Have you ever been in a season of life where you questioned God’s goodness?
If you have, we want you to know that you are not alone in that. Dear friend, it’s easy to feel discouraged during life’s trials and valleys. But it’s in those moments when the enemy uses his tactics to discourage us the most.
Today, we want to share practical things to do when life is hard and God simply doesn’t feel like a good God. While you’re not the only one who has felt this way, we don’t want you to stay there.
He longs to be gracious to you, and He is going to bless you in your waiting. Keep trusting in Him.
We hope today’s episode helps you to feel encouraged to press on.
Episode Highlights:
Links Mentioned in Episode/Fine More on Purpose Beyond Motherhood and Twelve 12 Ministries :
Have you ever been in a season of life where you questioned God’s goodness?
If you have, we want you to know that you are not alone in that. Dear friend, it’s easy to feel discouraged during life’s trials and valleys. But it’s in those moments when the enemy uses his tactics to discourage us the most.
Today, we want to share practical things to do when life is hard and God simply doesn’t feel like a good God. While you’re not the only one who has felt this way, we don’t want you to stay there.
He longs to be gracious to you, and He is going to bless you in your waiting. Keep trusting in Him.
We hope today’s episode helps you to feel encouraged to press on.
Episode Highlights:
Links Mentioned in Episode/Fine More on Purpose Beyond Motherhood and Twelve 12 Ministries :
00:00.00
Holly Piorkowski
Hi guys welcome back to the purpose beyond motherhood podcast I'm Holly and I'm so excited that you're back and you're here with us to just hear from the lord. Hopefully he uses our mouths and our hearts just to speak into you today because we're just trying to be his vessels am I right? Nicole.
00:11.72
twelve12ministries
Yeah, yes, yes, amen to that? Thank you holly so good I know. Okay so I just want to let you know God is so good.
00:19.15
Holly Piorkowski
Any time girl.
00:23.17
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, tell me.
00:25.73
twelve12ministries
He's so good. He might not it doesn't feel good all the time but he is so good and I have a quick little. It's a little silly but I have a quick testimony to share with you I just had a birthday I had a birthday last month or whenever and I just turned 41 who and I have been begging.
00:31.40
Holly Piorkowski
Okay I welcome it.
00:44.76
twelve12ministries
My husband for a Peloton for I don't know how long like legit have been saying honey Please I need a Peloton like I'm getting older my metabolism like all the thing like I need a little help and I am like a lazy worker outer. Okay, and so.
00:47.80
Holly Piorkowski
Um, my guys. Um, yes.
00:57.58
Holly Piorkowski
I Hear you oh girl.
01:04.13
twelve12ministries
All that jumping and I can't I can't do it. My body's old.
01:06.14
Holly Piorkowski
Ah, you should hear my knees when I get up off the ground. So let's just remember that it's fine.
01:10.16
twelve12ministries
Like ah hundred percent and so so this is what happens like fast forward right? My my sister gets a peloton my brother and his wife get a peloton all my cousins are getting pelotons. My friends and I'm like not that okay not that I'm comparing or anything like that I'm like ok lord.
01:17.40
Holly Piorkowski
Um, love.
01:29.44
twelve12ministries
You value like what we ask for like I can come to you with anything anything big or small silly whatever because the lord is my friend like I can just talk to him and I was like Lord please I need I really want a bike a peloton for my birth.
01:30.19
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, he does.
01:37.74
Holly Piorkowski
Yes.
01:47.72
twelve12ministries
I was telling my brother this I was like I'm getting it and you know what I'm going to pay for it like I'm all bold in everything but then like quietly in my closet I'm like Lord can you please give me a peloton and I don't want to have to pay for it. Can it be a gift Lord god you know my finances please lord help.
01:51.82
Holly Piorkowski
Um, um, yes.
02:04.17
twelve12ministries
Literally my sweet husband surprises me with the bike. We've been gone. Yeah, we've been gone on a trip delaney delaney and I and my family and I come upstairs the room the doors close. The room is dark I turn on the lights and there is the Peloton with shoes.
02:06.28
Holly Piorkowski
What a doll.
02:22.62
Holly Piorkowski
Um, like oh ah, what a thoughtful man. Well oh girl I hear you.
