As women, we carry many roles—wives, mothers, professionals, ministry leaders, friends, daughters, caregivers, and members of our churches and communities.

Most of these are good things. But even good things can begin competing for our time, attention, and energy.

Before we know it, we’re being pulled in so many directions that we have to stop and ask:

How do I abide in Christ in the middle of a busy world?

Have you ever found yourself asking, “Why is this happening?” when suffering arrives without warning?

When Suffering Comes Unexpectedly

Sometimes suffering arrives without warning.

One moment, life feels familiar and steady. The next, a phone call changes everything. A diagnosis interrupts your plans. A relationship breaks. An accident leaves you shaken. A storm comes through and takes more than you ever imagined.

You may find yourself asking, “Why is this happening?” or “What did I do to deserve this?”

At our last Sarasota Women of Faith Coffee Date, we talked about suffering. We heard testimonies from women who had walked through unexpected pain—not necessarily because of something they had done wrong or because of their sin, but simply because we live in a broken and fallen world. Click to listen to the full article.