Joy in Our Challenges and Trials

As believers in Jesus, a perfect man who suffered so desperately for us to be free, how do we respond to suffering in our lives? It's a hard question, and for so many, it looks drastically different throughout the chapters of our lives.

As women, we tend to hold so much on our shoulders. For some, it's being a mom to our babies as they grow and constantly change. As they grow, their needs from us adjust so quickly that it requires us to adapt alongside them. While it's an honor to provide, it's ok that it's not always easy.

For another, you might be a new wife, desperately trying to figure out how to be what God has called you to be. How to support your husband and grow into the woman you want to become.

Maybe you're a caretaker, watching your loved one slip away from you and crying out to God to heal, help, and encourage you to take another breath and get through the afternoon.

Our life on this earth is short but, at times, feels cripplingly long. We are faced with trial after trial in so many different forms, and it is so easy to sit back and feel exhausted and lost. So how do we persist? How do we come together and conquer when joy is just not on our agenda for the day? How do we learn what God is teaching us and continue to honor him through the heavy pain we feel in our hearts? The enemy thrives when our hearts are hurting, and at times it feels so hard to give our struggles to God, relinquishing the control that we feel is holding us together. God's hand is outstretched, begging you to grab ahold, will you?

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 ESV).

That feeling of endurance when we break, giving our suffering to the Lord and trusting that the suffering we feel has a purpose, is God shaping, moving, and directing our lives. In those seasons, He WILL provide a way. It may not be our way, but it will be His way.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4 ESV).

Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, in those quiet moments when you decide it's time to give this suffering to God and grab hold of His outstretched hand, I pray you experience the smile of pure relief and joy that bubbles up. I describe that emotion as the Holy Spirit giving you a hug and letting you know that through Christ, all things are possible, and you will be ok.

When I need to focus on giving my suffering that I have been carrying for far too long to the Lord, these worship songs bring me encouragement and peace; I hope they do for you as well!

Worn – Tenth Avenue North

You’re Gonna be OK – Jenn Johnson

Completely – Among the Thirsty

When the Waters Rise – Casey Darnell

Madison Racel is a Contributor for Humble Faith Ministries, a lover of all things reading, writing, and baking with a happy place in the outdoors. She resides in the Carolinas with her husband and two spoiled pups! Her heart and prayer are for women to be blessed as they grow in faith through quiet moments with the Lord and a community that brings them together.