Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:32-39, Isaiah 53:1-12, Hebrews 5:7-10, Philippians 3:7-14
After you finish reading today’s scriptures, come back and use the blurb and question here to dig deeper into the themes of faith, hope, obedience, and suffering. Join your fellow Bible readers in the comments to reflect and chat about what you’re learning!
To understand why the author lists the stories of chapter 11, we must first look back to chapter 10 and understand why the original readers of Hebrews needed these examples of faithfulness. As these early Christians endured persecution, they grew weary, and their faith dimmed in the face of incredible suffering. But being faithful in suffering, doubts, or fears is not an endeavor to take on alone, nor is it one we have to accomplish in our own strength. Our confidence and encouragement to endure is in the God who sent His Son to earth to share in our suffering and ultimately made a way for all believers to be in relationship with God.
What stories or experiences do you have of God building up your faith through challenging circumstances?
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249 thoughts on "Faith and Endurance"
Recently I’ve been struggling with loneliness, and trying to stay patient, waiting on the Lord to bring me that one person. Right now I’m trying to learn how to be patient and know that God is working through and with me. That I’m never alone even in the darkest of nights.
This year has been one of my toughest years. Within a year I’ve struggled deeply with mental health battles, health scares, eviction and job loss. Each and every day God has kept me still standing, walking and talking and I thank Him endlessly for those Blessings. Going through those trials and tribulations has led me to run back to Him, still unsure of what my future looks like, I continue to put my trust and faith in Him.
I’m learning that I am truly not alone in this life journey. I am reminded of the Footprints poem. God is everywhere and never forsakes or abandons and yes, I am certain of times I have been carried. For surely I had no strength to stand. God has built my endurance through many trials and tribulations. I’m learning to trust him more and more.
By faith, I can let go. I can recall many moments that God showed me it’s OK to let go. And that in faith when I do let go, he can accomplish great things. The hardest part is timing.
Timing, I think, often belongs to me. Or if I let go then God will immediately provide what is best. Often, though, it takes a long time for things to be made perfect for what we need. And in that place of waiting we have to practice faith. I havw to practice faith. Faith can be really hard work and also a place to recognize tye closeness we can have with God.
As someone said, I always like to fix things. But I have to let go and have God fix it in his way. I try fixing it and meddle it up.
A few months ago, I got a pre-cancer diagnosis at the age of 26. I was scared and unsure of what lied ahead, but knowing God had already planned out my journey was my comfort. I am healthy now, and it made me closer to God
My marriage has built up my faith. I have had to lean on Christ. I tried putting my whole self into my husband but that doesn’t work. He is human like me and humans are not to be relied on like that. Only Jesus is. I thank Jesus for meeting me in my darkest moments 7 years ago.
I just walked through a situation where I had to walk by faith. I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be. I had peace in knowing that I was going to hear that I was allowed to go back to the place that I was before this situation started.
Marriage difficulties in the past and watching my daughter go through an abusive relationship
Mental health struggles this past year and a half.
Praying for you joy. May the Holy Spirit enter in and bring you peace and joy.
Right now with seeing my mom fight cancer while I’m still fighting. Shes been so sick and I’ve been so worried about her
I feel that it is so easy when we are stressed, anxious or going through hard periods in our life to try to gain control. But leaning into our own understanding only leads us astray but allowing God full control of our lives having the understanding that God gave his only Son
It seems like I have been in an emotional season with someone for a few years now. I remind myself daily that I need God. I can lean on Him. And keep reminding myself it is all for the good. He is always good.
Ever increasing dependency on Him. The last year and a half has been wild (and not the fun, exciting kind of wild- the “I can’t believe this is all happening” kind of wild.). My family and I relocated to Texas from North Carolina a little over a year ago- and I was a Mom of a 5, 3 and 9 month old then. To date that had been our biggest move with multiple children, and it was so challenging- but I was determined to plant temporary roots and form a life for myself and my family. It just didn’t turn out the way I had envisioned. Friendship has been exhaustingly hard to find, and even when we thought we had some friends their life circumstances changed completely changing their ability to stay connected to us. My son broke his arm at 14 months, my oldest daughter broke BOTH of her arms in May, we’ve had the stomach bug 3x, the flu, COVID, impetigo (which I didn’t even know existed) and then husband tore his Achilles tendon and had to have surgery in September (he was no -weigh bearing for 8 weeks and is just now beginning to learn to walk again).
I was convicted by how readily accepting of suffering Paul was. He saw Jesus rightly- and he knew the supremacy of Christ. He was joyfully dependent… and while I have for sure been dependent on Christ- it hasn’t always been joyfully. I haven’t always seen His presence, His salvation, His death and resurrection as worth the suffering this year. I have felt battered and bruised and abandoned. So today, my heart is shifting… to ask Him to help me see Him rightly. To help me know the overflowing refreshment of His presence. To help me joyfully walk in suffering…
Alicia, May the study of the book of Hebrews sustain you in hope; “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
I hope you find a community of faith where you are supported and where you can serve. I’ll be praying for you.
Wow, what a year!! That is so much for one family to carry. We are strangers, but I’m praying for you this morning!
Looking around at the world and how crazy some things have gotten, my first look is usually to man and how will man get us out of this, or how will these people change their ways to make things better. But what I always remember and go back to is the truth, man can not get us out of this crazy, only God can. Only he can change the peoples heart for them to change. I just started this study and already on day one loving it!!! Thank you!
When my husband and I had to move out from our nice apartment into a rental house we didn’t want to live in, we were so upset about the beautiful home we were leaving behind. But God had a greater plan for our circumstances and our little house has become a wonderful home and we have been protected from the ever increasing rent that we wouldn’t be able to afford if we were still in that apartment. Praise God for turning situations around for His glory!
Sometimes I still fear what will happen to me in the future and wonder what God is doing while the world is in turmoil. I need to faith to trust God and know he is going to take care of everything.
As a wife , mom , and grandma, I have always tried to be the “FIXER”. I have failed. I am not the fixer, giving it to GOD. He needs me to let go and let him fix it so it is the BEST outcome and the right outcome. I have felt a calm peace once I decided to do that.
I’ve gone through three miscarriages this year and God has been holding his arms around me even in those times when my sight has been grumbled with pitch black sorrow. It hasn’t been easy for me to let go of the control I so desperately want and lean in to gods plan. But now, three month after our last miscarriage I start to feel the deep deep inner knowing that everything is exactly as he has planned and that even if it will happen again it will take mes closer
When I got through hard things, just knowing that through my prayers God listens and understands my pain allows me to keep going. Sitting/crying in silence in his presence, spending time with Him that way, allows my faith to continue to be built up. Being heard and cared for, what a gift.
Dove headfirst! I LOVE that. Good for you, and praise God for your testimony <3
Thank you! ❤️❤️
My husband and I don’t agree on many things with it comes to politics and school, so this time of the year can be really hard on our marriage. We’ve been married for 14 years and have been through a lot together. I’d still categorize him as a baby Christian and it can be really hard some days to be the one leading our family in that way. God has come through in SO many ways in my life, things I’ve prayed for and things I haven’t prayed for, so during these stressful and confusing times I can look back at my life and see his faithfulness and know He will come through again.
My brother was diagnosed with leukemia and all I could do was pray. So that’s what I did. Day and night praying to God. Praying for my brother, his doctors, his wife, my whole family. It was a scary time but I leaned on God the whole way.
