6th - 12th July 2026
Few of us would choose fragile seasons. We would rather avoid grief, disappointment, illness, loneliness, uncertainty and unanswered questions. Yet these experiences are part of living in a fallen world.
The good news of the gospel is not that we are spared every diagnosis, protected from every loss or shielded from every disappointment and uncertainty. The good news is that in every one of those moments, Jesus is present with us. He walks with us in our pain, strengthens us in our weakness and reminds us that suffering never has the final word. Even in our most fragile seasons, we are never alone.
Throughout Scripture we discover a God who draws near to broken people. He is not distant from our pain or indifferent to our struggles. He sees our tears, hears our prayers and understands our fears. Jesus himself experienced sorrow, rejection, grief and suffering. He knows what it means to walk through difficult seasons.
This week reminds us that fragile seasons are not evidence of God's absence. Often they become places where we experience his presence most deeply.
As you read each day, remember that God welcomes honest prayers. You do not need to hide your questions, fears or disappointments from him. Bring them honestly before him and allow his word to strengthen your heart.
Pause and Reflect
As you begin this week, take a few moments to consider:
Is there a burden I have been carrying on my own?
What disappointment, grief or concern do I need to bring honestly before God?
Where have I experienced God's comfort in difficult seasons before?
Who might need encouragement, support or prayer from me this week?
Take time to commit these things to the Lord before continuing.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
Close to the Broken-Hearted
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:17–22 (NIV)
Life has a way of exposing our fragility. There are seasons when we feel strong and capable, able to face whatever comes our way. Yet there are also seasons when disappointment, grief, illness, uncertainty or loss leave us feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. In those moments it can be easy to wonder where God is or why he seems distant.
Psalm 34 offers a remarkable promise. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Notice that God does not draw near only when we have everything together. He does not wait until our faith is strong or our questions have been answered. He does not turn away from our weakness but gently comes alongside us with compassion and love.
The Lord does not turn away from our tears, our fears, or our struggles. He meets us in them.
Many of us would gladly avoid difficult seasons if given the choice. Yet it is often in these very moments that we become most aware of God's presence. When our own strength is exhausted, we discover the sufficiency of his strength.
Whatever burden you are carrying today, remember that you do not carry it alone. The Lord is near.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God who draws near to those who are hurting. Thank you that I do not need to hide my struggles from you or pretend that everything is fine. You know my heart completely. You know the things that bring me joy and the things that cause me pain.
Father, when life feels difficult, help me remember that your presence is not determined by my circumstances. When I feel weak, remind me that your strength is made perfect in weakness. When I feel alone, reassure me that you are close.
Today I bring before you every burden that I carry. The worries, disappointments, fears and concerns that weigh heavily upon me. Help me place them into your hands and trust your loving care.
I pray also for others who are struggling today. May they know your comfort, your peace and your presence. Draw near to those who are grieving, lonely, anxious or discouraged.
Thank you that your love never fails and your compassion never fail. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
TUESDAY
Jesus Enters Our Grief
On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” John 11:17–27 & 32-36 (NIV)
Few verses in Scripture are as simple and yet as profound as these two words: "Jesus wept."
Standing outside the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus knew what he was about to do. He knew resurrection was coming. He knew death would not have the final word. Yet before the miracle took place, Jesus entered fully into the sorrow of those around him. He wept.
Those tears remind us that Jesus is not distant from our pain. He does not stand apart from human suffering. He understands grief from personal experience. There is nothing we experience that is unfamiliar to him. The Lord who invites us to trust him is also the Lord who understands us completely.
Sometimes we imagine that faith requires us to suppress our emotions or hide our struggles. Yet Jesus shows us something different. Sorrow and faith can co-exist. Tears are not evidence of weak faith. Often they are simply evidence of love.
Whatever grief or disappointment you carry today, bring it honestly to Jesus. He understands.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you understand human sorrow. Thank you that when you walked this earth, you experienced grief, loss, disappointment and pain. Today I bring before you the things that weigh heavily upon my heart. You know the disappointments I carry, the losses I have experienced and the concerns that sometimes keep me awake at night.
