July 11: Stand Firm in Trials

Writer: Rosemarie Barrett-Liemonus

 

Scripture: James 5:11

Rosemarie Barrett-Liemonus

Behold, we count them happy who endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 Stand Firm in Trials

Have you ever felt like everything in your life was falling apart at once? I have. There have been moments when it seemed like everything I had prayed for was unraveling. One such instance was during a prolonged period of unemployment. I pleaded with God for a job, and He answered, but not in the way I expected.

 Yes, I got the job. But along with it came trials, testing, and deep challenges. I found myself praying constantly, sometimes with praise, other times in tears, even questioning God. “Why am I going through this? What I didn’t realize then. God was preparing me for something greater.

 Eventually, the time came for me to step into a new role, a position I had worked for, waited for, and, through God's grace, earned. I walked into it with dignity, overwhelmed with gratitude for His provision. My family and friends rejoiced with me, praising God for His goodness.

But then. Another wave of trials. Heavy-hearted, I became overwhelmed. One afternoon, I found myself in the bathroom, kneeling by the sink, reflecting on every hardship I'd faced before. Tears flowed, my breath grew short, and then, from a place of deep sorrow, I cried out: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” And in silence that followed, a still, small voice said.

“Trust Me.”

Scripture flooded back to my heart. Exodus 14:14 “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. And I believed. James 5:11 echoed again. Job had endured an unthinkable loss, yet he never wavered. He chose worship over resentment. His perseverance revealed the compassion and mercy of a faithful God.

That day, my faith grew deeper. Even when things looked bleak, I chose to see them through spiritual eyes: full of hope, grounded in trust. Because no matter how broken we feel, there is no vessel God cannot mend. What he has done for others, he’ll do for you because he has and is still doing it for me.

If your situation feels out of control, if life seems too hard, hand it over to God. That’s what I did, and I continue to allow Him to work in and through me.

 Encouragement

·       Even when we don’t understand, we can still trust Him.

·       Our trials may feel endless, but God’s mercy is never withheld.

·       Like Job, we can cling to God, not because we see the end, but because we know the One who does.

 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, when life becomes heavy and unclear, please help us to stand firm in our faith. Let Job’s story remind us that You are merciful, and Your plans are filled with goodness. Teach us, Lord, to trust You more deeply in every trial. In Jesus’ name, Amen.