Easter Renewal: Finding the Beauty Underneath the Struggle

Happy Easter, everybody!

Today, as we celebrate the resurrection and the promise of new life, I can't help but think about how that message speaks directly to something I’ve held close to my heart: the idea that there is beauty underneath the struggle.

For me, the last few years have been a real journey—one that took me from feeling like I was on top of the world to navigating some of the most painful seasons of my life.

I remember a time when everything felt aligned. My book, The Beauty Underneath the Struggle: Creating Your B.U.S. Story, had just been released. It was helping me make sense of my past and connect with others who were finding healing in their own stories. My family was close—my daughters were all living nearby—and I was overjoyed to be a new grandmother. Life felt full and good.

But then, little by little—and sometimes all at once—things started to shift in ways I never saw coming. There were unexpected challenges in my personal life -the heartbreaking separation of my parents after so many years, the deep sorrow of becoming distanced from my daughter and grandchildren, and then the unimaginable losses of my dad and my sister. It’s been a lot to process… a lot to carry.

And I know I’m not alone.

Each of us has our own version of those unexpected turns—moments when life throws us a curveball. Maybe you're facing a tough situation at work, a struggle in a relationship, a health challenge, or just that quiet feeling that things aren't lining up the way you’d hoped. Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?

When we look at the heart of Easter, we see Jesus’ journey. It wasn’t a smooth one either. It led him to immense suffering and what looked like a devastating end on the cross. For His followers, their hopes must have been shattered.

But here’s the powerful truth: that wasn’t the end of His story.

Easter is the ultimate reminder that even after the darkest times—even when it looks like it’s over—there is always the possibility of light, of a new beginning. This morning, we even saw it in nature—a fierce storm giving way to a bright, sunny afternoon. Just like the storms we witness in our lives; things can turn around.

The struggles we go through—the moments that knock us down—they don’t get to write the final chapter. They’re part of our B.U.S. story. They’re in the middle of the journey. And sometimes, those middle chapters are the ones that reveal who we are.

What Easter teaches us is that love is stronger than any hardship. The love that led Jesus to sacrifice, to rise again, is the same love and strength that lives within all of us. It’s that inner power that keeps us going when we feel like giving up. It’s the quiet courage that whispers, “God is not through with me yet.”

This is what I wrote about in my book: how our most difficult experiences often carry the seeds of something beautiful. And during these last few years, I’ve had to live that message, not just write about it. I’ve been invited to practice what I preach—to dig deep and trust that there truly is beauty underneath the struggle.

Your experiences, whatever they are, reflect your resilience. And the beauty of Easter is that it reassures us—this is not how your story ends. There's always the healing potential, for growth, for a new perspective to emerge.

The resurrection isn’t just a story from the past—it’s a living truth that can awaken something new in us right now. It reminds us that even when we feel stuck in fear, shame, regret, or grief, those chains can be broken. There is always hope for transformation.

So this Easter, as you reflect on your path, I encourage you to hold tightly to hope for the challenges you’ve faced and the pain you may still be carrying. But also, open yourself to the possibility of renewal, of new life, of a future filled with promise.

I’ve learned that when I hold onto past hurts or try to control the narrative—especially when it involves others—I stay stuck in that pain. I’m realizing that I need to release my rigid ideas of how certain relationships “should” be, the people I thought I couldn’t live without, and the specific plans I had for my life. Especially when those plans depend on others.

We can only control ourselves. And when we stop trying to write everyone else's story and start embracing our own, we begin to truly live. We create space for healing, gratitude, and growth.

Our story isn’t finished. Your spirit still has the power to rise. And in time, you’ll discover that even through the hardest chapters, there is still beauty to be found.

Maybe this Easter is your invitation to begin—or to continue—creating your own B.U.S. story. The beauty is underneath. You just have to keep going.

Wishing you peace, love, and renewed hope this Easter and always.

Niki Spears

Mindset Elevator/Public Speaker