Life inevitably gives us difficult seasons at some point.
It may be a time marked by loss, uncertainty, illness, or significant personal challenges that put our strength to the test.
Going through such a phase can feel overwhelming, and we may experience hopelessness, sorrow, and isolation.
Even though it can be hard to see it in the moment, every difficult phase also holds the potential to teach us something about ourselves, to grow our inner strength, and—yes—to help us mature as human beings.
Accept it
When we find ourselves in a hard season, the first—and perhaps most important—step is to accept the situation as it is.
Often, we spend a lot of energy wishing things were different and trying to avoid facing the pain or the problems we are up against.
Acceptance does not mean giving up or resigning.
It means recognizing reality as it is and realizing that we must deal with it.
When we accept a difficult phase, we conserve strength—yes, we free up energy—that would otherwise be spent resisting or denying what’s happening. That allows us to begin to find ways of coping, instead of being paralyzed by it.
Acceptance also opens up the possibility of developing our resilience, because we come to understand that even though we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can certainly choose how to respond.
Feel it
In hard times, it’s tempting to suppress the emotions that come with them—whether it’s grief, anger, disappointment, or fear.
But emotions that are suppressed tend to return later, often with even more intensity.
An essential part of getting through a difficult phase is allowing yourself to feel the emotions that arise.
By acknowledging them and giving them space to exist, we create a healthy way to process them.
Feeling pain or sorrow does not make us weak. On the contrary: this is a moment to be strong enough to be weak.
Because it takes strength to be vulnerable and to meet our emotions honestly.
When we allow ourselves to feel what we feel, we begin to process the pain in a way that helps us move through the difficult terrain, rather than getting stuck in it.
Endure it
Resilience is the ability to get through hardship and rise again after setbacks.
It doesn’t mean we’ll never feel crushed or overwhelmed—but it means we carry a deep inner capacity to rise again, no matter how hard the fall.
To build resilience is to grow a belief within ourselves that we can survive what we’re facing.
You’ve got this!
Resilience is also about the small victories—getting out of bed, taking one small step forward, or finding a spark of joy in the everyday, even when life feels dark and heavy.
These small acts are often what keep us going. Over time, they build a sense of mastery and inner strength.
Every time we take a step forward, we strengthen that core. And even when we have to take two steps back, let that be a moment to reset your stride, not to give up.
Share it
When going through hardship, it can be tempting to withdraw and isolate ourselves.
But support from others is often a crucial factor in finding our way through tough seasons.
People around us—family, friends, or professionals—can be sources of comfort, understanding, and new perspectives when we feel overwhelmed.
Sharing our pain with others can be an essential part of healing our pain.
When we dare to be open and vulnerable, we often discover that we’re not alone in what we’re going through.
Others can offer support and guidance—and sometimes, just being heard can bring immense relief.
They may even help us see new options and solutions we wouldn’t have come up with on our own.
Look for teachers and lessons in everything and everyone—you never know where your next good idea or breakthrough might come from.
Learn and grow from it
Even though it may sound paradoxical when we’re in the thick of it, it’s often in our darkest moments that we learn the most about ourselves.
You’ve likely heard the phrase so often it almost feels cliché:
“Hardship teaches us about our strengths and weaknesses.”
Still, it’s true.
And hear this: difficult seasons force us to ask the hard questions—what really matters to me? What do I stand for? And how do I actually want to live?
Don’t waste a crisis.
Use it to reconnect with your values and your core.
Many people who’ve walked through life’s trenches come out the other side more mature, more resilient, and more grounded.
They learn to appreciate life’s good moments and to live more genuinely—aligned with their true selves.
Growth doesn’t always come easily, but it often comes when we meet hardship with an open mind and a teachable heart.
On my graduation card (no: Russekort) in 1992, I wrote:
“When autumn came, I caught sight of the sky—between the branches.”
Take that with you into the seasons when light grows thin and darkness feels thicker than it should.
There are good things to discover in all kinds of days.
In the autumn of 1992, at 18 years old, I had to have my kidneys removed—they were failing—and I got to borrow one of my dad’s. (Thanks, Dad!)
Back then, life felt a bit like a slippery bar of soap—no matter how hard I tried to grasp it, it kept slipping out of reach.
Amid everything that felt frightening as Halloween and the “autumn” of my life, there were also heavenly discoveries—within myself, through other people, and in my faith.
“In what felt broken, there were pieces that eventually could be pieced together into a life with far more gratitude, clarity, and security than I’d known before.” – Roald
Endure it
One of the hardest parts about enduring a difficult phase is that it takes time.
There are no quick fixes for deep pain or hard circumstances, and sometimes it can feel like we’ll never “see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Let’s be clear: Time does not heal wounds.
Time, in itself, is just tick-tock. That’s it.
And yet, time is an important part of the healing process. Here’s how I see it:
Over time, our emotions begin to settle.
Over time, our perspective begins to shift.
Over time, new possibilities begin to appear.
It’s essential to be patient with ourselves in this process.
There is no right or wrong way to get through difficult seasons, and everyone walks their own unique path.
Still, I’d say: give yourself the time and space to process, feel, learn, grow, and heal—because that’s what it takes to get through the hard seconds and come out stronger on the other side.
Yes—enduring a difficult phase in life is a real test for both the mind and the heart.
But it is in those hardest of times that we find our greatest strength—because that’s when we need it most.
DREIESKIVA|Roald Kvam 
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