When Things Get Harder First: Faith and Family Court Lessons from Exodus 1–6
What do you do when you try to do the right thing—and everything gets harder?
That is exactly what happens in Exodus 1–6. Moses obeys God, speaks truth, and steps forward in faith… and the result is not relief, but increased pressure and resistance. For litigants in person navigating family court, that experience will feel familiar. This week’s reflection explores what it means to keep going when progress is slow, outcomes are uncertain, and it feels like nothing is working—while holding on to the truth that God has not forgotten you.
“I Have Remembered My Covenant” — What Exodus 1–6 Teaches Litigants in Person About Delay, Deliverance and Not Losing Faith in the Process
Sunday Reflection | JSH Law
Every Sunday after church I reflect on the scriptures through the lens of the work I do supporting litigants in person navigating the family court. This week’s lesson, “I Have Remembered My Covenant” (Exodus 1–6), is particularly powerful for anyone experiencing prolonged difficulty, delay, or what feels like unanswered pleas for help.
The Israelites were not just struggling—they were enslaved, oppressed, and living under sustained hardship. And perhaps the most difficult part of their experience was not simply the suffering itself, but the question that suffering raises: Has God forgotten us?
If you are in the middle of family court proceedings, especially as a litigant in person, you may recognise that question. When things drag on, when outcomes are unclear, when the system feels slow or unresponsive, it is natural to wonder whether anyone sees what you are going through—let alone God.
This passage answers that question clearly: God does not forget. But He does not always act on our timeline.
Key Takeaways for Litigants in Person
- Delay is not the same as neglect. The Israelites suffered for years before deliverance came.
- God sees what others do not. Even when systems feel slow or unfair, you are not unseen.
- Feeling inadequate does not disqualify you. Moses felt completely unprepared—but was still chosen.
- Doing the right thing may initially make things harder. Moses obeyed—and Pharaoh increased the burden.
- Progress is not always immediate or visible. Early steps in a case or situation may feel like setbacks.
- Faith and structure must work together. You still need to prepare, organise and act.
When life gets harder after you try to do the right thing
One of the most confronting parts of Exodus 5 is that Moses does exactly what God asks—and things get worse.
Pharaoh does not respond with reason or mercy. Instead, he increases the Israelites’ workload and suffering. The people turn on Moses. They blame him. Moses then turns to God and essentially asks:
“Why is this happening? Why did you send me?”
This moment is deeply relatable.
Many litigants in person experience something similar. You take a step forward—issue an application, raise concerns, speak truth, try to follow the correct process—and instead of things improving, they become more complicated.
You may face:
- more resistance from the other party,
- delays in listing or decision-making,
- additional allegations or escalation,
- emotional exhaustion from the process itself.
It can feel as though doing the right thing has made everything harder.
Exodus shows us that this experience is not unusual. It is part of the process.
God has not forgotten you—even when it feels like it
The turning point comes in Exodus 6, where God speaks clearly:
“I have remembered my covenant.”
This statement matters because it addresses the core fear people carry during prolonged difficulty: that they have been overlooked, abandoned, or forgotten.
In legal proceedings, especially family court, this fear can become intense. You may feel like:
- your situation is not being fully understood,
- your evidence is not being seen quickly enough,
- the process is too slow for the urgency of your circumstances.
And yet the principle remains: being unseen by the system is not the same as being unseen by God.
This distinction can stabilise you. Because if your sense of worth and hope depends entirely on how quickly a system responds, you will be emotionally destabilised again and again.
But if you are anchored in something deeper, you can continue functioning—even while waiting.
Moses: called while feeling completely inadequate
Another key theme in Exodus 3–4 is Moses’s response to being called.
He does not step forward confidently. He hesitates. He questions. He resists. He expresses doubt:
- “Who am I?”
- “What if they don’t believe me?”
- “I am not eloquent.”
This is important because many litigants in person feel exactly the same way.
You may feel:
- unqualified to represent yourself,
- uncertain about legal language and procedure,
- intimidated by the court environment,
- overwhelmed by what is expected of you.
Moses’s story shows that feeling inadequate does not mean you are incapable. It means you are being stretched.
God does not remove Moses’s responsibility. He equips him for it.
That is the pattern.
Faith does not replace preparation
One of the biggest misconceptions is that faith means waiting passively for things to improve.
Exodus does not support that idea.
Moses is required to:
- go to Pharaoh,
- speak clearly,
- return repeatedly despite resistance,
- continue even when outcomes are not immediate.
For litigants in person, this translates directly into practical action.
Faith does not replace:
- preparing your evidence,
- understanding the process,
- organising your documents,
- presenting your case clearly.
It supports it.
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Apply for a child arrangements order
Understanding the process reduces fear. Preparation reduces chaos.
God works through ordinary people
Another powerful aspect of this lesson is the role of seemingly ordinary individuals—particularly the women in Exodus 1–2 who protect and preserve life.
They are not central figures in a legal or political sense. But they are essential to the outcome.
This matters because many litigants in person underestimate their own role.
You do not need to be legally trained to:
- tell the truth clearly,
- document events accurately,
- protect your child’s welfare,
- maintain your integrity.
Small, consistent actions matter.
In many cases, they matter more than dramatic gestures.
When progress feels invisible
One of the hardest aspects of both spiritual life and legal process is that progress is often invisible in the early stages.
Moses does not see immediate change.
The Israelites do not feel immediate relief.
In fact, things initially deteriorate.
This can happen in family court too. Early hearings may not resolve everything. Interim arrangements may feel imperfect. The full picture may take time to emerge.
That does not mean nothing is happening.
It means you are in the early stages of a longer process.
A practical reset for litigants in person
If you are currently in proceedings, here is a grounded way to apply this week’s lesson:
- Accept that delay may be part of the process.
- Focus on what you can control.
- Prepare consistently, not reactively.
- Expect resistance—and plan for it.
- Do not interpret difficulty as failure.
- Stay anchored in purpose, not emotion.
You do not need to solve everything today.
You need to take the next structured step.
15-minute consultation
If you are a litigant in person and need help understanding your case, preparing for hearing, or bringing structure and clarity to your situation, you can book a 15-minute consultation below.
Final reflection
I am proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and one of the reasons I value these weekly reflections is that scripture does not avoid difficult realities.
Exodus begins not with triumph, but with oppression, confusion and unanswered questions.
And yet the central truth remains:
God has not forgotten His people.
If you are in a difficult season—whether in family court or elsewhere—that truth still applies.
You may not yet see how things will unfold.
You may not yet see resolution.
But you are not unseen. You are not abandoned. And this is not the end of the story.
