When God says, "Stay"

by Michele Husfelt on November 17

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to stay when life gets hard—when grief feels too heavy, when relationships get complicated, when the easier option would be to quietly slip away.

This past season has carried more loss than I ever expected: the passing of both my parents, and the heartbreak of losing a dear friend who chose to walk away when things got uncomfortable. Loss like that shakes you. It makes you question your footing, your worth, your relationships. And honestly? It makes the idea of pulling back feel safer than risking more pain.

But amid all this, God keeps reminding me of a lesson He started teaching years ago: sometimes the bravest, Jesus-like response we can give is to stay.

Don't stay in harmful situations—that’s not what I mean. But stay in the work. Stay present. Stay rooted in the slow, often unseen transformation God is doing beneath the surface.

I first learned this during a relationship a few years ago that endured an extremely difficult period. The kind of period where caring people, including my family, told me, “Just leave. This is unnecessary pain and heartache.” And honestly, leaving would have been simpler. It would have seemed justified. Clean. Final.

But every time I considered walking away, God refused to release me. He continually called me to stay; not to restrain me, but to cultivate something new within me. He wanted to grow me. To shape me. To teach me the characteristics of love I needed to learn: humility, forgiveness, honesty, and the kind of Jesus' grace that flows freely out of a heart that has been transformed.

Staying was difficult. It was messy and sometimes ugly. It required prayer, tears, uncomfortable conversations, and a willingness to examine my own heart instead of focusing on the other person’s actions and intentions.

But gratefully, we made it through with hearts that God healed and restored in ways we never could have imagined. We came out stronger, kinder, and with a deeper connection than before the storm. God redeemed what I once thought was too damaged to be restored.

That experience has been echoing in my heart during this new chapter of grief and loss. Because staying—wherever God asks you to stay—is rarely about comfort. It’s about faithfulness.

Scripture tells us, Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Sometimes “doing good” looks like endurance; choosing not to give up when it would be easier to walk away.

James 1:12 adds, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial… Blessed not because the trial itself is enjoyable, but because perseverance produces something holy in us.

Christian writers have echoed this idea for generations. C.S. Lewis noted that love is not just an emotion but a steady decision—a choice we repeat. Elisabeth Elliot often reminded believers that obedience is usually simply “the next right thing,” taken one step at a time.

And throughout Scripture, we see a God who stays near, present, and faithful. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of our lives; instead, He chooses to draw closer still.

So I’m learning to do the same: to stay close to Him. To remain open-hearted when loss tries to convince me to just walk away. To keep hope alive even when others choose to walk away. To stay present in the story God is still writing.

If you’re in a season where leaving feels easier than staying, I hope this resonates softly. Maybe God is calling you to stay. Staying when guided by The Holy Spirit might be the braver, deeper, more beautiful path. Not the easier one. But often the one where transformation occurs.

And hold this close: you don’t stand in the hard places alone. God stands with you, and so are those who love you deeply.