I went through horrific post partum depression. I had thoughts of suicide and craved death so badly. I had hit my lowest point of despair and became giddy at finally finding what I thought was a good plan to take my own life. God quite literally spoke to me in that moment. He gave me visions and spoke through those visions as they were happening. It was such an incredible moment of His grace and power. I immediately dove headfirst into my Bible and found the endurance to push through those dark thoughts and feelings. I didn’t find the strength on my own, God poured it right into me when I wasn’t even asking for it. It makes me think of the scripture that describes the Holy Spirit as offering up prayers for us through groans. The spirit was praying hard for me that day.
when I first started my walk with Jesus, the devil had come at me SO HARD trying anything he could so I wouldn’t continue my walk with Him. Throughout this time, I experienced loss, depression, anger, verbal abuse, low confidence, and so much more. But thankfully during all of this, God placed the right people in my life to help me and I honestly knew I couldn’t give in to those terrible emotions and act of anger just because the enemy wanted me too! He no longer had a stronghold on me. Through many nights of crying, praying and worshipping the Lord.. I trusted Him through every moment and had faith that the storm would pass and it eventually did, praise Jesus!
My sister tragically passed away almost 2 years ago. The week before she passed my spirit just didn’t feel right. Every devotion that I read that week was about faith about trusting God and leaning in to His promises. When I received the phone call the night of the accident I knew God was equipping me with the faith I would need to get through this tragic time. God is so good. even in time sof sorrow and hurt. Having faith in Him and having the faith of the promise of Heaven was all that got my family and I through losing my sister.
I have left my home of stability many of times leaping in faith and God has caught me. I have been in situations where my life was on the line and the Holy Spirit granted the situation peace. I have been protected and considered when I never qualified and was spared even though I didn’t deserve it. There are so many time God has developed my faith.
I’m very self conscious and overthink everything. I drive my self crazy on what others think and what I think of myself. I’ve been trying to do things on my own for years and I know that I need Jesus even through the small battles. I need is strength and not my own
I feel this way too. Sending you so much love.
I’m a fairly new believer. My boyfriend and his faith brought me to Jesus. We recently had a valley in our relationship and took a step back. We have both put our faith in God’s plan for each of us individually and together in our relationship. “Our” plan was giving us a single flower. God’s plan is now giving us an entire garden because of trusting and having faith.
We have seven years pastoring a church to only have the new pastor lie and slander our name and family. So much pain in that. But God was ever present and faithful and we all felt a divine peace and protection through that time. God has been good even when his people have not.
I remember when my dad was going into surgery for his quadruple bypass surgery and I was so afraid and overwhelmed, I prayed. I prayed for Him to take over, to watch over my dad and that I would rest in knowing whatever happened, God had him. The sense of peace and relief I felt was hard to describe. That moment solidified my faith in a way that is difficult to describe 20 years later.
I was discouraged through infertility for several years. I was nearing 30 years old and it felt like it would never happen. We ended up having inter-uterus insemination ( I know I spelled that wrong) and had a baby girl, now 15 years old. I was set! We moved to a new home and I had a new job that had flexibility. She was a little hard to care for; colic they said. Well she cried all the time. I love her but it was HARD! She would cry and I would sing every hymn I could think of and even some George Strait lol. God got me through it. We go to a wonderful church that became my village to raise her. I wasn’t even thinking of having another… then 3 years later I got pregnant on my own. No Dr involved this time. He’s 11 and the only blood born child on both sides of our family! (Probably should have named him Issac.) God’s timing is truly perfect. Even when I feel like I need to take the reigns this time he somehow reminds me that he has this. I need to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I have been learning to trust in God and giving it over to him because it is always in his hands.
I had to learn to trust and depend on God. Stop running to man to fix a situation. Praying to God and remembering that for every situation there is scripture and God’s word to assist. God is the only one that I should have those hard conversations with, be patient, be obedient and know how to listen to God.
I love build my faith upon god and know that for year many people where able to read know about god is a amazing thing and I can’t wait to keep knowing god each and every day .
God has carried me through so many tough times. For me it’s so hard in the moments to surrender it all to Him. I struggle with anxiety and control. When I look back at all of those trials..childhood trauma, addiction, loss of kids due to addiction and domestic violence. I see God was there every step of the way and has blessed me over and over again with answered prayers. Today I would not have the faith I carry with me always. There is no greater love than the love of Jesus. I put all my trust in His plan ❤️
Me and my husband have struggled financially and honestly we had always done what we thought was best but now that I’m taking the time for prayer and listening to Gods notions things are slowly but surely starting to look up. I have a new job, childcare and we’re even moving to get out of debt. This would have never happened if we didn’t follow God’s path
I have many, many stories of God using something in my life to build my faith but I’ll name two. I was born a month early and came out not breathing. I had to be airlifted from one hospital to another and was in the NICU for four days. My mother couldn’t touch me for the first few days of my life. It answers the question of if I should be here, it would have been much easier in that moment for me to have not made it, but obviously and thankgully, God’s plans were so much bigger. Another is when my dad was called to plant a church, its the reason I found my calling, and honestly a big part of the reason I am who I am. I don’t know what my life would loom like wothoutb that church 15 years later!
I had to learn to replace my doubt with faith and once I did my life turned around❤️
Loss of my job and moving
The past 4 years of my life has been based on endurance and blind faith that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has my best interest in mind and now I am finally sitting down to look back to fully understand and embrace the experiences he has allowed to happen in my life.❤️❤️
Godly endurance was delivered when I went through a miscarriage, labor & delivery, and a D&C. Christ carried me through those dark times. He blessed me with a successful pregnancy after our Heaven baby. I saw the battle of PPD where he also carried me through that. I continue to see him work in my life and speak to me in my prayers.
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Before my daughter was born, I had two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. There was a bedroom in our house that was mostly empty, intended to be a nursery. I would get so sad looking at that empty room. But one day I just knew that God had a plan for our family. I held on to that promise. When I would pass that room I would try to praise God for what he was going to do in our family’s life. Now my daughter sleeps in that room. My son sleeps in the room next to that. My relationship with God is not the same as it was before those challenging experiences. It’s hard to express all the ways in which my faith changed and grew during that time.
Thank you for sharing this poignant story. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness ❤️
I was overlooked for a promotion that I was the more qualified candidate to receive. Six months later that position was eliminated. It really showed me that God truly knows best and keeps us from things that we will not be good for us. My faith was strengthened.
Suffering through bad choices, suffering through illnesses and accidents and medical conditions, suffering from hurt feelings…learned that I NEED GOD! He is the only one who truly restores.
The Lord brought me and my family through a terrible time when our darling (naive) son became addicted to “social” drugs. It was a time I would never EVER have imagined we would have to go through, and I can still clearly remember singing in my head “I will trust in You” all through the days of torment. The moment everything turned around is imprinted on my mind and heart – no fancy great bolts of lightening or anything dramatic, just some words that the Lord put on my heart which I spoke to our son, and from that point everything changed. Don’t get me wrong – it was still a bumpy, challenging road, but tha is be to God my son
I started a new job at my church in the children’s ministry department after 3 years of not working with children or having co-workers. The doubts, fears, and low self-esteem and confidence allows satan to get in my head. But I know i’m supposed to be there. These verses help me to remember that God is bigger than these feelings and I’m growing and enduring because of my faith in Him, and allowing him to go before me as I serve Him. That is where I find my strength and confidence.
An unexpected cancer diagnoses involved physical and emotional suffering. My continuous prayer during that time was for physical healing of course. But I clearly heard the Holy Spirit gently say, I am going to heal so much more than your body. He did in my spiritual walk and in living with much more gratitude. This cancer was not wasted. I continue to pray with, and walk beside those who get that unexpected diagnosis. He is good and continues to teach me and show me His faithfulness. I am in year 10 of healing.