02:22.66
twelve12ministries
All the things sweet balloons like I Yeah he so thoughtful but I'm giving God All of the glory for that I know it's so silly and things are things you know what I mean but it's Like. God is good and we can ask him for anything especially when we have a relationship with him. Um, and so I mean I have a thousand stories of when I felt that the lord was not Good. You know what? I mean in a thousand stories of when I've been hurt and you know the lord has told me all the things he's told me yes on some things he said no.
02:45.12
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, yes yeah.
02:53.80
Holly Piorkowski
Um, that is good I love you just tying in peloton and Jesus Peloton if you'd like to sponsor this. Thank you. But really I'm like that that is yeah I love that that that also shows just the.
02:57.90
twelve12ministries
And to wait. So.
03:03.22
twelve12ministries
I.
03:12.56
Holly Piorkowski
Like you already said just the personal side of God and he what he does to like show us that he hears even the little things like that I'm with you girl with you.
03:12.79
twelve12ministries
Yeah, yes, so even the little things I know well ok Holly but I want an I just because I love your perspective so much is just.
03:26.50
Holly Piorkowski
A.
03:28.98
twelve12ministries
What does it look like when we're feeling that God is not good like how can we just move forward and go on about our days and you know and interacting with others.
03:35.78
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, yeah, so this has been something that you and I have been talking about um off of off air if you will but I just feel like this is a constant thing that I'm learning and that is at the forefront of my mind like.
03:43.87
twelve12ministries
Topic to type.
03:54.71
Holly Piorkowski
Explaining to people that are walking through walking through infertility that may or may not have that perspective of God like they're in that that really rough patch or that really rough situation and the last thing that they want to hear is like God is good like and he is but that's not.
04:05.14
twelve12ministries
The. Yeah, yes, yeah, timing is everything.
04:13.54
Holly Piorkowski
The timing of that statement is not always there. Um, so this is just something that I've been trying like just sitting before the lord and being like what do you want me to do with this um because it it can get a little dicey theologically and that's not what I'm here to do I'm not here to like split hairs.
04:23.75
twelve12ministries
A.
04:31.30
twelve12ministries
Yeah.
04:33.15
Holly Piorkowski
And and show you my theology degree that I don't have um but I am here I just I don't have it and I think it's a little bit of a waste of time to split hairs on things like that you know, um so I the things that the lord has shown me is that.
04:35.89
twelve12ministries
I Love you.
04:42.40
twelve12ministries
Yeah.
04:51.16
Holly Piorkowski
Through our brokenheartedness through our weariness through our what feels like isolation and sometimes abandonment he is he is with you in that. Um, and so I've I have these like verses that I have pulled that have helped me um.
04:58.23
twelve12ministries
Um, yes.
05:10.19
Holly Piorkowski
I Don't have my but I like pulled just like the bullet points from it. Um, yes, yes.
05:13.56
twelve12ministries
That's ok because we want everyone to have a relationship with the Lord you know, like so just after this you know or during it just open your bible look through the scriptures look these up. We'll definitely put them in the show notes you know for you to enjoy your bible and read and yeah, so it's all good.
05:24.74
Holly Piorkowski
Oh yeah, okay bless you I appreciate that? Um, so open your bibles with me but really so hearing that he's close to the broken hearted that he's he states. Um, what is that Verse close to broken hearted and saves those that are crushed in spirit.
05:30.29
twelve12ministries
So good.
05:36.49
twelve12ministries
Yeah.
05:43.69
twelve12ministries
Oh that isn't that in the beatitudes hold on that I will look up really quick. Yes.
05:44.10
Holly Piorkowski
Um I don't have that reference written down but Google is your friend? Um, but I I think it's so well under that I wrote isaiah 38 none through 21 god longs to be gracious. He rises to show compassion. He's a god of justice and blessed are those who wait if you find that reference you just interrupt me but I just like looking at that looking at that verse I felt like the lord just told me to pull out like the bullet points for the girl who's like I don't want to open my bible.
06:05.91
twelve12ministries
Yeah, um oh I will okay.
06:19.91
Holly Piorkowski
I'm like at a rough spot with the lord. Well I'm here to tell you just those bullet points. He longs to be gracious to you. He rises to show you compassion. He is a God of Justice and he's going to bless you and you're waiting um the next little segment that I had was also from Isaiah I Really love Isaiah So just.
