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Have you ever felt like your world was crumbling beneath your feet? As I write this from my couch, recovering from a severe car accident that totaled my vehicle, with my husband nearby nursing six broken ribs from his recent bicycle accident, I intimately understand that feeling. In the past month alone, we’ve faced multiple trips to the hospital in ambulances, the loss of my husband’s job, the loss of my car, and tens of thousands in unexpected expenses. Some days, it feels like we’re running an infirmary rather than a home!
Yet through these trials, God has been teaching me profound lessons about joy, faith, and His unchanging character. When circumstances seem overwhelming, I’m reminded of Jesus’s words in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This promise doesn’t sugar-coat our reality – Jesus explicitly tells us we will have trouble. But He offers something far more valuable than an easy life: He offers Himself as our source of true joy and peace amid the storms.
The key to maintaining joy in difficult seasons lies not in our circumstances but in our connection to the true Vine – Jesus. When we’re rooted in Him, our worldly sorrows are placed in proper perspective against the backdrop of eternity. This doesn’t diminish our pain or make our struggles less real, but it anchors us to something – Someone – greater than our current trials.
However, staying connected to Jesus isn’t something that happens by accident. It requires intentional choice and daily commitment. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,” reminding us that maintaining our relationship with Christ goes beyond Sunday church attendance or casual prayer. It’s about choosing Him every single day, especially when life feels darkest.
Lately, I’ve found tremendous comfort in reflecting on God’s past faithfulness. Over the years, I’ve kept track of times when God showed up in my life. I store these memories and trinkets in a memory box. When I am faced with challenges, I open the box and remember and reflect on God’s goodness, faithfulness and kindness.
When medical bills loom and insurance claims seem overwhelming, I remember how God has provided before. When physical pain makes simple tasks difficult, I recall His strength in previous trials. These memories aren’t just nostalgia – they’re concrete reminders of God’s unchanging character and His promise to never leave us.
1 Peter 5:7 invites us to, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This isn’t just a suggestion – it’s a lifeline. God doesn’t promise to immediately remove our troubles, but He does promise to carry them with us, to care about our pain, and to walk alongside us through every valley.
If you’re in a season of trial today, remember that your current circumstances don’t define you or your story’s end. Our fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy were never meant to be found in perfect circumstances, but in perfect fellowship with Jesus. When we stay connected to Him, we can face each day with unwavering peace and genuine joy, not because our situations are ideal, but because our Savior is faithful.
In these challenging times, we’re not just surviving – we’re being transformed. Through every trial, every setback, and every unexpected turn, God is at work, teaching us to depend more fully on Him and to find our joy not in our circumstances but in His unchanging presence.
Take heart, dear friend. The same God who has overcome the world walks with you through your valley today. Your trials are not the end of your story – they’re simply another chapter in God’s greater narrative of faithfulness, redemption, and love.
If you need someone to talk to about difficulties you’re facing, perhaps someone who can remind you that you have a faithful God, call us at the Renewing Life Center at 702-434-7290. You can get an appointment with a compassionate counselor this week!
Jennifer Antonucci, M.A., LMFT, LCADC