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Thank you for sharing. That’s so encouraging
I’m convinced that the anxiety I suffered with for most of my life was God telling me to turn to him. I tried everything and nothing was working long term. I finally surrendered control to Him and my life has completely changed.
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It’s amazing how God responds once we fully surrender to Him.
Lord, help me to understand and follow you. May I live by faith even when I’m unsure. May I obey what you call me to do. May I suffer for you.
I think moving to a foreign country alone, knowing that it was a path cleared by God alone- yet feeling slightly alone and in a way stuck in a place I wasn’t sure about was challenging in a simple way. It made me lean heavily on God- I found more space in my life for Him, and from that He flowed. I now call that place my home and I couldn’t imagine my life elsewhere
Oh wow, I can’t imagine the braveness that takes to move somewhere like that by myself!! I don’t even like to travel alone anywhere, let alone move and go by myself!! That’s wonderful!!
There was a particular time in my marriage when my husband was laid off and unable to find work for an extended period of time. I was a teacher at the time and was the only income. We went shopping at Target for necessities (dishwasher pods, shampoo/conditioner/toilet paper/laundry detergent all of the expensive things that always run out at the same time). We spent a significant amount of money and had very little left to survive on before I got paid again. I cried in the car with my husband and he prayed for us and turned on worship music. I was still crying in the car on the way home when he started to laugh. I asked him what was funny and he goes “I just got an email that the gap payment from my old car is coming in the mail. It’s $400”. It was a miracle in the making and spoke to me right then and there. Experienced like this cause me to hold tight when I feel like the Lord is far. He’s always near.
Wow, amen! Praise God! So very cool how he makes a way when we look to him in all things and situations!
Very encouraged by this today!
Thanks for sharing
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Lord help me to understand and follow ❤️
My Dad was sick when I was young, and my babysitter at the time asked if she could spend the night to be with our family. She mentioned that the Holy Spirit was prompting her to do so. That was the night my Dad passed away & I have never forgotten God’s faithfulness to my family despite our loss.
Wow, that is so beautiful.
My parents are addicts and I feel like an adult orphan so often. It’s heartbreaking, but through our estrangement, I have come to depend on my Father in heaven in ways I wouldn’t trade for perfect earthly parents any day.
oh lauren, thanks for sharing. Thankfully we have our Heavenly Father so that we are NEVER alone. He sees you and is holding you and every tear that you shed. Keep praying for them and prayers for you for strength in the loss of them as the parents you long for.
Last year I lost my twin girls when I was 6 months pregnant. It was my first pregnancy and it stripped me of everything, completely changed me inside and out. Enduring a trauma by completely surrendering to God helped me navigate life without my daughters. My faith has helped me grieve the life of what could’ve been, but has simultaneously strengthened my hope in His plan for me. Although the grief and trauma was (and still is) such a heavy burden to carry, my faith in God’s will has been grown tremendously into something I never thought it could be. Everyday is still challenging, especially now going through IVF, however, the love and faith I hold in God’s path for me gives me the strength to persevere.
Holding your mama heart close in my prayers Madison.. God is near to the broken hearted and those who call out to Him. He is near..hugs covered in much love coming your way, dear heart..❤️
Yes, amen. Praying with Tina for you, thank you for sharing your heart with us.
He is close to the broken hearted. Praying you sense His comfort and closeness today.❤️❤️❤️
My husband isn’t a believer. Everyday is hard when I’m the spiritual leader of our family for myself and my two daughters. It’s a battle. I know God is working on him but it’s been YEARS that I’ve been praying for him… my faith is built up but everyday it’s hard to hear him say that he hates good or that God hates him. It’s frustrating. In suffering, I pray.
Carrie, I will add your petition to my list and join you in prayers for your husband to find his way to our Father God… and I will pray peace over you as you keep God at the centre of your lives.. God is with you..❤️
Yes, I join with Tina in praying for your husbands salvation! But God…he loves you for you effort and to be the pillar of the family in faith. You are doing a precious beautiful thing for your daughters!!
Thank you Tina. This means so much to me ❤️
The pandemic brought me to Jesus. So blessed that I came back to Him ❤️
Amen! It takes our troubles to make us look up!!
I am struggling with a son who is unmotivated ins school and is having behavioral challenges. It’s incredibly stressful on our family. I just keep praying for him and reminding myself of God’s faithfulness and that my son will not be abandoned by God.
Amanda, I’m sorry for your troubles.. keep holding fast to the Faithful One who can change all circumstances, and for sure abandons no-one, NO-ONE!
Praying!❤️
The past two years have provided challenges in my life. In May of 2022 my daughter was born and she required open heart surgery. We also found out she has a rare genetic condition called 22q. Then last October my mother passed away at just 57 on a cruise in Alaska. During these challenges I reflect on the this verse Romans 3:3-5 “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. “. I am confident that God knows I can handle these challenges and will use me as a voice for testimony to others.
Thank you for sharing! Prayers for your precious little one!
. I am confident that God knows I can handle these challenges and will use me as a voice for testimony to others.
What pro active words! Beautiful testimony in your relationship with our Father God, Sophie.
Thank you for sharing and lifting prayers for your little person.. God is good all the time. Sending prayer covered hugs to you..❤️
Thank you to all of the ladies who have shared their struggles and how God encouraged them through it.
When I was in my mid twenties my best friend and o got in a fight that ended our friendship. This really shook my identity, since she had been saying some negative things about me. Through this experience, God helped me to have a stronger identity in him than I had, had before. I really doesn’t know where my life would be if I had stayed in that friendship. I may not have met my husband. God works in mysterious ways.
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I am so weird! Aside from the verse about Jesus learning obedience through suffering, the versr that stood out to me has nothing to do with the prompt question! It was Hebrews 20:39!:
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved. NLT
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Blame it on my Revelation study, I guess. In today’s session Jen Wilkin cautions us to not fear the one who can hurt our body, but fear the one who can hurt our soul. Maybe that explains my laser-like focus on that verse!
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SEARCHING – ❤ My answer to the prompt involves a similar experience to yours. Thank God He never let us go!
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I haven’t caught up, but my eyes are tired! I have tried to read in order, but got out of sync a couple of times (Maria and Vicki), for example! so my brain is ready for a rest, too!
Continued prayers and love, sisters!
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My 3 daughters are each 22 months apart. The experience of having 3 daughters and a husband in college at the same time built my faith through a challenging time. I prayed, sought God and instructed my kids to pray over our finances and on their own behalf. The youngest daughter’s tuition was always paid last so sometimes the classes were closed. We prayed and all but 2 times the professors allowed her to take the class. This was 1 of the most stressful times but it taught me to wait on God❤️
Linda, God IS faithful. ❤️
Every time my eyes are truly fixed on Him I am encouraged and strengthened in tough times. I’ve learned that I need Him more as life goes on, but that is where my joy truly lies!
❤️. The wisdom of growing in His love is as we get older He, becomes our ‘place’.❤️
I’m walking through a challenging time right now. I have been working at my school district for 3 years and this school year has been rough. I’ve been moved to 5 different schools. Other staff have been shifted as well. Programs have changed. And there has been very little explanation. I struggle with change and I know it’s hard on the children not having consistent staff. I gave my boss my resignation after many attempts to have a meeting. But now I feel God maybe saying stay.
Wow, Kristina, how disheartening/discouraging for you, the staff, the kids! Praying right now for clarity and wisdom as you make this decision. May His guidance leave you with no doubt. My son is an admin in a large school district so this is especially disturbing to me. ❤❤ Hugs!
