What does it look like when we choose faith in hard seasons?
I’ve shared that these past number of months have been tough for our family. Anyone who’s raised kids and walked through the teen years knows how difficult, and sometimes heartrendingly painful, these years are.
Along with walking through struggles with our sons, I’ve taken nine trips since June 10th. I feel like a top that is set spinning, begins to wobble and then is twisted up again.
The other morning, I read a devotion and the accompanying passage was Romans 5:1-5:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5, NKJV
Verse two spoke of how powerful faith in God is. Yet sometimes, I forget I can choose faith and opt for self-sufficiency.
Then, as I read verse three, God spoke to my heart. In all honesty, walking through these months, I’ve condemned myself more than once. Sometimes, I’ve given into the lie that if only I’d done something different when our sons were younger, things would be different now. The decision to choose faith is sometimes forgotten in the middle of life’s muck.
God’s message in my failing
When I was certain I deserved correction for my “lack of faith” in the middle of the “hard,” God said, “I love you.” What’s a mama prone to self-condemnation to do with that?
Our trials have the capacity to draw us closer to God or drive us away from Him. Our movement depends on our mindset. I know God can bring us through this season, but I’ve grappled with if He would do so in a way that doesn’t devastate me.
3 Interesting Results When We Choose Faith in Trials—Our trials have the capacity to draw us closer to God or drive us away from Him. #tellhisstory #choosefaith Click To TweetWhen tribulations barge into our lives, we sometimes feel blindsided, knocked on our backs. It takes time to process the emotion. To come to terms with what’s happening.
And to decide whether or not we’re going to trust our Father.
Nothing. Nothing takes Him by surprise. If God allows something hard into our lives, He’s going to walk with us through it. This is the truth that can guide us to the next step of these five verses.
The results when we choose faith
We all must choose how we respond to God in the middle of our trials.
Perseverance
It’s when we trust God by faith in the middle of our difficult circumstances that we find the capacity to persevere through the hard. Does this immediately make things easier?
Well, no . . . and yes.
Just because we choose faith and to trust our Father doesn’t mean everything will immediately get better. Sometimes, circumstances will become even more painful, more difficult.
But, the yes comes because when we choose to trust our Father, to walk in faith, we know His peace. We know His presence with us.
Character
Navigating trials and trusting God in the middle of the not knowing how things will end develops much deeper character. When we glimpse God’s hand working in our circumstances—when we see how He shows up in our days—we become more settled in our faith and our character.
Hope
When we know that we know Jesus is with us, that’s where hope is found. Our hope isn’t grounded in our difficult situation ending the way we want or expect. We find hope in the quiet confidence that God is faithful to bring us through, no matter how our trials resolve.
When I made the shift from being spun up by the things going on in our family to choosing faith, determining to trust that God is with us through these hard days, my spirit settled.
God literally showed up in rainbows, in friends texting out of the blue that they were praying for us or just thinking about us, and in other glimpses God gave of His presence.
Faith is a choice. Sometimes, we choose faith moment-by-moment, because life simply overwhelms us otherwise.
Our family’s hard season isn’t over. But more and more, I know God is walking with us, and He will bring us through. And when moments feel overwhelming, I will still choose faith in my Father.
Because He is God. He is faithful. And, He loves us.
What about you? What has helped you through heartbreaking trials? Do you have a verse or a passage that helps you choose faith in your trials?
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Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Good sharing Jeanne! The Lord said times would get more difficult. The enemy knows it’s time is short. I believe he’s pulling out the stops. But thankfully we serve a faithful God who loves us! Love your pictures of God’s glory!
Hi Mom, I agree. The enemy wants to derail as many as he can. I’m so thankful greater is He who is in us than he who is in this world. Our Father does love us, doesn’t He? 🙂
I appreciate the thought that – “Our movement depends on our mindset.”
Amy, thank you. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. 🙂
that word CHOOSE jumped right out and grabbed me, Jeanne. we can’t control what’s going on around us but God has blessed us with the option to choose how we respond. only by His grace will i make those choices that lead to peace.
thanks for taking us there this week, friend.
Linda, please forgive me for not commenting sooner. You are so right. We can’t control what’s going on around us. But I’m thankful God’s given us what we need to choose grace in our response. Such truth here, friend.
As you so eloquently wrote, our hope resides in Him and our Savior intercedes on our behalf. I’m so grateful He us loves us so fervently.
Blessings,
Tammy
Tammy, I’m so grateful for God’s patient passionate love, too!
If he allows it, he will walk us through it-Amen!
I LOVE the way you put that, Jan!!
John 14:27 comes to mind. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…” I attended a church for many years where we shook hands and said “Peace be with you.” It was just a gesture, but a peaceful gesture nonetheless. Somehow I feel peace and faith go hand in hand. If at peace, I am not anxious, and I am trusting what God is unfolding. When going through hard times with my teens, a neighbour who had walked the path already told me “you’ll get through this.” That was many years ago, but her words encouraged me. You will get through these hard seasons as a parent…May His peace fill your heart and mind this week!
That’s a great passage, Lynn. I appreciate what you said about how when we are resting in God’s peace and His sovereignty, we have no reason to be anxious. When we trust Him to walk us through every trial, we can rest in His peace. I love what your neighbor told you in your teen-raising years. I need to remember that truth on the hard days. 😳🙃
Friend, I feel you. I’ve been in a 5 year season of waiting. My oldest daughter disengaged me from her life. I was grief stricken and mourned. Then as I continued to grow in my relationship with God, the wait became easier. I have to remember that she was his before she was mine and that he is working behind the scenes for both of our good even if I can’t see it. Wonderful encouragement within this post.