06:28.59
twelve12ministries
Um, yes.
06:34.63
twelve12ministries
Me too. Yes, yeah.
06:38.33
Holly Piorkowski
Throw that out there. Um, but isaiah 41 ten and thirteen do not fear he will strengthen and uphold you and then in verse thirteen he is our god who takes a hold of our right hand and says do not fear. Um, which none of that aligns with grief like.
06:43.78
twelve12ministries
Yes. Um.
06:56.21
twelve12ministries
Yeah, yeah.
06:56.30
Holly Piorkowski
Those characteristics are not. They're opposites. So I think just realizing that we don't serve a God of fear we don't serve a God of weakness. We don't serve a God that's going to leave us and not help us stand. Um, he wants to strengthen you he wants to hold you up and he wants to cast the fear away.
07:06.48
twelve12ministries
Um, yes, what.
07:13.40
twelve12ministries
Love it.
07:15.52
Holly Piorkowski
And I have 1 more um the last little section of isaiah because that's where we're camping out today I feel like a preacher kind of I say ah 40 verses 28 through 30 one isaiah 4028 through 31 he doesn't grow tired or weary he gives strength to the weary and restores the week
07:21.89
twelve12ministries
Um, you're so good.
07:28.78
twelve12ministries
Yes.
07:34.59
Holly Piorkowski
And those who hope will not be put to shame. Um I love that I actually have this song on my phone. It's I think it's some kids I think it's from a like a choir in Africa and one of the kids like speaks that entire verse. Um, and they just love it so much. Um, so yeah.
07:46.80
twelve12ministries
Oh who.
07:54.18
Holly Piorkowski
Those are just my little like the things that the Lord brought to the forefront of my mind to help me walk through that to remind me of God's goodness to remind me of how much the world comes against the goodness of God and wants us to doubt it. Um because I think that's the easy way out.
07:59.92
twelve12ministries
You know.
08:07.89
twelve12ministries
Yes.
08:13.68
Holly Piorkowski
And um, something that I have learned through even just the simplicity of pulling out these one-liners is that when you proclaim God's goodness over a situation that brings you heartbreak. Um, after a significant trial like.
08:18.48
twelve12ministries
E.
08:30.87
Holly Piorkowski
Finding that scripture I had typed this in my phone and there's somehow the word skim is in it So I was trying not to laugh when I saw that but something breaks when you proclaim God's goodness in his word over a trial and I believe that that cripples the enemy. So I think if you can find whatever it is that helps you whatever Verse whatever.
08:31.87
twelve12ministries
Um.
08:39.99
twelve12ministries
Come on. Yes.
08:50.52
Holly Piorkowski
Saying about his character just hold on to it. That's all that I wanted to say.
08:52.25
twelve12ministries
Yes, that was so good. Thank you friend for sharing that. Ok and I'm gonna still, we're gonna let everyone look look that verse up but I wasn't sure if you were talking about blessed um are those who Mourn and will be comforted or it's either.
08:57.66
Holly Piorkowski
Yes.
09:06.00
Holly Piorkowski
Um, soon.
09:11.00
twelve12ministries
That's in the beatitudes in Matthew 5 or it's either songm um 38 I'm sorry wo song 30 4 18 the lord is near to the broken heart that was up that that was it okay, um, 34 18 boom
09:11.68
Holly Piorkowski
Okay.
09:20.69
Holly Piorkowski
Um, that that was it. Okay yes, um, and I love and I know there's also the verse that talks about how he bottles every tear because I think with anxiety Grief loss. Um.
09:31.41
twelve12ministries
Yes, yes, yes.
09:39.80
Holly Piorkowski
Losing a child losing a loved one I think so often we can feel so isolated in that grief and I had a friend tell me that um I have my master's in counseling I don't ever use it. But my friend used hers so she like not that I that's not right I do use it but she used it like in the clinical sense. Um.
09:43.11
twelve12ministries
He.
09:56.16
twelve12ministries
Yeah.