Praying for you Kristina in this challenge, prayerful you find clarity in your decision and thst God will prevail in this situation.. He is Faithful..❤️
“He learned obedience thru what He suffered”. Wow. We don’t like to think about suffering as part of God’s plan. We just can’t accept that God would allow suffering as part of His plan to get us to obey. Because we think suffering isn’t good; and God is always good. It seems like such a contradiction. But I didn’t write the bible, so I have to believe what it says even when I don’t like what it says. Faith to believe that God is good even in the midst of suffering takes a lot of endurance. But what do we gain? Everything. Life. Heaven. Abundant life. Favor with God. The next time I suffer, I’m going to try to see it as God’s goodness working in me.
Yes, amen! I shared that at Pain Group today at church. God uses our afflictions for our own good and his purposes.
Morning shes. I am catching up on yesterday’s and today’s reading. I love that someone mentioned yesterday, a life of faith is not a life without suffering, troubles or afflictions. Even if we do all things right, afflictions still come by, since tribulation is part of life of earth. The heroes of faith suffered greatly for following the voice of God by faith in doing what they did. By faith, we understand, by faith we step out, by faith we build, by faith.. [ fill in the blanks of what God impress on us to do]. Faith accompanies by appropriate actions. Faith without works is dead, just like a person without breath is no long alive, and dead faith cannot save that person. Hebrews 11 testifies about a hero of faith, with evidence of their works, though such works put them as a public ridicule (Noah and many others), and that’s the tension of the test of faith. Brace ourselves. Living by fear- no one will say anything, but the moment you live by faith, a whole bunch will come at you. This is so ridiculous to be honest, but it’s been a principle I saw, which I am learning and trying to come to terms, what a cost. (CEE GEE: I reached out to you through fb messenger, yes I am on the fb shes group).
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Prayers…
@SHARON JG: praying for safe travel and lovely times on your trip.
@A WALTON: healing over your mom’s digestion, your daughter’s rash, lightness for your heart.
@MARIA BAER: the comfort and strength for your heart, the soothing of the grief you’re going through.
@SAM NAUMAN: your sobriety journey.
@TAYLOR: work situation to get better.
@ANNA WHITT: depression, heaviness to be lifted, and joy, peace for your mind.
@ALEIDA: for Victor and your family.
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Very touched by so many beautiful stories here. I got so emotional reading as I saw myself in your struggles and I was so thankful to God. Be blessed dear sisters.
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I experienced some extreme health issues as a teenager, and the Lord really drew me near. His peace and presence sustained me and I wouldn’t have the relationship I do without him today. Sometimes the pain needs to happen to bring about the glory.
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I was reading Hebrews 11 yesterday, and was actually
God is building my faith constantly and showing me how to everyday believe
God has been peeling back the layers of self reliance through my struggles with mental health throughout my lifetime. The last year has been tough but I keep getting the message to persevere, to lean into Jesus even when I feel like pulling the blankets over my head and giving up. It’s a slow process but I try to remember God’s faithfulness in the past. The enemy is relentless in his attempts to get me to give up but thank God, He is stronger.
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I have suffered some of the deepest trials and betrayals with increasing measure over the past 4 years. Hebrews 5:8 really resonates with me as I reflect on my personal growth over the past 4 years and how God is growing me in obedience just as He did His own Son.
I have suffered betrayals as well. And while I would prefer to not have experienced them, I cane to realize the only one who really loves me and is always there for me is my Lord. And for that I am so grateful.
What stories or experiences do you have of God building up your faith through challenging circumstances?
I went through a really hard time in 2015 and was reintroduced to my faith, the Bible, our Father and His Son. My mental health declined and different reading plans stabilized my core strength which had been weakened by anxiety and uncertainty. I did lots of different reading plans until Advent 2020 where I found SRT. I feel like our Lord has been slowly building up my knowledge and understanding of the Bible since 2015 by encouraging my faith. Mental health is tricky, because stress/anxiety/fear seems to be an everlasting frustration. But having a daily reading plan helps. Having the Word of the Lord is is a saving grace.
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I feel His presence when the world throws itself at me through trials and things that happen out of my control. Seeking Him has always been the answer through tough circumstances that bring anxiety, pain and the work to work through them. He brings peace, healing, presence and so many of His promises. Having faith can be hard when things out of our control occur but the Christian life and following Him isn’t easy- but the choice is!
Oh my! To think of all the ways I have experienced God building up my faith…I would be writing all day!
And what an awesome way of reminding me that He has never left me alone through all of it! Especially as we are trying to figure out how to navigate through our current crisis! Every door we seek seems to slam shut! So I go back on my knees and pray!
Knowing that once again He will carry us through this storm! And it will be His strength that helps us to endure. So very thankful!
Hugs to all of you this cool fall morning! ❤️
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And we are thankful for YOU and your prayers and petitions that you share with us, and now the testimony of Steve’s health!!
God has called me to start a business and it has been so challenging and I have wanted to quit and walk away so many times but every time I think it is over God sends me away in the darkness so I know I need to keep going. This time he sent me this study. And I am thankful.
What stories or experiences do you have of God building up your faith through challenging circumstances?
Anytime I’ve gone through a situation where I’ve needed to really, truly, rely on God, that is when I’ve seen my faith being built up. A story that always sticks out in my mind is when my husband and I were first married. Toward the mark of our one year anniversary the job he had was cut down to a part time job. I was doing a couple of odd jobs here and there, but nothing permanent as I was pregnant with our firstborn, and knew that once he came I wanted to be a stay at home Mom. Needless to say, two college graduates with a baby on the way, only being paid part time, we were in a pretty tight and rough spot financially. But we were a part of a wonderful church that helped us, and ultimately, God helped provide for us during that timeframe. It was really hard not to get anxious when we were living pay check to pay check, knowing that we didn’t have anything to fall back on if an emergency were to arise.
At one point during this time I got a speeding ticket at a spot where it went from 55 down to 35 pretty fast and a cop was there ready and waiting. We had no idea where that $180 was going to come from, But God! I was very anxious but later was kicking myself for not trusting God to take care of this little need when He had already been providing for us.
❤️. BUT GOD..❤️
Wow. So many comments. I have had some tough times, had to have a complete hysterectomy at 26 after cysts on my ovaries ruptured, fibromyalgia. IBS, gallbladder removed, lost my mom and dad a year apart, BUT GOD, (Tina) through every situation, walked with me! I was never alone. Anytime, I cried out to God, he met me where I was! He has helped me to persevere! Oh, God is good and faithful! He is our good Shepherd! I pray this over all of you! Don’t give up, keep your eyes on Him!
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”
Ephesians 3:16-18 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.3.16-18.NIV
I have seen God’s intervention and known His peace more acutely during times of loss, grief, fear and uncertainty. His footprints on my life are unmistakable and His interventions cannot be attributed to chance or coincidence. I am so thankful for His relentless love and provision.
❤️. The wisdom of growing in His love is as we get older He, becomes our ‘place’.❤️
Good morning! I also noted Hebrews 5:8 this morning and am so struck that Jesus also learned from what he suffered. Knowing that for a time he was like us and brought to kneel in obedience always helps me through the tough times life throws at all of us. Praying for requests and blessings to all of you this morning.