Help me to be honest with you. Give me courage to bring my hurts into your presence rather than carrying them alone. Remind me that my tears matter to you and that you care deeply about every aspect of my life.
I pray for those who are grieving today. Those who miss loved ones. Those facing illness. Those carrying burdens that few people know about. Draw near to them and surround them with your comfort.
Thank you that because of your death and resurrection, grief never has the final word. Help me hold firmly to the hope that is found in you. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Learning to Pray Honestly
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13 (NIV)
“How long, Lord?" These are not the words of someone who has lost faith. They are the words of someone struggling to understand.
It is one of the great strengths of the Psalms that they give us permission to pray honestly. David does not pretend everything is fine. He speaks openly about his confusion, pain and disappointment. He voices the questions that many of us carry but are often reluctant to express.
There can sometimes be a temptation to think that prayer requires us to have everything neatly packaged and carefully worded. Yet throughout Scripture we find God's people bringing their true thoughts and emotions before him.
God is not threatened by our questions. He is not offended by our struggles. He already knows what is in our hearts and invites us to bring it honestly before him.
What is remarkable about Psalm 13 is that David's circumstances do not appear to change by the end of the psalm. Yet something within him changes. As he pours out his heart before God, his focus gradually shifts from his problems to God's faithfulness.
I wonder how often this has been your cry?
Sometimes the greatest gift of prayer is not immediate answers but renewed trust.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come before you exactly as I am. Thank you that I do not need to hide my questions, doubts, fears or frustrations. You know me completely and still welcome me into your presence. Today I bring before you the things I struggle to understand. The prayers that seem unanswered. The situations that leave me confused. The burdens that feel heavy and the concerns that seem to linger.
Help me not to carry these things alone. Teach me to bring them honestly before you and trust that you are listening, inclining your ear towards me! When answers are slow in coming, give me patience. When circumstances do not change as quickly as I would like, strengthen my faith.
May I discover that you are enough, even in seasons of uncertainty. Help me to remember your faithfulness in the past and trust your goodness for the future. Thank you that you hear every prayer and that your love for me never changes. In Jesus' name. Amen.
THURSDAY
The God of All Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (NIV)
Paul describes God as "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." What a beautiful description of our heavenly Father.
There are many things we turn to when life becomes difficult. We seek solutions, advice, distractions or reassurance. While these things can be helpful, none of them can offer the deep comfort that God alone provides. God's comfort is not simply the removal of pain. It is his presence with us in the midst of it.
Presence is what makes the difference.
It is the assurance that we are loved, known and cared for even when circumstances remain difficult. Paul also reminds us that God's comfort is not intended to stop with us. The comfort we receive often equips us to comfort others. Difficult experiences have a way of deepening our compassion and helping us understand the struggles of those around us. God rarely wastes our pain.
Prayer
Father of compassion, thank you that you are the God of all comfort. Thank you that when life is difficult, I am not left to face it alone. Father, I bring before you those areas of my life where I need your comfort today. You know the struggles, disappointments and concerns that weigh upon my heart. Meet me in those places and remind me that I am deeply loved and securely held by you.
Help me not only to receive your comfort but also to share it with others. Open my eyes to those who may be hurting, lonely or discouraged, who are walking a similar road to me. Give me wisdom to know how to encourage them and the boldness to reach out, when you prompt me.
May the comfort I receive from you overflow into the lives of those around me. Thank you for your compassion, your patience and your unfailing love. Amen.
FRIDAY
God Is Still Working
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:22–28 (NIV)
One of the most difficult things about fragile seasons is that they can make us feel as though nothing is happening. We pray and wait. We hope and wait. We long for change and wait.
During those times it can be tempting to conclude that God is inactive or distant. Yet Romans 8 reminds us that God is always at work, even when we cannot see what he is doing. Paul does not minimise suffering. He knows life can be difficult. He knows there are seasons marked by pain, loss and uncertainty. Yet he also knows that God is able to work through all things for the good of those who love him.