09:59.50
Holly Piorkowski
And she talked about how god sits with us in our grief. He doesn't like look at us and like Pat us on the head like he's literally sitting down on the ground with you in the fetal position. He's not going to abandon you um and he knows every tearer that falls from your eyes. So I think I just have a friend going through some.
10:04.32
twelve12ministries
Um, you know? yes.
10:17.75
Holly Piorkowski
Stuff right now. So my mind's been more focused on this. Um and just the way that our brains work and how the enemy would love to cripple us with fear when really I think we can cripple him by having those verses at our minds even just like a 1 liner that you say like yeah.
10:19.28
twelve12ministries
Um.
10:25.47
twelve12ministries
Yes, yep.
10:33.39
twelve12ministries
Yes, those declarations man and then also because Offline we talked about just like a handful of things that we can just you know, really remember? um and so just I love this first one is just God can handle your anger and your frustration like.
10:37.50
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, yes.
10:43.16
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yeah, um, preach it Yes I For some reason I feel like the church doesn't want to remind us of that a lot. Um, especially because I think.
10:52.50
twelve12ministries
He can handle it.
10:57.48
twelve12ministries
Um.
11:02.30
Holly Piorkowski
Probably because pastors know that so many people are already angry. They don't want to add to that is probably their heart behind it? Yes, but I think I mean I remember screaming in my car after we lost our None baby and it was like a relieving.
11:05.65
twelve12ministries
Oh yeah, they don't want to elevate that? Yes, yeah, okay, um.
11:18.16
Holly Piorkowski
Like I didn't feel guilty about it I felt like the lord was like you got to get it out and you're not going to do this in front of anyone else. Um, so yeah I love that I Love that point I hope Yes yes girl Yeah Amen I have.
11:19.62
twelve12ministries
Um, yeah, yes, and then the None one write it out or journal it out. Don't let the feelings just stay in your head.
11:37.70
Holly Piorkowski
I have journals that I'm like hopefully can Lee Hopefully my daughter never finds these because I think she might be like Wow Mom was really honest with God about this but I remember being like I feel like you promised me something and it didn't happen and I'm mad about it and looking back I'm like those.
11:48.80
twelve12ministries
Yes, yeah.
11:53.89
Holly Piorkowski
Those feelings that I was having are valid but they don't align with the character of God but I I needed to get them out and it and I feel like the lord and I have healed those things from there.
11:56.30
twelve12ministries
Would make it. Yes, yeah and we've talked about this a couple of times today. But it's a perfect reminder of just to find scripture just to back it up.
12:09.87
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yes, yep, amen.
12:13.11
twelve12ministries
You know and I mean for just for the comfort and just know that these are God's words this is what he says and I love that you said just it is in line with God's character and you can trust that.
12:22.92
Holly Piorkowski
Yeah, yes, I'm now looking about this text that I sent you last night. So this is good I'm like wow I was on I was on fire for a moment at eight thirty three.
12:28.49
twelve12ministries
Ah, you were on a fire friend. Um, and then oh okay, this is this is my fave. Ah Melissa vanicee when we talked to her. She talked about this. She's in she talks about in the weight. But I love this about Jesus experienced pain and loss.
12:37.13
Holly Piorkowski
That's.
12:45.54
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yes, yeah, yes, yes at that like that like makes me emotional and and gives me goosewamps and fires me up at the same time because I'm like he.
12:48.37
twelve12ministries
He he experienced it too. But also he walked people through it so he understands like he understands.
13:04.73
Holly Piorkowski
This past weekend at Gateway Tim Ross preached about Lazarus and like Jesus just walking into that situation. But I just thinking about him having his friend like dead in a in a grave in a tomb. Um and just that he felt those emotions of like loss and heartache.
13:06.74
twelve12ministries
Oh yeah.
13:14.70
twelve12ministries
Um, yeah. Yes, no I know I love that That's so good which made me think of because one of my favorite things about Jesus is that he walked everywhere like he didn't rush. He wasn't in a rush to do anything or to go anywhere and that just like ah.
13:24.54
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yeah, sorry that just brought my mind there. Um, yeah I mean that it it is It is so baffling and it just makes me want to like.
13:41.90
twelve12ministries
This is that abases me, you know.