Well good morning sweet She’s!!! I can’t believe its before 6 am, and there is already 88 comments! I’m running out of time as I slept just a tad longer as I was SO exhausted. In answer to the question, my thoughts went back to my early years as a 17-18 year old, as a new christian. I’ve mentioned this many times, but feel compelled to share again. I became a Christian as a “born-again Catholic” My sweet friend Sheila would call me her “spirit-filled-Catholic” friend. I recall it wasn’t easy as the renewal of the Catholic church was not accepted by many priest and fellow Catholics, BUT GOD…..many of us pushed through, including my parents, my youth leader and many others including lots of youth. Unfortunately many did not, they were discouraged and followed what the priests were saying and fell away. It was a sad time. I thank God for the faith of my parents especially my daddy and here I am and its ALL JESUS!! All of it! None of is me. Since then I now part of non denomination evangelical church for over 30 years! God is good!
Two years ago on December 16, I gave up my first long-term foster baby. I picked him up from the hospital when he was 5 pounds and two weeks old and had him for 22 months. His mother hated me and would not allow me to have be in communication, which is understandable and I get it. But I cried for two months in deep anguish. AND I prayed every day for both the mom and the baby. Three weeks ago the mom reached out to me out of the blue (ty Jesus) and asked if I was still interested in being involved in her son’s life. Of course, I replied with a yes! And then 2 hurricanes came thru our area and the mom needed help!! I got to see him Sunday & I really think he remembered me. He came right into my arms for a big hug and cried huge tears when I left. God is starting a new friendship with his mom – this has been a journey of deep pain with God‘s healing, faith, perseverance, and prayer and trusting the Lord for the outcome! I’m off to go pick them up for a play date with my current foster baby. I can’t believe I’m going to have both of my little boys in the backseat of my car today. I’m in awe of God‘s goodness, and so grateful for his loving kindness!
❤️ Praise God! My parents did foster care, so I experienced first had the hardships that come with it. That is so exciting that you are able to reconnect with this Mama and your foster baby! I’ll be praying that this relationship will continue.
Wow! What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing. That would be so hard to foster knowing you may lose them, but we need people like you!!I’m glad you look to Jesus in the hard areas of it!
The past few weeks have been a trial for me—wondering if I would be fired for revealing truth, husband taking a massive pay cut, parenting…but God has it all taken care of. When I take my eyes off of Him, the real struggle begins. Keeping faith that God is holding me is what gets me through.
Yes amen Melissa! Thanks for sharing…and thank you for SAYING truth when we are slowly being condemned for speaking it! It’s time to be warriors for the Lord! Not speaking truth is the same as sin.
I’ve had a tough season in my marriage this year. My husband was really struggling with things at work and those every day life pressures made us both not be our best. I was so unhappy and scared, but I clung to Jesus throughout that time. Now, things are getting better all the time and healing has already been done. I have faith that more will be on the way too! We have to remember that in our hard times, God is working. He is molding us into something better than before. Yes, the molding process is going to be tough and may hurt, but what we will be afterwards will be worth it all. Blessings to all of you today, we can do anything through Christ!
Yes amen! I have had a few challenging years in my marriage as well! I heard a great podcast today on Focus on the Family with Gary Chapman of some simple ways to change and renew a troublesome marriage. Also, my husband and I have his devotional book “Love Language Minute” year devotional that we try to read together nightly out loud.
So many encouraging stories to read so early today. I have prayed for you all this morning that have posted prior to me posting and for all sisters in the SRT community.
If you have not listened to the podcast, I would encourage you to do so. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness in every way, in the lives of His people. It is a beautiful practice to recount the ways God has been at work in our lives; it brings praise, honor and glory to His name. The ways God has been present in our lives changes us and when we share those ways, it changes others. ‘I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.’ Psalm 9:1
There are countless ways I can give testimony to how the Lord has carried me over the years but the most significant way right now, is as I continue on in my journey with incurable cancer. Three years ago at this time I was incredibly sick with a long list of diagnosis, unable to walk and needing 24 care. It would still be 3 more weeks until cancer was detected. By the mighty hand of God, His people praying and modern medicine I somehow survived until surgery. It was (is) a long road of recovery – finding the way to live after almost dying is not that easy. God has been so present in countless ways. 1 year ago a reocurrence of cancer was detected and it was devastating. By the grace of God, I am still stable, not sick like I was before and not currently having treatment of any kind. We are in a “watching & waiting” pattern and there has been no change or further progression in the last 11 months. All praise to the Lord and my hope remains in Jesus. Soli Deo Gloria
Yes Wendy B…we are Praising God WITH YOU, for YOU! Love that you have joined us here and keep talking about your testimony!!
Thank you, yes. All praise to the Lord.
I have been a part of SRT for many years – almost from the beginning. It has been such a blessing to learn more of God’s character, be challenged and encouraged in many ways. It really is amazing how this space has changed so much over the years from its beginnings to where it is now ❤️
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Wendy, I love your testimony. Reminds me of my brother. Praying along with you! God has the final say!
God greatly built up my faith during a long season of alcoholism and loneliness in my marriage years ago. I really came back to Him in those difficult days largely solo parenting my kids while my husband did his own thing. He strengthened and sustained me. Looking back I have no idea how I got through it all and how I was able to handle the hard things that came our way. In His faithfulness, He also answered my deepest plea that my husband would be saved and that our family would worship together every Sunday. We are so blessed to both be on this journey together in growing more like Christ.
This is such an awesome story, so happy to celebrate with you!!
What a praise! Thank you Jesus!!
Even currently we are facing challenges but I know that I know that I know Jesus will bring us through..He always has. He stood by us, He has always been good and faithful. Our story is still being written and I trust that He will bring us through this and we will praise Him before, during, and after. It’s our Testimony. We serve an awesome God!
Whoa. 73 comments before 8 am…there is no way I can read those before I have to leave this morning for Pain Group…
After reading the question my first thought was, WOW- the She’s here are going to have great many comments of HOW we have overcome our trials and sufferings because WE know and love our Jesus and how he has brought us through many, many times!! It is faith building, each trial bringing us closer and stronger in our relationship with Jesus. Other people in the world use band-aids for a balm like drugs and alcohol, relationships, or social media to take their minds away from their problems. Even business is easily a balm for women. But we must take our heart and mind to the Lord, lay our worries and heartaches at the feet, and keep our eyes set above. Substitutes will lead to a big crash and burn, sin always leaves a crimson stain, giving us more hurts and troubles in the end. But God—He is our hope and future, with His mercies every morning- He calls us and loves us with his faithfulness and will carry us! The humble in Spirit will see God work! Let go and let God!
God has been building my faith by showing me I have no control. There were many things that I tried to do on my own and in my own strength and I learned to lean on God after exhausting myself without producing any results. Parenting is the main area that he is building my faith.
Amen, I usually use that as the time that we realize we can’t do it on our own- and we either turn to God, or we turn to other balms. Only God is the good choice!
Dannielle, this is SO me! Parenting is hard! I have 3 boys that test me every day (plus my husband sometimes too haha!), but our kids sure can teach us more about our father. Praying for you today and your family! Control is a big issue for me too, so I totally get it!
God has been with me through so much – type 1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 10 when I had to be life-flighted, a brain tumor that needed a craniotomy and a cranioplasty, and most recently two layoffs within a year’s time leading to being out of work for 16 months total.
Yes Jen, you have had more than most and yet so beautiful in your soul and Spirit!! Love you much friend, glad you are here!! We will have to have a Coffee Chat soon!!
I have been struggling with feeling stuck. As a child, I was sexually abused by a family member for months and we lost all contact after his wife blamed me for breaking apart the family even though I was only 8 and never asked for any of it. Fast forward to today and suddenly she is being brought back into my life and I am struggling with those feelings while now being a wife and mother to 2 daughters myself. She wants to meet them and I’m not ok with it, but being made to feel guilty for that. I’ve forgiven her in my heart, but don’t think a relationship with her is beneficial. I feel like I’ve had to overcome so much and am so grateful Jesus kept his hand in my life and on my heart so I never got hardened to my circumstances and can use my testimony to help others, but I’m feeling tired from the race.
