[6 minute read] 

Hi friends,

Now that we’ve shared some of our journey, we want to offer encouragement for yours.

A Year That Felt Like a Marathon

For many of us, this year has been difficult. At the very beginning of 2025, God spoke to Martin about the year being “a marathon,” emphasizing endurance through hardship. He spoke to Cassie about “rapid and massive movement” that would feel uncontrollable, but He also gave clear instruction: “Do not be intimidated. There is nothing to fear.”

It’s always striking to compare how we interpret what God speaks with what actually unfolds.

Looking back, we are deeply grateful for those words because they became a steady source of strength and sanity when circumstances felt tumultuous. In many ways, the year felt like a storm that tore through every area of our lives. It was, at times, uncontrollable, frightening, confusing, and exhausting.

Throughout the year, we received prayer requests from others facing similar battles, and perhaps you can relate as well. While it is heavy to hold the struggles of others, we also found encouragement in realizing that God was working through something within a portion of His Body. Our hope in sharing this is that it brings encouragement to you too.

You Are Not Alone in Your Suffering

If you have endured suffering this year, whether it is behind you or still very present, you are not alone. And God has not lost control, even if it feels like your closeness with Him has been impacted.

You may not sense His presence. You may feel like you’ve pushed Him to the side in your exhaustion or frustration. But He has not left you. His grace and mercy toward you have not run out.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
– Hebrews 4:15

Jesus understands every part of your human experience, and He has compassion for you.

Looking Back to See God’s Faithfulness

This year didn’t feel like we fought through it as much as we crawled, sometimes even being dragged by grace itself. But now, when we look back, we can see how far God carried us without us even realizing it.

There were moments when we didn’t know how we would get through…and yet here we are.

It’s incredible to look back and see what God carried us through when we had no strength of our own. And from that place, we find ourselves able to worship Him for His unfailing goodness in a deeper way.

It’s easy to move from one crisis to the next without pausing to recognize:

“That thing I was so worried about…God actually resolved it and I've already moved on..."

If you haven’t taken time to look back on this year, we encourage you to do so. Reflect on how far God has carried you. Remember the things that once felt impossible but are no longer a struggle.

From this place of worship, our faith is renewed and we are strengthened to keep going.

Our Suffering is Temporary

Romans 8:18 teaches us:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.”

Romans 8:26–28 adds:

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Truths to Hold Onto

• What we face here is temporary.
  It will not always be like this.

• What we endure now cannot compare to being with Jesus.
  There is a glory ahead that outweighs every present trouble.

• God is forming Christ in us through every season, especially the hard ones.
  There is purpose in our suffering.

• And when we no longer know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us.
  When words fail, He prays perfectly.

These times of suffering, when we are at the end of ourselves, are invitations to grow deeper in trust, deeper in hope, and deeper in relationship with God. They become our own unique history with Him, teaching us to personally experience that He works all things together for good for those who love Him.

Need Prayer?

Thank you for reading, praying, and walking with us as Eternal King Ministries continues to take shape. We are grateful to be on this journey with you and are praying for you.

If you would like specific prayer or ministry, we would be honored to stand with you. Please reach out through our contact page at Eternal King Ministries.