Paula, thank you for your encouragement. Your perspective is so beautiful. it’s so important to remember that our Father loves our children even more than we do and who they REALLY belong to. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart.
Jeanne,
I’ve always found Psalm 46 comforting, especially verse 1;
“He is a very present help in troubling times…”
Which I changed to ‘pleasant help’ when my late husband was going through brain surgery for a brain tumour that would take his life 10 weeks later.
For God’s presence indeed is comforting & pleasant when in the midst of troubling times.
Bless you, Jennifer
Jennifer, I really like Psalm 46 as well. I like the slight change you made to verse one. There is peace in knowing He’s with us in our hardest trials. You’re so right. God’s presence is comforting and pleasant, especially in the troubling times.
Such good thoughts, dear one. God just reminded me of His goodness and kindness to us this very morning–in direct opposition to the thoughts I often have about my “progress”–or lack of it 😉😊. Yet thru it all, He is there; and He loves. 💗💗
Lovely words and lovely pictures as well.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend. I know what you mean about those thoughts that can derail us. I’m so thankful for our Father’s presence and the fact that He doesn’t compare us with others. He knows our journey and how we will grow the closest to Him. And yes, He LOVES us. Such an amazing thought!
“When we glimpse God’s hand working in our circumstances—when we see how He shows up in our days—we become more settled in our faith and our character” – I have found this to be true time and time again. Usually blindsiding me in the midst of the hard and giving me hope to carry on 🙂 I’m glad you’re seeing glimpses of Him during your hard season.
Wemi, it’s so good to see you! I am so thankful the trials God allows into our lives are never random in His perspective. And I’m so thankful that He shows up and offers us hope, especially in the most difficult seasons. So thankful for your visit!
“Our movement depends on our mindset,” these words will stay with me. Sometimes I want to just sit down and have a grown-up grump fest. I get tired of perservering. I get tired of improving my character. But hope always shows up about that time and reaches out a hand to invite me to keep on. Hope often shows up in Nature, that’s why I spend a lot of time outside!
Oh, Anita. I understand that craving to have a grown-up grump fest! I love what you said about hope always showing up and reaching out a hand and inviting us to keep on. I’m with you. I find such refreshment and restoration in nature.
A fabulous passage, Jeanne, for grounding ourselves when we feel like we are spinning out of control. Love the idea of a survey-you know sometimes my biggest problem is I just put my head down and keep plowing…but that is not always the best plan!
Romans 5 has so much to strengthen us in hard times. I tend to put my head down and plow on too. But, sometimes I need to know if I’m plowing in the right direction. 😉
Wow, Jeanne … this sentence: “I know God can bring us through this season, but I’ve grappled with if He would do so in a way that doesn’t devastate me.” I guess we have no way of knowing how these hard seasons are going to ultimately affect us, do we? All we know, as you say, is that He WILL bring us through. Because He is loving and merciful and purposeful in all He allows. I hope October is off to a good start for you and your loved ones … I’m praying for you.
Lois, thank you for your words and encouragement. I find hope in knowing God WILL bring us through painful, difficult times in our lives. October is off to a busy, but good, start in our home.
Those verses in Romans 5 offer so much hope. Blessings to you as you persevere!
Yes, Romans 5 bolsters my spirit when I’m spinning. Thanks for stopping by!
You have helped me today more than you know.
Awww, Barbara. I’m sending prayers and virtual hugs to you today.
Excellent post this morning. Thank you for allowing your heart to be shared.
Anita, it’s so good to see you! Thank you for your encouragement. It’s always a bit vulnerable to share the hard things in our lives, but God has ways of using them, doesn’t He?
Indeed. They make us stronger and sometimes kinder.
Truth!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this, but you’re right, many parents do, especially in today’s world. We went through a similar situation ourselves with our son and I will never forget when we were driving to church, just my husband, my son, and I (he still attended church with us) the song “How Great Is Our God” came on the radio. I don’t know what happened, but the spirit of God just filled the car and I started quietly weeping, then my husband reached over and grabbed my hand and he was weeping too. My son, sitting in the backseat, was oblivious to it all. But I just felt such peace and faith in God that He is Great, and He will work it all out for our good. Long story short, our son is loving and serving the Lord today. Everyone that knows him loves him and says wonderful things about him. God did a miracle in his life, and he will do a miracle in your sons life too!
Amy, thank you so much for sharing pieces of your story. They really ministered to my heart. God does have ways of ministering to our hearts, doesn’t He? He’s used songs and hymns to speak truth to my brokenness as well. I love the hope your story offers. We’re still in the middle of the mess, but my prayer is that both of our sons will one day be walking with, loving, and serving the Lord.
I’ve been helped by this passage as well. Getting to know God’s character helps us trust Him when He allows things we don’t understand. Knowing He has a purpose helps as well.
Yes, Barbara, getting to know God’s character definitely helps us trust Him when we don’t understand why He allows what He does into his life. I so appreciate your words here!
Your survey featured some thoughtful questions. Hope it ends up being helpful to you!
Thanks soooo much for taking the time to fill it out, Michele!
Faith had got to be a choice
to keep me in God’s warp and weft,
faith has got to be my choice,
for I have nothing left
of attitude and primal strength,
accomplishment and worldly pride.
It’s gone to far too great a length,
and there’s nowhere to hide
but in the Shadow of the Cross,
and hope that it’s all true,
that the dark day of pain and loss
through which He went brought something new,
a world beyond night’s final fall
where captive Grace redeems it all.
Andrew, I read HOPE in every line of your poem. It has me thanking the Lord for His constant presence and the promise that there’s more for us than this wearying life. I’m praying for you and Barb, my friend. And sending a very gentle hug.
Yes, another hymn comes to mind: Beneath the cross of Jesus, I feign would take my stand!