Praying for wisdom, LEIGH.
Don’t let others make you feel guilty for keeping a bad person away from your girls. You’re doing the right thing!
Oh my goodness, this is so hard. I’m so sorry you had to go through that and it’s coming up in your life again. It’s completely understandable to not want a relationship with her now, after what you went through. I’m praying for peace in your life.
You are under no obligation to allow someone who hurt you back into your life; forgiveness does not require reconciliation. Your job is to protect your own heart and your own family now. I’m saying a prayer for strength for you now, Sister.
Leigh, I am so sorry about your experience and I pray for healing and that you can have peace and help others. Our church is doing a 5 week series called Detox and week 3 was toxic relationships. They can be positive and encouraging or destructive. Boundaries keep us healthy. Some people drain us, use coercion to manipulate and make us feel guilty. Forgive but don’t put yourself in a place to be hurt. Love people equally but don’t treat them equally if you need to keep yourself safe. Joseph ran away from Potipher’s wife. He didn’t try to reason with her. She was dangerous. We don’t need to be around people who pull us away from God.
Leigh, I am so sorry that happened to you, but I COMMEND YOU for allowing God to walk with you through the pain. Without knowing how it happens that this person is ‘being brought back’ into your life the way isn’t clear for me to offer advice. I will pray, along with SEARCHING, for wisdom and also peace with your decision. As others have saud, you are not the guilty party. Only the guilty should feel guilt. I just wonder if guilt is leading her to extend an olive branch. Please keep us posted! ❤❤
God shows us joy through suffering!
Not living in the past, but remembering those tough times … of sudden, inexplicable, seemingly unbearable losses, of situations resulting from decisions made without seeking wisdom from the Lord, of just the hard, challenging, irritating things I face and grapple with in day to day life. Quoting my dear sister TINA, BUT GOD … was with me in the never ending tears of losing a dear friend, 2 young family members and a parent in what felt like too close succession- losing yet another before the grief was manageable from the previous loss. Tough days of remembering that God’s plan and way are perfect, while screaming WHY??? That question remains, but am trusting God that His word is truth.
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For all those expressing disappointment in this study or this format, please stay with us! Your insights, questions and reflections are invaluable and will help all of us grow in our faith. Keeping it real – it’s uncomfortable to some extent for me to not have the devo to “lean” on and to need to read more slowly and ponder more deeply what’s in the Scriptures for me each day. On the other hand – just my feelings, no judgment here – there are many days I read the devo and think, huh? I’m older and we were unable to have children so there are many devos that don’t resonate with me … even so, the Scriptures and comments from my sisters here strengthen me and my faith each day. Looking forward to our growth together!
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JENNIFER ANAPOL – so good to see you!
TAYLOR – praying for your work situation!!
TRACI GENDRON – no apologies, sister! We walked with you as best we could through some of Tanner’s journey and love each time you share about him ❤️
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – rejoicing with y’all over Jeff ringing the bell!
CEE GEE – good shares yesterday ❤️
MARGARET W – praying for pain to lessen as you recover
VICKI M you’re visible :) thank you for … By faith, though we don’t always receive what we desire or what we are hoping for, we willingly serve God in His plans to bring something better.
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A resounding AMEN about the study format! Please hang with us, sisters!
So many great testimonies this morning to God’s faithfulness! Praying for the requests shared.
Wow, 61 comments so early! I have to run, but intend to dig in with y’all later! Happy Tuesday and God bless! ❤❤
I have struggled with anxiety, especially when it seems like God isn’t providing what I need or want. I have also questioned his goodness in moments of pain. I wish God wanted me to have a perfectly safe and comfortable life. I also recognize that I probably wouldn’t desire or pursue Him in the same way if He did. God has been faithful to me over and over again. I try to remember that when I’m struggling. ❤️
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What experiences did I have that built my faith? There have been a number of life changing experiences in my 67 years of life, but the one that stands out the most as it was the first time I had experienced a tragic loss so close to me was back in 1984. My sister was on vacation with her boyfriend, his mom & our older sister.
One night on driving home from church, they were hit by a drunk driver. Skip (the boyfriend – also family friend) was put on life support and died a few days later. His mom had a broken neck and was told she’d never walk again (but praise God she did!) my sister had internal injuries & my older sister had fractured her back.
The call we received to tell us the news, changed my life. So many emotions, so many questions. All that had this horrific accident happen were believers.
It at first challenged my faith. But by God’s grace, I stood firm and let me tell you — my roots grew real deep through this experience.
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God is always present. He sees everything. His ways are perfect – and beyond our understanding. And He is a good, good Father.
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May we all continue to grow through the challenging, impossible circumstances of life, keeping our eyes fixed on Him.
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Have a blessed day sisters! This morning we leave for TN.
What an experience for your family…But God! Thankful all were believers.
I always appreciate your sharing… Have a wonderful vacation… so glad Jeff was able to complete his treatment! ♥️
Good morning Shes
For a long time I travelled through a deep, desperate valley and the picture I carried was of me hanging from Jesus’ robes, just clinging, hanging there pleading with him to pull me up into his arms of rest.
Then reading today this great group of scriptures, all my pleading, shouting, cries of weariness and desperation I realised had been ok. I wasn’t offending or doubting God, I was looking to the only One who could give me what I needed to walk more closely with Him. As long as I was clinging and crying out to Him He was teaching me to trust him because when I look back I saw how He was there for me. As little and desperate as it was, He honoured my efforts to cling to Him.
Hebrews 5:7-8 “During the days of Jesus’s life on earth He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears and the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered…”
Our precious Lord Jesus offered up loud cries and tears in his humanness. And he learned obedience from what he suffered. As a man he EXPERIENCED what it meant to be obedient from his suffering. ( I had to look that up to understand it).
Hebrews 10 passage tells to keep hold of our confidence in God and the need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God…. I’m thinking we do the will of God when we turn to Him in whatever our circumstances and however small that may look, but we turn. We persevere in the assurance that he knows, and is for us and with us. Praise God I learned a deeper trust in him in that long, desperate valley.
So very well said, Vicki! Thank you! I just posted my reply to Maria’s comment saying something similar to part of your post. I am slowly working my way from latest to earlier comments! ❤
Many times over the last 35 years Jesus has shown Himself faithful as my faith was strengthed. As muscles grow stronger from resistance, my faith does in the daily push-back my faith receives from the enemy, the world and my flesh.
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MICHELLE KININGHAM – welcome to the family of God! Rejoicing you arr sharing your faith journey with us.
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MARIA BAER – continuing to pray for peace of mind for you and your family in the midst of all you need to do in the aftermath of losing your home.
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LANIE H – continuing to pray baby girl turns around
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A year and a half ago, I decided to leave teaching due to severe burnout and depression. I thought I would never go back to teaching. God had bigger plans for me that led me back to my hometown with almost nothing. I had to rely on God for everything especially a job. I ended up doing some substitute teaching and para work and fell back in love with the idea of teaching. I prayed to God for a teaching position within His will, that he would close any door that wasn’t for me, but open the right door. While I ended up having two job interviews particularly one that seemed perfect, I did not receive either one. I remember being so angry at God and how there could be a better position. Again, God had a plan. Right at the end of the school year. I received a phone call from a Christian school requesting an interview for an elementary music position, exactly what I had been praying for. Fast forward to now. I am working in that position and have never felt so encouraged knowing I’m within the Lord’s will.
