Triumph in Times of Testing
A compilation
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Everyone experiences some difficult times of testing at different points in their lives. Maybe you’re in the midst of one of these times and you’re feeling weary and wondering what good will come out of this time of testing and when is it going to stop.
But no matter what is going on in your life, God wants you to know that He loves you, He cares, and you are in His hands. Even if no one else understands how your heart is aching, He truly understands. It may take time for the hurt you are experiencing to heal, but it will heal because He has promised that He will not leave us comfortless (John 14:18).
He wants to comfort us through everything that we experience. He’s touched with the feeling of our infirmities‚ and He understands (Hebrews 4:15). He will ease your burdens. He will soothe the pain. He will answer your prayers. You will see the sunshine again, so don’t give up in despair, but talk to your Best Friend and let Him give you the comfort that you need.
Maybe you’ve suffered a heartbreak in a relationship recently, and you feel broken, crushed, alone, insecure, and unlovable. The unfailing love of Jesus is there for you even through your darkest and loneliest nights, and He can help you have faith in love once again. He won’t leave your heart and life broken; even if it’s shattered in a thousand pieces, He’s able to find and gather each piece‚ to make you whole again and make something beautiful of your life.
Maybe you feel overworked or overloaded right now; you feel that you just can’t keep up with the pressure of all that there is to do. If you’re feeling worn out spiritually, physically, mentally, or all three, remember Jesus’ promise, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
When it seems impossible to do everything that you need to do, ask God for His strength and guidance, and He will provide. If the burden becomes too much to bear, talk to Jesus about it and ask Him for the solution. He can guide you to ways to pace yourself. He can show you when you need to stop for a while and pray or read His Word or take some time to rest and enjoy life and your family and loved ones.
Maybe you’ve landed in a temporary situation where you seem to be stuck for a long time, or you simply can’t find a place, a job, a home, or a career that seems right for you. Please don’t despair, because Jesus is preparing a place for you—not only a place in heaven, but a place on earth here and now.
God’s men and women of faith throughout history didn’t look for the places of service that suited them, but rather for what they could do for others. They believed that they could make a difference in the world, and they set out to make that difference‚ and many of them achieved their goal because they didn’t give up.
I recently read something that I thought did a good job of describing the character of those who overcome in times of testing.
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.1
Doing the right thing anyway, in spite of opposition or your feelings of discouragement or inadequacy, is the making of men and women of faith; it’s the path to making a difference. And when you walk God’s road, He won’t fail to take care of you. You can count on His promises.
God has promised to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19), and He’s promised to strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16). He will never fail to take care of you, no matter what! And one day you’re going to be so thankful that He brought you through each and every thing you experienced in this life.—Maria Fontaine
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James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads to maturity in our walk with God (James 1:3–4). James goes on to say that testing is a blessing, because, when the testing is over and we have “stood the test,” we will “receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). …
The testing or trials we undergo come in various ways. Becoming a Christian will often require us to move out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. Perseverance in testing results in spiritual maturity and completeness. … The testing of faith can come in small ways and daily irritations; they may also be severe afflictions (Isaiah 48:10) and attacks from Satan (Job 2:7). …
The psalmist likens our testing to being refined like silver (Psalm 66:10). Peter speaks of our faith as “of greater worth than gold,” and that’s why we “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6–7). In testing our faith, God causes us to grow into strong disciples who truly live by faith and not by what we see (2 Corinthians 5:7). …
Most comforting of all, we know that God will never allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to handle by His power. His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).—GotQuestions.org2
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How do you remain faithful in the down times? The parched desert times when your faith shrivels and you feel all alone?
Seek God as your source. Seek Him first; He will give you the courage to be bold.
Use your gifts, abilities, and, yes, disabilities to draw attention to Him.
Spend time in His Word; feed your spirit daily.
Reach out to others.
Stay as [true] as you can be, inside and outside. Never forget whom you represent.
Talk yourself through difficulties. Literally tell yourself you can overcome any obstacle.—Debora M. Coty
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Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful. … Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!—Psalm 31:23–24
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Sir Winston Churchill took three years getting through eighth grade because he had trouble learning English grammar and composition. It seems ironic that years later Oxford University asked him to address its commencement exercises. He arrived with his usual props—a cigar, a cane, and a top hat.
As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd arose in appreciative applause. With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confidently before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill’s voice as he shouted, “Never give up!” Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: “Never give up!” His words thundered in their ears.
There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane, and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.—The Speaker’s Sourcebook II
Published on Anchor April 2026. Read by John Laurence. Music by Michael Dooley.
1 From The Paradoxical Commandments, by Dr. Kent Keith.
2 “Why does God test us?” GotQuestions.org, January 4, 2022, https://www.gotquestions.org/why-does-God-test-us.html
