One of the realities of pastoral ministry is counseling—and not just dealing with problems, but walking people through them. A common truth pastors share with couples is this: things often get worse before they get better.

Why? Because real problems are rarely surface-level. Conflict in marriage is often layered—miscommunication, hurt, pride, and sometimes even hidden sin. As those layers are exposed and worked through, things can feel heavier before they begin to heal.

But this principle isn’t limited to marriage—it shows up across all of life.

If someone has a tumor, the symptoms may be mild for a time. But treatment—especially surgery—can make things feel dramatically worse before recovery begins. The same is true with heart disease. A person might function day to day, but once surgery happens, there’s a season of real weakness and dependence before healing comes.

In many areas of life, things get worse before they get better.

And the same is true in the kingdom of God.

When God Moves, Resistance Follows

When God’s kingdom presses into the brokenness of the world, there is always resistance. But we should never forget the outcome: God’s kingdom always wins.

Jesus said in Gospel of Matthew 16:18 that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. Still, as God works, the world pushes back—sometimes fiercely. Like a wounded animal, it lashes out with whatever strength remains.

This is exactly what we see in Exodus 5.

Moses enters the scene coming off a spiritual high. In chapter 4, the people of Israel believed him. They were unified. Things were finally moving forward.

Then Moses stands before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s response is immediate and defiant:

“Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2)

Conversation over.

And things don’t just stall—they get worse.

Pharaoh removes the straw supply for brickmaking but still demands the same production quota. Without straw—the binding material—the work becomes nearly impossible. When the Israelites inevitably fall short, their overseers are beaten.

Deliverance had begun… and life became more brutal.

The Illustration: Worse Before Better

The principle is clear: when God begins to break into darkness, the darkness resists.

We see this in our own lives too.

• When someone confesses hidden sin, things often feel worse before they feel better.
• When a church begins making healthy changes, people sometimes leave.
• When we pursue obedience, we may face new pressures we didn’t expect.

In those moments, it’s tempting to think: “Was it better before?”

But that’s a lie. Healing requires exposure. Growth requires disruption.

The Purpose: Why God Allows It

By the end of Exodus 5, Moses is discouraged—deeply. He cries out to God, essentially asking, “Why have you made things worse?”

God’s response comes at the start of chapter 6:

“Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh…” (Exodus 6:1)

God isn’t absent. He’s not failing. He’s preparing to act.

We don’t always understand His timing or methods. As Isaiah reminds us, His ways are higher than our ways. But while we may not understand why God allows difficulty, we can trust that He uses it.

A Necessary Shift in Perspective

If you are seeking a relationship with God, don’t come expecting a problem-free life.

Come in surrender.

The way of Christ is the way of the cross—a path that includes suffering. But it is also the only path that leads to eternal glory.

God allowed Israel’s situation to worsen so that when deliverance came, it would be unmistakably His work—not Moses’, not Aaron’s, but God’s alone.

Their weakness set the stage for His power.

A Reminder from History

One of the great missionary figures, Hudson Taylor, experienced this firsthand.

After years of tireless work in China—planting churches and seeing thousands come to Christ—Taylor was sidelined by severe illness. For someone so driven, being confined to a bed was deeply frustrating.

Yet afterward, he reflected that more had been accomplished for the kingdom during his weakness than during his strength.

God does not depend on our activity. He works through our surrender.

The Takeaway

Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” And Epistle of James 1:2–4 reminds us that trials produce maturity.

So here’s the truth we must hold onto:

Sometimes life gets harder before it gets better—but God is still in control.

And if He is in control, then even our hardest moments are not wasted. He is using them to shape us, refine us, and draw us closer to Him.

Let us trust Him—in the good and in the difficult.

Soli Deo Gloria