That does not mean every circumstance is good. It means God is able to redeem even the hardest circumstances and weave them into his purposes. Many of us can look back and recognise seasons that made little sense at the time but later became places of growth, dependence and unexpected blessing. God sees the whole picture while we often see only one small part. Today, if you cannot see what God is doing, trust that he is still working.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that your work in my life does not depend upon my ability to see or understand it. Thank you that even when circumstances feel confusing, you remain faithful and active. Help me to believe this truth! Help me trust you in the waiting. Give me patience when answers seem delayed and hope when progress appears slow. Strengthen my faith when doubts arise and remind me that your purposes are always good.
Father, take the situations that seem broken, disappointing or unfinished and use them for your glory. Help me believe that nothing is wasted in your hands. Redeem what feels lost and bring purpose from difficulty. Give me confidence to keep walking forward, knowing that you are leading me even when the road ahead is unclear.
Thank you that you are working in ways I cannot always see and that your plans for me are good shaped by wisdom, love and grace. Amen.
SATURDAY
Through the Deep Waters
But now, this is what the Lord says he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Isaiah 43:1–3 (NIV)
There is something deeply comforting about God's words through Isaiah: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."
Notice what God does not say. He does not promise that his people will never face deep waters. He does not promise that life will always be easy or free from hardship. Instead, he promises his presence.
The promise of Scripture is not that following Jesus removes every difficulty from our lives. The promise is that we never face those difficulties alone because God is with us. Many of us can point to seasons when we would never have chosen the path we were walking. Yet looking back, we can also see God's faithfulness, his provision and his presence along the way. Often it is only in hindsight that we recognise how closely he was walking beside us.
Whatever deep waters you may be facing today, remember that the Lord who calls you by name also walks with you through them. Presence is what makes the difference.
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for your promise to be with me. Thank you that I never walk through any season alone. Today, I bring before you the deep waters I may be facing. You know the challenges, fears and uncertainties that weigh upon my heart. Help me remember that these things are not bigger than you.
When I feel afraid, give me courage. When I feel overwhelmed, give me peace. When I cannot see the way ahead, help me trust the One who already knows the path.
Thank you for the many times you have carried me through difficult seasons in the past. Help me remember your faithfulness and draw strength from it today. May I walk forward with confidence, knowing that you are with me, guiding me, sustaining me and holding me securely in your love. Amen.
SUNDAY
The Peace of God
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4–9 (NIV)
There is a difference between peace and the absence of problems. Most of us naturally think we will experience peace when circumstances improve, when answers arrive, when relationships are restored, when finances are secure or when the future becomes clearer.
Yet Paul writes these words while facing significant hardship. His circumstances were far from ideal and yet he speaks repeatedly about joy, prayer and peace.
The peace Paul describes is not dependent upon favourable circumstances. It is rooted in the presence of God. Notice the invitation he gives. Rather than carrying our anxieties alone, we are encouraged to bring everything to God in prayer.
Not some things. Everything.
The large concerns and the small concerns. The things that keep us awake at night and the things that quietly sit in the background of our minds. As we bring our worries before God, something remarkable happens. The peace of God begins to guard our hearts and minds.
The circumstances may not immediately change, but we begin to experience the steadying presence of God within them. As we conclude this week, perhaps the greatest invitation is simply this: bring everything to him and leave it there.
Prayer
Gracious heavenly Father, thank you that you invite me to bring everything before you in prayer. Thank you that I never have to carry my worries, fears and anxieties alone.
Today I bring before you those things that concern me most. The situations that occupy my thoughts, the questions that remain unanswered and the burdens that weigh heavily upon my heart. Help me not simply to tell you about them but to entrust them to you.
Guard my heart and mind with your peace and the assurance of your presence. Protect me from becoming overwhelmed by fear, worry or discouragement. Help me focus on what is true, noble, right, pure and praiseworthy.
Thank you for your faithfulness throughout this week. Thank you for your presence in both the joys and the struggles. As I look ahead to the days to come, help me walk forward with confidence, knowing that the God who has carried me this far will continue to lead and sustain me.
May your peace rest upon me, my family and those I love. Amen.