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
March 19, 2021
Walking by Faith When Life Doesn't Make Sense
We will all face those times in our lives when we question whether or not God is on our side. In September of 2016, I was seriously injured doing what I love, racing motocross. I broke my jaw requiring plates and screws and my back at the T5,6&7. While the weather was great that fall, I was laid...
weaknessMarch 18, 2021
Treasure in Jars of Clay: Embracing Our Weakness
You know, people will do almost anything to appear strong, successful, and worthy of admiration. We exercise our bodies with intensity post the process to Instagram, climb the corporate ladder at the expense of integrity, and struggle to accept the help of other people. Our society works by the p...
faith-journeyMarch 11, 2021
Ready to Walk on Water? Faith in 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...
sufferingMarch 1, 2021
When Life Gets Hard: Understanding God's Plan
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. 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 face it, we all do it. We lose a job pr...
graceJanuary 20, 2021
Standing in Grace: Peace and Endurance
“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...
fearJanuary 15, 2021
Past as Reference, Not Residence: Overcoming Fear
1/18/19So I’ve been thinking lately as I’m coming up on another year on this rock and reflecting on the past, both good and bad. And one of the things I keep coming back to is what and why I feared some of the things I’ve been through and survived and what or why would I fear what’s ahead of me....
faithNovember 30, 2020
Faith That Keeps Moving Forward Through Trials
I want to talk about what it means to have faith. When I think of faith, I think of many times in my life where I have struggled and wanted to quit or give up. But I didn’t. I kept moving forward. But the most recent, has been this year learning to fly. You see, when I first decided to take it on...
encouragementNovember 13, 2020
Take Heart: Finding Peace in a World of Tribulation
“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 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...
graceNovember 4, 2020
God's Grace Is Sufficient: Finding Him in Your Struggles
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...
sufferingNovember 3, 2020
Your Thorn in the Flesh: Understanding God's Purpose
Yesterday I talked about the “thorn” that was placed in Paul’s side or his flesh as it were. You got one of those in you? A thorn is something that seems so small but, in reality, comes to occupy and consume all of our thoughts.Our thorns...these are the financial difficulties that seem to persis...
sufferingOctober 15, 2020
Finding Strength Through Weakness in Life's Battles
I had a brutal day yesterday I’m so many ways and one that just breaks my heart. But it got me thinking again to what we’ve been talking about with suffering. 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 t...
good-fruitOctober 13, 2020
Good Trees Bear Good Fruit Through Suffering
One of the things that makes me know I’m doing something worth while is when I get feedback from you. It always brightens my day knowing not only are you reading what I send, but that you’re engaged in the conversation. So, with that in mind, I’d like to share what our young Embry-Riddle student...
sufferingOctober 12, 2020
When Good Things Don't Happen to Good People
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...
frustrationOctober 4, 2020
Surviving Life's Frustrations with God's Help
The election not go your way? Didn’t for me, at least I don’t think so. But, in the end I look at it like this. Since my birth in 1969, there have been 6 Republicans (31 years)and 3 Democrats (20 years) as President. To date, If you’re reading this, you’ve survived them all. I suspect regardless...
weaknessSeptember 10, 2020
Strong in Weakness: When God's Power Shines
First off, I’m sorry I was late yesterday. I wrote our daily and completely forgot to send. When I did send it I was flying over Tennessee headed to Arkansas. That’s where I am now. I’m camping in the Ozarks with zero service. I had to hike this morning at 5:00 CST to get to the lodges to get a s...
sufferingSeptember 1, 2020
God's Plan Through Our Suffering
You ever notice that when we finally get out of whatever it is we are suffering from it never seems to be the way we thought we would get out of it? Like during our suffering we could never understand or see the way out that God has for us. It’s because it’s His plan for us not our plan for us. H...
anger-at-godAugust 24, 2020
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?
Why do we sometimes get frustrated or angry with God? Let’s face it, we all do it. We lose a job promotion, a race 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 happen?"...
griefAugust 18, 2020
God Heals the Brokenhearted
As we get closer to August 22nd, I can’t help but to think about my dad. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since he passed. I know I’m not as “walking sad” as I was a year ago and the waves of sadness have calmed, but I miss him more now than I ever have. But it’s ok...“He heals the br...
compassionJuly 28, 2020
Jesus Sees Your Brokenness
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd...
hopeJuly 24, 2020
Jesus in the Storm
It’s pretty hard lately to “turn off” all the negativity in the world. Almost impossible. It’s as if no matter how good you think things are, the enemy is beating you back with news that’s it’s all falling apart...it’s tough enough dealing with our own lives let alone worry about the nation aroun...
gods-guidanceJuly 10, 2020
God Establishes Your Steps Through Life's Storms
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”Proverbs 16:9 ESVMost of us do the best we can in the ways we've been taught. Family traditions, business training, and life experiences pretty much shape who we are and how we think. Regardless of our upbringing or professional...
perseveranceJuly 3, 2020
The Crown of Life for Those Who Endure
Wrapping up the week, let finish this lesson in James. “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...
trialsJune 30, 2020
Finding Joy During Life's Trials
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 inevitabl...
gods-presenceMay 29, 2020
God's Unchanging Love Through Life's Storms
You know it easy sometimes to think that God isn’t present when things are going bad for us. The feeling that maybe He isn’t there when we deviate from what we think is His plan for us. Well, it is simply not true. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...