“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3 (NKJV)
As I sat in her office, my doctor looked at the test results and told me the only option for me was major surgery.
In the depths of my heart, I wanted my faith to shine without fear, but that was the last thing on my mind. I felt worried, anxious, and even a little angry that God would allow this to happen. Life was already full, and the thought of recovery time seemed overwhelming.
When trials come out of nowhere and test our faith, it can be frustrating to feel like the faith we thought we had isn’t enough. This is often where fear and faith intersect, presenting us with a choice: Play it safe by feeding our fear, which feels comfortable, or believe God can and will work everything out according to His plan.
Maybe you know too well what it’s like to have trial after trial pile up:
Diagnoses come out of nowhere.
Breakups leave us reeling.
Loved ones get sick.
Children make poor decisions.
Marriage becomes hard.
Parents pass on.
Money gets tight.
Jobs change.
Our well-crafted plans fall through yet again.
It’s difficult to find ourselves feeling tired, tested, and torn up by all the things life holds. But choosing authentic, deep faith isn’t an afterthought that brings us “good vibes” in the midst of hard times. It’s a choice we must make before the trials come.
Sometimes I tend to exercise my faith by checking all the boxes: Read the Bible, pray, and go to church. Check, check, check. I assume if the good things override the bad, faith will flourish. The truth is that just following the rules and checking boxes won’t bring us closer to Jesus.
Authentic faith is found in a relationship with Him where we decide over and over again that He is where strength, truth, mercy, grace, and help are found. It means choosing to wait on God’s timing even when it doesn’t always make sense to us.
Perhaps this is why the Apostle James said in his book, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).
Difficult circumstances often force us to evaluate our faith. If your faith is feeling tired, tested, and torn from corner to corner, you are not alone. This trial isn’t here to destroy you or take you under, never to rise up again. This season is a beautiful opportunity to let your connection with Jesus flourish. Not in a list of rules but in a relationship.
That is where authentic faith is rooted.
Dear Jesus, I’m tired. I need You to strengthen my faith in the difficult circumstances I face. Help me to remember You are in complete control, so even when I don’t understand or cannot see a way out, I can know You are with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (NKJV).
Have you faced a trial in your life that has made you feel like your faith is lacking? How did God come through for you, or how are you waiting on Him to come through? Share about it with us in the comments.
© 2026 by Micah Maddox. All rights reserved.
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