trials – Amy Linnea

How Dare We

Published on June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 by amylinnea2 Comments

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

How dare we question God.

Yet we do.

Why? Because we want our own way.

We think we know better than Him.

Do you see how selfish that is?

How arrogant?

Did we create the earth and all it contains?

Did we place the stars in the heavens?

Did we design life with such variety and beauty?

Absolutely not.

We are God’s creation.

God is not our creation.

I get it though. Often our lives seem to turn unexpectedly, down a path we wished to avoid.

We question God. We question because we hate it. The direction we travel.

God allows things.

He created us with the ability to choose, and sometimes people make bad choices.

Or, sometimes it’s our own fault.

Yet God allows it.

We can be assured from Ecclesiastes 9:1 that “… how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.”

All we do are in God’s hands.

We need God. He helps us filter out bad choices when we cannot see what’s right.

Further, we can rest assured God works all things for His purpose.

Romans 8:28 reminds us,” And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God sees everything.

He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly.

While He might allow circumstances you detest, He will stay by your side.

And He has a plan. Do you trust Him?

You are worth more to God than anything else He created.

He sent His only son to die on the cross for you so you can spend eternity with Him.

Yes, God is holy.

Yes, He created all things.

And no, we are not in charge.

But you can rest assured God is.

God, who created order and beauty, is on the throne.

And when trials come, He will be with you every step of the way.

His ways are higher than ours.

We must not question God, but live peacefully, knowing He cares for all of His creation.

Yet we are of more value than many sparrows.

We are made in His image.

Photos by Marshall Patterson, Mathew Schwartz, Cédric VT, & Nicole Wreyford on Unsplash

Kerplop

Published on May 25, 2024May 25, 2024 by amylinneaLeave a comment

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24

The long school year finally came to a close.

Where was I with under an hour till the bitter end?

In a heap on the floor.

After missing the last step while waltzing down the stairs to assembly, I heard my ankle make a weird sound as I fell to the floor.

Happy summer to me!

Lying on the ground with my head on the stairs, I contemplated what had transpired.

Didn’t have to sit alone more than a couple of seconds before my friend came rushing to my side.

Not wanting to throw up or faint, I laid there quietly, unable to do much else.

My friend summoned help and over the next bits of time, I was covered with God’s provision.

While resting on the dirty stairs, I was cared for. All my needs answered.

When I was at my lowest, God never left my side.

He was in the people who came, helping with different things each time.

He was in my husband’s schedule who had not left for a job hours away.

He was in the friend who recommended where to go.

He was in the doctor’s office that helped me in and out in under an hour.

He was in the details.

He always is.

Yes, He allows things. Suffering.

But He’s always right there along with you.

We can have peace amidst our trials because we know Who is with us.

God goes before us, is beside us, and is behind us.

Every single day.

Even when we go kerplop.

We have no idea how blessed we really are.

Photos by Lindsay Henwood, Denys Sudilkovsky, Kelly Sikkema, & Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

A Test? Surprise!

Published on May 21, 2022May 25, 2022 by amylinneaLeave a comment

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

Do you find yourself surprised when our faith seems to be tested?

Really, are you ever surprised?

I am and I’m guessing you are, too.

But stop and think about something: Jesus allows trials to refine us.

To make us stronger. Finer. More solid.

Doesn’t that sound like a positive outcome?

Let’s flip it to the other side. The dark side.

Does the devil want to cancel you?

100%. If he can cancel you, you’re done. Finished. Don’t matter no more.

If the devil can succeed at tempting you to give up, he wins.

If you pass the test of faith from God, you win. And so does God.

Either way, it really doesn’t matter why you are entering a trial of whatever it is.

Matters how you come out on the other side.

Take God’s wisdom, love, grace, and mercy with you on the way.

Your maturing will enable you to face the next test with some of the answers.

After all, you’ll have one more detail of your life under your belt. A detail God orchestrated in your life.

Expect trials and tests. You’ve got the answers, so sit down and pass. With God’s help you will faithfully pass each time.

Photos by Ben White, Siora Photography, & David Pennington on Unsplash

Re-Focus

Published on August 14, 2021June 14, 2023 by amylinnea1 Comment

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

When all the noise is stripped away, what is your focus?

In the dark of night, what grips your soul?

Worry?

Dread?

Fear?

Or Jesus?

In this world, we will have trials.

But Jesus.

In this world, we will struggle.

But Jesus.

In this world, pain will come and go.

But Jesus.

Jesus has overcome the world and everything in it.

All our trials, struggles, and pain are piled at the foot of the cross.

What has removed your focus from Jesus?

Family?

Job?

Our country?

Jesus knows the beginning from the end.

What better to focus on then the author of all life?

Look at your mountain.

Now look again through Jesus.

Looks manageable now, doesn’t it?

Trials are real, but Jesus is bigger.

Struggles are exhausting, but Jesus is bigger.

Pain can be excruciating, but Jesus is bigger.

But Jesus.

Jesus is over, under, and beside all things.

All of the trials, struggles, and pain.

Refocus on Jesus, purposing only to trust Him with everything.

Your past, present and future.

Photos by Brady Stoeltzing, Michail Dementiev, Matteo Grando, Kyle Johnson, & Tim Bogdanov on Unsplash

Purpose

Published on August 17, 2019June 9, 2023 by amylinneaLeave a comment

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

What if God’s purposes are for you, not against you?

His purposes you don’t yet understand?

What if God’s ways are higher than yours?

Ways you don’t yet fully see?

What if His allowing trials in your life are for a purpose greater than your very life?

What if His tests are to grow your strength in Him?

To grow your faith in Him?

What if He allows things in order to use you to change others?

What if He plans to use your sorrows through your living, human example of walking through into new life with Him?

Would that make a difference to you?

If you knew that?

That His ways are higher than yours?

Do you trust Him?

Completely?

What if your consistent faithfulness to God in the face of evil is used to glorify Him?

Would that matter?

Would that make a difference?

I think yes.

When we trust God is ultimately in control, our walk is a bit easier.

Steps are easier to take when we know our ultimate purpose is to live for Him.

And the tiny little fact that He is using us.

Using you to bring others to Himself.

You might still step into mud, but you know He is right there to lift you out.

God will use you when you trust in Him.

And it’s just a bit easier to trust Him when you remind yourself of His purpose for you.

To be that light to others.

May your trials be that mush easier as you align your will with His, resting in the knowledge that His purpose will be fulfilled in your precious little life.