Facing Trials - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - August 4
Facing Trials
By Vivian Bricker
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).
Married couples will face many hardships over the course of their marriage. While many people believe marriage will fix all of their problems, seasoned married couples know that marriage brings many troubles. However, this doesn’t mean marriage is a bad thing because it is not. Marriage is a beautiful thing God has created, and it brings a husband and a wife together to become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).
Nonetheless, marriage will bring many problems into a married person’s life. In addition to their own personal struggles, they will face many other hard times because they are married. Arguments, disagreements, and fights with our spouse can leave us feeling anything but loved, cherished, or wanted. This is especially true if one spouse feels insecure in the marriage and questions their worth.
Marriage is supposed to be a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ love for the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Sadly, husbands and wives are not perfect like the Lord. Instead, we are all fallen sinners, and we will hurt others (Romans 3:23). This includes hurting our spouse with our words and actions. As believers, we need to be aware of this and start making the necessary changes. It is easy to call out shortcomings in other people’s lives, but it is much harder for us to call out our own faults.
We need to examine ourselves and look at our own words, actions, and behaviors. Are we ensuring our spouse feels loved, cherished, and wanted? If we are not, what can we do to make the necessary changes? Maybe this would mean spending more time with the Lord in prayer, applying the teachings of the Bible, going to Christian marriage counseling with our spouse, and talking out difficult matters with our spouse.
As believers, we will face many trials, and we have to stand strong under them. Trials are difficult, terrible, and painful, but we have to persevere. Yes, this can be hard, yet we have God on our side. Since God is on our side, there is no reason to believe we cannot get through this trial. We have God, who loves us, and we also have our spouse, who loves us.
When we remember this truth, it can help us to face any trial and work through it. Married life will cause us to face trials, such as intense arguments, feelings of hate, and even temptation. Whenever these trials arise in our lives, we need to combat them with the Lord’s help. This requires us to be honest and vulnerable with God, our spouse, and ourselves.
The half-brother of the Lord says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). As James tells us, we need to consider it “pure joy” when we are facing trials of many kinds. To most of us, this is a challenging teaching. How can we have pure joy in the face of hardships?
James tells us exactly why, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3). These trials we are facing in our life and in our marriage are producing perseverance in our lives. Perseverance will help us in all areas of life, and it will make our marriage and our walk with the Lord stronger. By staying focused on the end prize of perseverance, we can stand strong.
Although trials are never delightful, we can find joy in them because they help us develop perseverance. As you and your spouse are going through trials, lean on each other and lean on God. Use these trials as an opportunity to ask God for help, grow in your relationship with Him, and solidify your marriage upon the Word of God. This present season of suffering is not for nothing.
Dear God, my spouse and I are facing trials of many kinds, both in our personal life and in our marriage. I don’t want these trials to destroy our marriage. I’m turning to You today, asking for Your help. I trust that You will help us walk through this trial and emerge stronger on the other side. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Henri Pham
Related Resource: The Truth Every Overwhelmed Christian Mom Needs to Hear
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If you've ever ended the day feeling guilty because you didn't have time to read your Bible, pray, or spend quiet time with God, you're not alone.
In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with author, speaker, and Equipping Godly Women founder Brittany Ann to talk honestly about the challenges young Christian moms face. Together, they explore how to grow closer to God without adding more pressure to an already full life.
Brittany shares her own journey of balancing marriage, motherhood, ministry, and faith, along with practical encouragement for finding God's peace—even in the middle of exhaustion and chaos.
Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
