Find encouragement and peace, friend

I kid you not—before every new song I release, as is the case right now, and even more so before each album, intense storms rage in my life. In those moments, I always say to myself, "Never again!" It's probably similar to a mother's feelings after a difficult birth: "That's it! I never want to go through this again!"

I have to smile when I receive letters saying, "Thanks for your vulnerability on Instagram or Facebook today and for being honest about how hard it is." When hard times and challenges come my way, I struggle the same as anyone else, and the tears definitely flow. But I choose not to share these personal struggles with the whole world right away because it would give the negative feelings more room to run. Instead, I come away with God and remain silent before Him. When you are silent before God, you see things that only He can show you…

It's in your difficult moments that you may think, "I just can't handle this anymore!" But when you bring those hardships before God instead of texting your friends that you're down, that's when God reveals His awesome power in your life.

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!" (Psalm 105:4, NKJV) 

friend, you don't have to be strong on your own! You don't have to find all the solutions and answers by yourself. You don't have to invent a cure for your pain. You already have it all in Jesus! Ask for His presence and His strength, and you'll experience what He promises: "'Ask and it will be given to you…'"! (Matthew 7:7, NIV) 

Even if you don't get an answer immediately, even if you don't see the solution right away, you can continue to trust that He will respond because He is God! He is faithful, and He loves you, friend!

You are a miracle!