13:48.30
Holly Piorkowski
We talked about this but I just want to like jump through the screen when I'm watching the chosen and like hug him and I know he's just playing Jesus but I'm like man he just embodies it so well. What in my mind Jesus was like anyways. Yeah.
13:53.89
twelve12ministries
Ah, me too.
14:00.11
twelve12ministries
Yeah, so good. Okay, and then just this last point fire right here is don't let the enemy convince you you know of just that just all of the things because what you are experiencing that God has forgotten you you are not forgotten.
14:07.79
Holly Piorkowski
And.
14:14.35
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, yep, that is so good. Yes, and then after that I wrote this is asked the lord to show you where he was and is through each painful part of your story. So that's something that I was trained to do through my practicum with Freedom Ministry when I was working at gateway.
14:24.59
twelve12ministries
Yes, yeah. Um, the.
14:34.80
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yeah, asking the lord where he was and I've talked about that in my own story of delivery when I felt like the lord left the room and then later I realized all the things he was aligning and that he had never left. He was just also coordinating 9000 other details. Um to keep me safe and to to navigate.
14:44.99
twelve12ministries
Yeah, right? um.
14:53.90
Holly Piorkowski
My story the way it was supposed to go according to his well and his plan for me. But yeah I I don't know I'm just like fired up about this this situation of like calling out the enemy letting your anger out.
14:57.40
twelve12ministries
What is it exactly you know? yeah.
15:08.10
twelve12ministries
Yeah, like yeah.
15:12.44
Holly Piorkowski
Getting the scriptural backing understanding Jesus and god understands the heartbreak I mean the lord watched his son be crucified like that. He also knows like it's I don't know so yeah, just I just want to do all I can to shut the enemy up in women's ears when it comes to.
15:15.43
twelve12ministries
Um, yes, but right? um.
15:26.61
twelve12ministries
Yeah amen.
15:29.67
Holly Piorkowski
This and really when it comes to anything but really, especially when it comes to motherhood and our identity as moms Oh girl? Yes, um.
15:33.75
twelve12ministries
Yes, yeah in the infertility piece and just again that yes God is good. You know it might not feel like it. You might not be able to see that but again, just really remembering that He's always there. He's always with you.
15:45.86
Holly Piorkowski
Um, yes, so good. Your your voice calms me just you know that app that has like the I don't do Meditations but it has someone's voice like talking I feel like you we should sell your voice to do that.
15:53.12
twelve12ministries
Ah, who.
15:58.99
twelve12ministries
Ah, yes, oh my goodness you're so precious. Let me tell you about an app really quick Delaney has the moshy app have you heard of that they tell stories you know it in helps just get your kiddos to sleep I just yeah I I really want to.
16:03.93
Holly Piorkowski
But really, no.
16:12.14
Holly Piorkowski
Um, Wow you should I would love to fall asleep listening to read me a story. Um, so I'm envisioning you doing some like spoken word with some dance moves.
16:17.55
twelve12ministries
Lend my voice or that and then of course my dance moves like if they'll let me do a dance and then my voice I'm I'm with it.
16:31.73
Holly Piorkowski
Can we make that happen we can. We can make that happen. Okay.
16:33.19
twelve12ministries
Holly I just love you. Of course, let's do it. Let's make it happen. Well friend I loved love loved our conversation today I mean I I am hopeful too just it was a really really really great reminder that.
16:41.00
Holly Piorkowski
Me too. Um.
16:49.17
twelve12ministries
God's always with me I'm not alone I'm not forgotten in there is hope in the hard things.
16:54.20
Holly Piorkowski
Yes, yeah I mean I think just asking him to strengthen you on a daily basis whether you have the scripture for it or not. He's not going to judge you if you don't know where to find it in the bible I think just asking him for what you need and.
17:07.46
twelve12ministries
Amen now.
17:09.20
Holly Piorkowski
Not feeling like he's going to judge you for not knowing the reference for it because I think people get caught up in that and the lord does not care. He wants your heart in the right place None So there you go. There's my pep talk for today I love you.
17:10.41
twelve12ministries
Yes, they do yes amen. Ah I'm fired up who you guys. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode. We are so grateful for you guys. We look forward to talking with you guys next time.
17:27.46
Holly Piorkowski
Yes.
17:33.33
Holly Piorkowski
Amen see you later.