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“Facing Struggles, Finding Hope”

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

[James 1:2-4 NIV]

Jessica B. writes:

All throughout my early childhood, I was not a Christian, but I was very good at acting like one. I went to church every Sunday; I talked the talk and I was even pretty good at walking the walk. But in reality, I was just tip-toeing around conflicts with my parents.

I had decided that this God everyone talked about was as heartless as anyone could be and that I could never surrender my love to him because he seemed not to deserve it. Divorce, hatred, health problems, court trials, prison, and a deadly car accident all had a role in my attitude toward God. My heart turned into a black void filled only with anger, guilt, hopelessness, hatred, and sadness. My life meant nothing.

June 18, 2006, is the day that changed everything. God opened my heart that morning. He just sent lightning bolts right through me. God made me realize that the only way that my life was going to get better and mean something was if He was in it; I needed to accept his love and surrender my love to Him - trust and obey Him.

God led me to Himself that morning, and He became the center of my life. Don’t be fooled, friends; I am not trying to tell you that once I became a believer that all of my problems were left at the curb. There were still problems and sadness, but God has shown me that these feelings cannot overcome me. He is at my side in the battle, and I can never fall. My feelings cannot override the facts of my faith.

My dear friends, I tell you the truth, consider yourselves blessed if you have trials of many kinds. God is sharpening you, turning weaknesses into strengths. He loves us so much that he allows us to be tested so that in facing such trials, we find the ability to endure.

In my mind there is no better witness to the watching world than believers who stand firm under suffering. Peter tells us to always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that we have. My hope is in Jesus; He is there every single second of every single day. He is the person I wake up to in the morning; He gets me through everyday; He comforts me to sleep every night. He is my best friend, hope, and the love of my life.