply. I was a new mom trying to find my footing, wondering where I belonged, questioning my relationships, and carrying expectations I didn’t yet know how to release. Looking back now, I can see how tender that season was. I was doing the very best I could with what I knew at the time.

And I didn’t know then what I know now.

That things do get better.

What Time and Growth Reveal

Over time, my mind cleared.
I found connection I never thought possible.
Peace replaced constant anxiety.
Joy returned in quiet, surprising ways.
My future felt bright again.
I released expectations and discovered freedom.
I learned how to be myself—without apology.

None of that happened overnight. It happened slowly, gently, and often without me noticing in the moment.

This is something I want you to remember: hard seasons don’t last forever. They are not permanent states of being. They are chapters—not the whole story.

The Downward Slope That Rises Again

We all experience moments of transition—identity shifts, emotional upheaval, new paths we didn’t ask for. These moments can feel disorienting and lonely. But they are often the very places where we are being shaped for what’s next.

I think of these seasons as pins on a map. They mark where we’ve been, not where we stay. Sometimes the path dips downward before it rises again. And when we eventually look back, we can see how that descent led to strength, wisdom, and clarity we couldn’t have gained any other way.

When You’re Too Close to See the Outcome

I recently spoke with a neighbor who once struggled deeply with two of their sons. At the time, it felt relentless—worry, conflict, exhaustion. Now those boys are grown, thriving, and have families of their own. The relationship they share today is loving and strong.

Looking back, my neighbor can see the miracles that were unfolding all along. But while living it, those miracles were impossible to imagine.

That’s often how life works. When we’re in the thick of it, the outcome feels invisible. Only with time do we gain perspective.

Growth Happens in the Hard Places

What if the difficult season you’re in right now isn’t a punishment—but a preparation?

Growth often requires pruning. Stretching. Letting go of what has weighed us down so something new can emerge. These moments invite us to try life differently, to soften, to trust, and to open ourselves to new possibilities.

My hope for you today is this:
Pause and notice how far you’ve already come. Even if you don’t feel “there” yet, you are not where you started.

And remember—whatever you’re walking through right now will not last forever. There is more ahead of you than you can see. More peace. More clarity. More joy.

Hold on. The road rises again.

Here is a short video to hear more.

Much love,

Julie Burningham

The Hope Coach