Devotionals about Suffering & Trials
Suffering is not the evidence that God has left — it's often where He does His deepest work. The devotionals on suffering and trials below refuse easy answers and sit with the real pain while pointing to the real hope.
221 devotionals about suffering & trials
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221 devotionals in Suffering & Trials
November 14, 2023
Step Out of the Boat - Faith Through Life's Storms
So, you ever have a lot of things going on and you’re really having to lean on the Lord to give you patience and strength and deliver you from this storm that won’t seem to subside? I have, and it gets me asking myself how strong is my faith and is it strong enough to survive it? Am I ready to “w...
sufferingNovember 2, 2023
Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?
I see a lot of post and stories in the media (that which I allow myself to see) and people seem, generally speaking, so mad and angry. We protest everything for Pete’s sake. Many times I see them questioning God or if there even is one! Why do we sometimes get frustrated or angry with God? Let’s...
justificationSeptember 25, 2023
Living in Grace: Peace Through Justification
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that s...
faithSeptember 12, 2023
Faith in the Storm: Beyond Mere Belief
So, I made the comment yesterday that, “Believing is not Faith”. I’m confident of this and I believe that, while related, they are drastically different. Faith is not believing in God’s goodness only when we are out of the storm; faith is believing in God’s goodness right in the middle of it. The...
living-hopeAugust 11, 2023
Born Again to Living Hope
Take this into the weekend with you. Wow, just let this sink in this morning...“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that i...
gods-presenceAugust 3, 2023
God Is Near to the Brokenhearted
So, I’ve been getting pretty deep in my reading the last few days on how I/we should try to get our minds and thoughts in order. I mean, we’re dealing with a lot right now but I know Job had it worse and God is in control, yet my mind still goes down rabbit holes. I know He is still there though....
gods-graceJuly 21, 2023
His Grace is Sufficient
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God says, “my grace is sufficient for you”. I feel like this is a message for us to the answers we seek. What I mean is we pray for God to remove certain things from our lives and sometimes it feels like He’s not answering. But what if He has already answered us with a hidde...
sufferingJuly 19, 2023
When God's Ways Don't Make Sense
Unless you live on an island alone there’s a good chance you’ll be faced with dealing with other peoples problems. Family, friends, etc. Trying to carry the burden of others and taking care of you own at the same time can be exhausting. I’m sure you’ve been there, we all have. So, I decided to di...
burden-castingJuly 12, 2023
Cast Your Burdens: God's Strength in Life's Struggles
23“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”Psalm 55:22 Psalm 55 addresses the struggles that can overwhelm us in this life. It’s everything from the depths of emotion we face in death, loss, and grief, to the everyday disappointments...
spiritual-disciplineJune 27, 2023
Strength Through Weakness: Serving from Gratitude
There are no shortcuts to fully living for Christ. This is a battle. To return to Proverbs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Prayer, worship, meditation, Scripture memory, are all part of nurturing the inner life of our hearts.More than anything else, we must r...
sufferingJune 26, 2023
Good People, Hard Times: Understanding God's Goodness
I got to thinking about last weeks talks of “doing good” and how it seems there is this weird idea of God Karma or something some people have. What I mean by that is it seems as though we can fall into the trap of thinking if we do good, God will reward us with good stuff. Conversely, if we don’t...
living-for-christMay 2, 2023
Living is Christ: Finding Purpose in Every Circumstance
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”Philippians 1:21 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the...
gods-loveApril 11, 2023
God's Unfailing Love Through Life's Curveballs
Life can throw you curve balls, we all know that. Lately, I’ve had a steady diet of them too. But, you know what, I know they will eventually pass and today is a beautiful new day full of hope!So, as we move forward this week, take time to think about the unfailing love of God. Despite our sinful...
disappointmentApril 10, 2023
When Disappointment Becomes Direction
If you’ve ever competed in anything or spent much time trying to accomplish anything, then I’m sure you’re familiar with disappointment. I say this jokingly, because clearly we’ve all had disappointments in our lives. However, the disappointments we face can either keep us where we are or catapul...
perseveranceMarch 29, 2023
Blessed in Trials: Standing Steadfast for the Crown of Life
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”James 1:12 As we’ve talked about staying true to our faith under hard times and how that will build perseverance, James tells us t...
trialsMarch 21, 2023
Count It Joy During Trials - God Is Shaping You
It sure seems like every time you turn around we are being informed about someone else’s troubles. From individual victims of bad fortune to groups feeling victimized. While I certainly feel empathy, I can’t help but reflect on the fact the If you live long enough in this world, you will inevitab...
sufferingMarch 15, 2023
When We Get Frustrated with God
Why do we sometimes get frustrated or angry with God? Let’s face it, we all do it. We lose a job promotion, a competition didn’t go our way, we experience a death in the family, personal injury or financial hardships. This list is long...we all have them. Life’s hard. "God, why did you let that h...
peaceMarch 1, 2023
Finding Perfect Peace in Life's Imperfect Circumstances
So, what causes us to think God’s peace equals perfection on earth? Our expectations. I read where a pastor once said, “If I’m going to live at peace, I’ve got to surrender my expectation of perfection. Peace isn’t found in a place or in a set of circumstances that are problem free.” Amen, huh?Wh...
trialsJanuary 3, 2023
When the Storm Hits: Trusting God's Plan
I talked to a friend yesterday who was diagnosed with Cancer mid-year last year and his did who was diagnosed five years ago. We were all just remunerating and laughing about some of the nuances of treatment. But it got me thinking how quickly things can turn in our lives just when we think “we g...
sufferingJanuary 2, 2023
After Suffering: God's Promise of Restoration
Happy New Year! I’m still tired from that Saturday of football games! “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”1 Peter 5:10 I love this verse from Peter. You...
sufferingDecember 9, 2022
Rejoicing in Suffering: God's Megaphone of Grace
Like you, I’ve gone through sufferings and hard times and I will again I’m sure. But are we rejoicing in our sufferings?Here’s a great quote by CS Lewis, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” “Not only t...
thanksgivingNovember 24, 2022
Gospel Chains: Finding Purpose in Prison
Happy Thanksgiving!“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the...
perseveranceNovember 17, 2022
You've Survived 100%: God Uses All Things for Good
This has been a tough week and it’s only Thursday, but you know what, life keeps going doesn’t it? I love the saying, “you’ve survived 100% of everything you’ve gone through so far, so there’s a good chance you’re going to make it through this...”The things you go through make you unique. Everyon...
peaceNovember 14, 2022
Peace in the Storm: Jesus Has Overcome the World
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."”John 16:33 Do you ever feel like life is one problem after another?You make it through one issue, but before you can recover another one shoots up....