Day 5 - Love That Holds in the Storm 

by Nadia Reis

Cardiff, Wales

Scripture Reading:

Romans 5:3-4    

Isaiah 43:2

Colossians 1:11  

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Romans 8:35-39

Hardship can distort our vision, making God feel distant. But thankfully, His love is not measured by our feelings or circumstances. It is measured by His character. The same God who walks with us in joy remains with us in grief, loss, and uncertainty. 

Hardships come in many forms—loss, fear, uncertainty, grief—and they often arrive without warning. In the midst of them, God’s love does not stand at a distance nor does He withdraw. 

God’s unshakable love does not promise the absence of hardship, but it promises His presence within it. It does not promise an immediate rescue from the storm, but it promises we will not be swallowed by it. We may feel shaken, but we are not abandoned. God draws nearer, steady and faithful, even when we struggle to sense Him. 

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2 

This verse assumes movement—passing through, walking through. Trouble is not portrayed as a destination, but as a passage. The waters, rivers, and fire represent overwhelming forces: chaos, danger, suffering beyond human control. God does not deny their intensity; instead, He limits their power.

Difficulty is expected in the life of faith. What changes everything is the assurance, “I will be with you.” Presence, not prevention, is the core promise. God accompanies His people through the very places that threaten them.

This does not mean the experience will be painless, but that it will not be destructive in the final sense. God’s faithfulness preserves identity and purpose even when circumstances feel consuming.

Safe Passage

Isaiah 43:2 offers steady reassurance: safe passage through hardship. We are held, accompanied, and ultimately sustained by God’s unchanging presence.

This takes me back to September 2025. I have been working as a special educational needs teaching assistant for more than 10 years now, but a particular situation I faced in September was definitely the most challenging hardship I have ever come across in terms of my career.

Day by day it affected me physically and emotionally. There were times when I cried while at the playground, saying to myself, I can't do this anymore! But I felt like I had to push through and I didn't want to give up even though it was extremely hard.

The amazing revelation that I learnt about God's unshakable love in the midst of my hardship was that I had to constantly surrender that burden to Jesus, not just once but every day, so that I could make it through. I needed to express my feelings more to God and pray all the time. As a result of that, God drew me closer to Him. I had to rely on God's strength to get me through each day. I learnt to wait on the Lord...patiently…and trust that God would help me. God was also building up my faith, refining my character, helping me to be more aware of the limits of what I could handle and recognising the signs not just for that time but preparing me for other situations that will come along.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Tribulation leads to Perseverance

God kept me going in His strength and in His perfect timing. He pulled me out of a situation that could have become even more aggravated. God is so faithful that He sorted it out. I didn't have to do anything. I only had to surrender my burden to God and trust that He would rescue me. 

After this hardship challenge, I also understood that joy as a strength means joy in God. Joy in God equips you to endure trials, discouragement, and daily challenges. It isn't a superficial happiness, it empowers and sustains (Nehemiah 8:10). 

 "... being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,"

Colossians 1:11

Sometimes God’s love that holds in the storm feels like endurance—the strength to take the next breath. God’s love that holds in the storm invites trust over fear. In hardship, God’s unshakable love becomes a refuge. It holds us when we cannot hold ourselves; not because everything will quickly make sense, but because His love is unshakable.

Strength we did not know we had and endurance that carries us through each day are quiet testimonies of God’s sustaining love. The storm may leave scars, but it does not strip us of hope. Even when faith feels fragile, His love is unshakable.

In choosing to trust God's unshakable love during hardship we will find the strength to endure, knowing that whatever we face, we do not face it alone.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What words or phrases stand out to you most in Romans 5:3-4? What practices (prayer, Scripture, community) help you keep going when you feel like giving up?

2. Read Isaiah 43:2. Why do you think God emphasizes His presence rather than escape from difficulty? How does knowing God is with you change the way you face hardship? 

3. How does Colossians 1:11 invite you to view weakness as an opportunity for God's power? Which is more challenging for you right now: endurance or patience? Why?

Today I Will:

Reflect on your relationships in the church. What is one practical way you can support someone in church who is going through a hardship? How can we remind each other of hope when someone is struggling?

About the Author:

Nadia Reis was born in Madeira, Portugal, but has lived in Cardiff for almost 20 years. In March 2021, a year after the Cardiff Church Mission came to plant the church, Nadia was the first disciple to be baptised. She is currently the coordinator of the Cardiff church’s Kids Kingdom Ministry. She works as a special needs education supply teaching assistant in different primary schools. During the half-term holidays, she enjoys spending time with her niece and sister, and their dog and cat.