Amen! Praise God! ❤️
Thank you for sharing your testimony! ❤️
I love this so much. What a reminder to trust and wait even when it’s so hard. Thank you!
“I make every effort to take hold of it (the goal) because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” We are held. I am so grateful that He took hold of me first.
In ministry I can become weary, but today I am resting in being held as I make every effort… seems like that wouldn’t work, but He is the one working anyway. He holds all things together, certainly not me!
What stories or experiences do you have of God building up your faith through challenging circumstances? I think my current situation has been the most challenging thing I’ve experience in my life. I think this will only make my faith grow, as I navigate the process of rebuilding, not just our home, but also everything associated with that— memories, mementoes, etc. Our faith is what we are leaning on right now, and it is the only explanation for the peace we have, even in those moments when we are sad. I think the first inclination is to ask God, “Why?” But truly, that is not for me to know— all I need to know is that in His infinite grace and mercy, He saved us, not just physically, but spiritually.
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Thank you once again for your continued prayers. Yesterday was a sad day, because after being in a go, go, go mode since Wednesday, the whole experience sank-in yesterday. And I finally had a good cry, which I needed. It wasn’t out of pity, but simply crying and talking to God about how much I miss my home. So I needed that cry to sort of cleanse my chest. Thank you, sisters.
MARIA, I’ve been praying and crying with you, sister. Thankful for your safety, praying for guidance, wisdom and strength going forward.
Continued prayers for you and your family Maria. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose everything – especially the memories, which can not be replaced. May God continue to give you strength and peace as you rebuild. ❤️
What an experience for your family…But God! Thankful all were believers.
I always appreciate your sharing… Have a wonderful vacation… so glad Jeff was able to complete his treatment! ♥️
I really don’t have words, Maria… but I care, and am lifting you and your family to Jesus. I’m asking for “unexpected Joy” to surprise you in the midst of your sorrow and grief as you “slog through the muck” of “all the necessary things”. ♥️
Yes, you have lost “everything”.
But God…
So thankful for your lives and now looking forward to hearing all that God will do in the rebuilding.
Hugs and prayers for you, dear sister. ❤️
I am so sorry MARIA, it is so hard what you are going through. I pray more grace and comfort for your dear heart, lots of support to be poured in, and a new home to be provided through the faithfulness of God.
Maria, continued prayers for you, I really can’t imagine losing everything so quickly and the traumatic experience it was. But wow, you are a warrior for sure! I hope you have people surrounding and helping in this time of need. I remember years ago I woke up to hearing strange noises outside and went out, and the neighbors and homeowners were standing there watching their house go up in smoke. It was tough for them, but finally moved back a couple years later with a nice new house. Couldn’t replace the stuff, but at least they were okay.
Maria, you have been on my heart and in my prayers! Many years ago, my uncle’s home burned to the ground. They lived in the country so no quick response. They lost everything, too, and had 8 kids. The kuds were already grown, but all those mementos like you mentioned that were left there destroyed. His home wad a beloved gathering space for family si it was an incredible loss for us, too. Praying for you as you shed those cleansing tears. I see them not as a sign if weakness, but submission to the Ine who knows exactly what you need. Thanks so much for helping us to know how to pray! Love and hugs, too! ❤❤
my every day battle which has gotten better but every day is a FIGHT…is my struggle with disordered eating, body image, and exercise…constant battlefield in my mind and today’s culture only perpetuates the lies
Praying, SARAH ❤️
Praying for strength in your struggles Sarah. ❤️
Fear and anxiety have weighed on me since childhood. Manifesting under the surface in a way that nobody ever sees and doesn’t believe if I share. It has always been been my perseverance in faith and prayer that helps me daily overcome. Thank You Jesus!
Praying AIMEE ❤️
My everyday battle to cast out the demons in my mind, overall thought that I am worthless. The challenge of being enough as a young mother of 2, teacher, and wife. That I can’t endure or have discipline
TAYLOR, praying for these challenges of mom, teacher, wife. Thankful for your most important role as daughter of the King, our Almighty God! Reminded of the song Who You Say I Am (Hillsong), the bridge says – I am chosen
Not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me
Not against me
I am who You say I am
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a child of God.
UNTRUTH!!! I just watched my recorded Dove Awards that aired Friday night. For King and Country had their parents come up on stage after the movie Unsung Heroes won an award. Their song Unsung Heroes was the soundtrack. Anyway, they were praising their parents for being unsung heroes. Their mom spoke and said Every Mom is an Unsung Hero! That is certainly true of devoted, God fearing moms and wives like you! Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. You are very valuable to God and those who love you! That includes this community! ❤❤
My challenge all my life has been overcoming grief that brings in depression. But God is faithful and redeeming my time. For that I am grateful ❤️
When I was 10 my father passed away. He was my best friend and a God fearing man. I couldn’t understand why God would “take” my dad. I wrestled with it for a long time. But even when I was furious with God, He was still with me. I remember one day walking out to recess and just feeling God’s presence and in that moment knew He had never left my side. Now as an adult, I know God didn’t call my Dad home to punish me. I know how much He loves me. And after being able to get through that, I know I can endure what ever else is thrown my way because God is walking right there beside me.
My biggest challenge was teaching at a previous school. I was not where I was supposed to be. I think. So many terrible things happened and I was humiliated, disrespected and unsupported. I was not offered a contract the next year and God opened a door I didn’t see coming. My husband and I suffered a lot during that time. But! God is good and I’m in a private Christian school where I teach children about Jesus every day!
I can relate to this so much! Even when we don’t understanding why God is letting things happen to us, we know He has a perfect plan for us.
Two years ago, I was a youth pastor’s wife. We loved where we lived and had a dream to stay long enough to see my husband become the Senior Pastor. In January of ‘23, very suddenly, we were asked to leave. The reasons given were either trite or outright lies, but my husband resigned instead of challenging it. We loved that church, had a vision for its growth, but we had to leave. That was the hardest point in our life and marriage, and brought us to our knees daily while we sought God’s Will. I felt like a Pastor’s-wife-in-recovery, and God knew that. After months of prayer, God lead us to a Christian School where we both get to use our gifts to serve. My husband teaches high school English and Bible, and I teach 1st Grade. We’re in a truly healthy church, growing, healing, and feeling blessed to have this ministry. Two years ago, I couldn’t imagine being where I am today, but I praise God for his faithfulness to us. He never left us though at times I doubted whether he saw us at all. He prepared a ministry for us, and I thank him daily for his work.
Years ago my husband and I had a similar church experience. Not having grown up in the church, it was the first time I’d experienced Christians being mean to one another, and it hurt so badly. But, through it all Jesus was and is still the same! Thankful you were brought through to the other side of it as well, and didn’t let the bitterness and hurt turn you away from the one that loves you so much!
Thank you for sharing your testimony Nadine. It testifies of God’s faithfulness and goodness, and that He always has a better plan. ❤️
Nadine, this is beautiful. And what an amazing ministry to guide our youth in the Christian life.
So beautiful Nadine that you are thriving and making a difference in a Christian school. I saw the movie last week Average Joe and in a scene Joe had coffee with an older gentleman that was hurting and Joe asked him if he ever had a bad experience with a restaurant? Does that bad experience shape his view of all of them? I had never heard that before but a good question to have in our back pockets for helping others not to give up.
My biggest valley that I’ve seen God in so clearly is sobriety. This isn’t the first time I tried to get sober but it’s the first time I chose to get sober with God as the focus of my sobriety not me and wow does that make such a difference. I’m not saying it’s been easy but it’s definitely been good. Because God is still good even through our tribulations.
