How to stay close to Allah in times of hardship?

It becomes so hard to stay connected with Allah in times of hardship. Because we are worried and put our minds to obsessing over why things are not going the way we expect them to, Shaytan finds an easy entrance into our minds and settles within our thoughts, filling us with despair. He makes us hopeless and ungrateful and then we constantly find things to complain about.

But Allah says, “Do not despair in my mercy.”

Despairing in Allah’s rahmah is kufr. Shaytan keeps trying to push us there, this is a battle we are fighting within ourselves, and you know what this is? Even having hope in times of hardship is Jihad. Because we are trying so hard to fight the despair. The present looks so dark. Always. But when you are in the present and are complaining how dark it is, you will realise that some things in the past were better, there was light a couple of times. This is an ongoing cycle.

We are constantly living in the past or in the future, we think the light is there. But, Imaan, the light is here too. In the present. How did we fail to notice it? Recall. Are we making enough shukr for the light no matter how small it looks? The more we make shukr, the more we will begin to notice on how often the light visits us.

Allah says in the Qur’an, “If you give thanks, I will give you more.” Sometimes, even if you give thanks.. some things will still not go the way you want them to. This is also Allah’s Rahmah. It looks dark right now, but it always happens in the future that you will make shukr for how things went the way they did. Everything is not within our control, some things are better left for Allah to handle.

But we are so greedy. We want to take care of everything because we trust ourselves so much, its funny. What has made us so confident? When Allah has created everything and theres everything within His control, why do we not let Him handle a few things, at least? Agreed, we must be striving hard for what we want, but some things come true only with du’aa and by seeking the help of Allah. Why do we intervene in the natural flow of things and then complain when it gets messed up?

But, then there are also times when no matter how close you are to Allah, things still get messed up. Notice what you do in those times. Do you stay connected with Allah? Or do you spend it complaining and despairing about how things look for you?

If you find yourself turning to Allah every time hardship strikes, how is it a mess? How can you say things are messed up? You have the Creator of everything by your side! This is also Allah’s rahmah. Subhanallah. He wants you there! Calling on to Him.

Isn’t it beautiful?

And, I know some things look like once you lose it, you won’t find something as good as it again, but if it’s destined for you to lose it, then Allah promises for those who trust Allah’s plan, He will replace whatever you lost with something better.

Allah gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. But also, Allah is expiating our sins every time we are in hardship. The Akhirah is way more important than this present, fleeting life. Let’s focus there. And if this hardship polishes us and brings us any close to Allah and helps us fix ourselves, then even this is Rahmah. Inshaa Allah.