I’m going to tell you something I wish someone had told me (Cass) fifteen years ago. Living a life for Christ and pursuing our purpose doesn’t exempt us from facing hardships. Despite our best efforts and intentions, challenges are an integral part of the journey. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that when I was still young in my faith, I wrestled with the concept that life would still be hard even after I chose to follow Jesus. I had this preconceived notion that dedicating my life to God and asking Jesus into my heart would come with the abundant life promised in John 10:10. Bless my naïve little heart.
My husband and I recently celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. That tenth year was such a milestone, but it was also the hardest year of our marriage yet. We had made the decision to build what we thought would be our dream home, but that dream would become our worst nightmare. We got in over our heads and couldn’t keep up with the financial demands of our lives. The cost of everything increased in a matter of months while our income remained the same. We were house poor and didn’t know how to escape this mistake we had made.
The day I found out we were behind on our mortgage was a sobering one. I felt like a failure, like it was all my fault. I was the one who wanted the shiny, new, aesthetically pleasing house. I was the one who wanted the fourth bedroom and the home office that we didn’t need. Now here we were, drowning in debt, in over our heads. It was clear that we needed to sell our home and downsize, but the housing market was at a standstill. Nothing was selling. We went from houses rapidly selling to our home sitting on the market from April to August without any interest from buyers. To say it was excruciating would be an understatement.
We received varying responses from the people closest to us as we shared our struggle. We were offered support, but we also sensed harsh judgment. It was gut-wrenching. I found myself feeling forgotten by God yet again. We were in a deep hole, and I was the one holding the shovel.
There’s a scripture I’ve learned to cling to when it feels like everything is going wrong:
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2–4 CSB)
Notice that James tells us to consider it joy when we experience various trials, not if. He’s urging his reader to be proactive in their response to trials instead of being reactive, because the truth is, crisis comes for us all. Our health might fail us, a marriage might end, we might lose a loved one, or we might face financial failures, trauma, addictions, and disappointments. The list could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Although we will suffer various difficulties in this life, we should consider it joy. Why? Because the testing of our faith produces endurance.
Let’s pause here for a moment and ponder that sentence. I want to squirm in my chair when I consider the juxtaposition of joy with trials. These two words seem to be opposites, yet James is implying they belong hand in hand. You might be uncomfortable with this concept. If you are, you’re in good company. But let’s look a bit closer at the text.
James told us our trials produce endurance through the testing of our faith. I think it’s important to recognize that encountering hardships is not a sign of failure or lack of faith, but rather an essential aspect of spiritual growth. I imagine endurance being built like a muscle in response to adversity. The more you encounter this rough terrain, the more your faith muscle builds a tolerance for resistance. That’s good news! You see, the more we walk through difficulty, the more our faith endures. The more endurance we acquire, the more spiritual maturity we develop. In other words, we can shift our perspective in the midst of adversity, because we’re able to recognize that even what the Enemy intends for evil God is able to use for the ultimate good (Genesis 50:20). And that, my friend, is something that brings me great joy!
I know it might be hard to see it now, but God is able to create beauty from our heartache. The difficulties we encounter test and refine our commitment to our calling. They reveal our true strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to grow and develop a more sincere faith. Navigating difficulties today helps us stay grounded in our purpose, reminding us of the importance of perseverance and determination tomorrow. The multitude of trials we experience, when viewed together, create a beautiful mosaic that our eyes cannot yet comprehend.
I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert at this. I’m learning this lesson alongside you. But let’s remember this: with God’s guidance, we can be transformed by the imperfect circumstances we encounter instead of being taken out by them. Each perceived loss is a learning opportunity rather than a hindrance to our calling. Let’s choose to lean into our hardships, knowing that each trial strengthens our spiritual muscle and equips us to press onward toward our purpose, even when the road is rough.
God is faithful to walk alongside us as we learn the hard lessons of life, even if that means we learn the same lesson a few times. I like to think God is like the artist Bob Ross. Carefully creating with every brushstroke, He repurposes our messes into a beautiful canvas, displaying His loving kindness. So each time you are faced with what seem to be shortcomings, let them be a reminder that it’s an opportunity for the Lord’s strength to shine through those broken cracks.
Excerpted from Ready as You Are by Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer. © 2025 Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. HarperCollinsChristian.com.
by Tynea Lewis 
by Shelby Skiles 