I too am trying to get sober
“Get sober with God…that makes such a difference.” Amen! He is our strength!
Praying for you in this journey Sam and also for you, Mary Ann. ❤️
Praying, SAM, MARY ANN and others, as you walk with the Lord, for daily victory in sobriety. ❤️
Sam, thank you for sharing. My continued prayers on your sobriety journey. God is with you through this. Lean on my Him, sister. So proud of you.
Getting sober with God worked for me, Sam, I’ve been sober for 18 years now. I don’t think I could have done it without Jesus in my life.
Praying for you and your sobriety, Sam, and all those struggling with addictions.
I love how these Scriptures have been put together. There has been said “God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle” but I like this quote -don’t know who said it- better: “God doesn’t ask us to do anything that He hasn’t done for us first.” It is all there in Isaiah 53:1-12; Jesus was despised, rejected, afflicted, a man of sorrows. He learned obedience through suffering. He prayed “thy will be done”, trusting that God would turn everything into His glory and our good, even death on a cross…
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“Our confidence and encouragement to endure is in the God who sent His Son to earth to share in our suffering and ultimately made a way for all believers to be in relationship with God.”
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May our aim be like Paul’s, to gain Christ, “to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings…” (Philippians 3:7-14).
❤️
I went through a time of depression and had really bad panic attacks, keeping me up all hours of the night. I wasn’t sleeping, I was too scared to go places. BUT GOD… I spent nights writing in my prayer journal pouring my heart out to him. Reading the book of psalms and crying. I begged and begged God to take this
Thank you, God. He is always with us and walks with us through the valleys, even when we may not think He is.
This song came to mind as I was reading this morning. Jesus surrendered all for us. I want to do the same. Keeping you all in prayer. God’s got us. ❤️
All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Thee I freely give
I will ever love and trust You
In Your presence daily live
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all
All to Jesus, I surrender
Lord, I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Your love and power
Let Your blessing fall on me
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
O the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory, to Your name
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all (I surrender all)
I surrender all, I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all (all to Thee, my blessed)
All to Thee, my blessed Savior
I surrender all
❤️
I remember this hymn well. Love it! ❤️
First, welcome to those joining us for the first time. I pray that the Lord will speak to you through the scriptures. I pray that you will know how much he loves you and how much we in this community love you.
Good morning Ladies! I’m sure we can all look back on some extremely challenging circumstances and see God’s hand at work drawing us closer to Himself through it all. (Praying for the Mom’s struggling with children, small and grown, who can produce some of the deepest challenges!) But the thing that struck me this morning reading all the Scripture is the fact that Jesus had faith in the Father when He obediently took on the wrath of God for me! The Hebrews passage that states the Son learned obedience from what He suffered has always been perplexing to me, as we think Jesus is God – He does not learn things. Yet the incarnation put Him in a different position – a role of subjection to the Father. Different than their roles up to this point. It’s a bit early for these deep musings and I need to get ready for work, but would love your thoughts or comments if any of that made sense:)
Thanking God this morning that our righteousness is not from the law, but because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross for us!
Yes, it made scense. We usually think of Jesus’ suffering at the cross, but from the time He took on flesh (conception?) He suffered.
This is one of those ‘I wish God’s ways were different, but they are certainly effective’ questions to ponder. It’s a strange upside down kingdom where suffering is lifted up. The podcast was really helpful, that saying out loud “is it worth all this” and answering it with scripture. Keep on keeping on. X
Just this morning I was feeling very weary, going through my prayer list, praying for the same things again and again. I am seeing the faithfulness of God in this devotional and Scripture reading. It’s convicting. Thanking God for his faithfulness to bring me back into right thinking and to give me strength for another day.
My mom is still struggling with diarrhea. The doctors say it could take a really long time to get back to normal. She is trying a couple things to see if it helps. Thankfully, she eats really healthy and takes good supplements. She sees a regular medical doctor and sees a natural doctor (who actually is a doctor) as well, so I’m thankful she is taking care of herself as best as she can.
We should hopefully hear a quote for a house from another business this weekend. We have been waiting a month and a half.
My daughter came down with an allergic rash on Saturday. I have no idea what caused it. Would appreciate prayers for her as it hasn’t improved. It seems to get better, but then gets worse. It changes. Taking her to the doctor again today. Also, would appreciate prayers she cooperates. She is almost 2. She screamed like crazy (she is super loud) the last time I took her to the doctor ( it was after her bedtime and she gets very nervous in new situations). The doctor actually asked if she had been traumatized, it was that bad. Thanks for your prayers.
Praying for all and especially strength for you
A WALTON – praying, sister, that’s a lot all at once. Praying for your mom’s health, and for your daughter’s rash to clear up (and info on the cause), that she would not be scared at the dr visit – 2 is a tough age. ❤️. Also praying on the house situation.
Praying that God will give your little one peace as she goes to the doctors, and for you – as it must be so hard for you to see her so frightened.
Praying for all of your requests, but especially for strength and endurance as you deal with all the challenges right now, A.
The most challenging trial I’ve been living through for the past 17 years now, is that of my son’s mental illness (adhd, depression, anxiety) and more recently addiction. God is good and He is able to turn all of this around for him and for us as his parents and family. Tomorrow he goes in for lab work. I’m always concerned that something serious will show up. He’s lost so much weight and hair. He has no appetite. He’s about 15-20 pounds under weight right now. He’s home with us until the end of the year. Currently looking for a good job and then a place to live. He’s been sober for a year off cocaine, but still uses weed. Please sisters I ask that you pray for him. That he would surrender his life to Christ. At the moment he feels no hope or a sense of belonging. He was raised in a Christian home and I taught him the scriptures. Because of all the trials he’s gone through and his illness, he no longer trusts in Him who is the only one who can heal him, protect him, guide him and turn his life around.❤️
Praying for him this morning. Yes, I can see how this would be a huge trial to your faith, but I see your faithfulness to God in this situation. It is inspiring. The lovely thing is, I also see God’s faithful presence to you as well in this very hard situation.
Agree with A Walton – you’re faithfulness to God is a testimony of His greatness
Oh Lord, be with Aleida’s son as he has blood work today. Calm her anxiety and greats.
Many times over the last 35 years Jesus has shown Himself faithful as my faith was strengthed. As muscles grow stronger from resistance, my faith does in the daily push-back my faith receives from the enemy, the world and my flesh.
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MICHELLE KININGHAM – welcome to the family of God! Rejoicing you arr sharing your faith journey with us.
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MARIA BAER – continuing to pray for peace of mind for you and your family in the midst of all you need to do in the aftermath of losing your home.
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LANIE H – continuing to pray baby girl turns around.
Sorry this posted here…sigh
Praying ALEIDA with you and for you, your husband and especially for Victor – that he would turn to Christ, be free from all addictions and for his good mental and physical health.
Still here, praying with you Alieda – for God to do a miraculous work in Victor’s life. May God continue to uphold you, give you wisdom and guide you. ❤️
Alexia! I have been wondering about Victor, but could not remember who his mom was to ask! I’m glad I saw your post today. I have formal prayer in the morning where I write down names and then I will walk and pray about anyone who randomly comes into mind, and victor does often! I lost a brother to opiates, and I know how stressful addiction can be on the family. Lifting y’all up in prayer, and specifically that victor will find a meaningful job. Meaningful occupations paid or unpaid are so essential in mental health!
Kelly, thank you for the prayers!
Sorry typo! Alieda!
Aleida, covering your son and family with prayers, sweet sister.
Praying for you and your family
Praying for Victor this morning.
Continued prayers, dear she. ❤️
Praying for your family and Victor. ❤️