Trusting God in Life’s Unexpected Challenges

Sometimes faith looks like trusting God through one thing after another.

I’ve had a rough week over the past 24 hours.

Last night, I was watching TV, relaxing after a busy day, when my sweet Aragorn approached me, drooling copiously. I wasn’t eating, which is usually the only time he drools, lying on the floor politely but unable to control the thin thread of desire as he watches. This was a huge, slimy rope hanging from his jowls.  Examining him, I realized his lip was thick and swollen, and he was panting as if he’d just completed a marathon.  Clearly, something had bitten him, and the venom of whatever was making him VERY ill.

Aragorn seeking comfort from his mama.
He doesn’t understand what’s happening to him.

I’m usually careful not to take advantage of my friends, but this was my Gornie. I called a vet friend (who is married to a vet!) and told them what I was seeing. With their guidance, I stayed home and monitored him—checking his temperature and watching for other symptoms.

By 2 AM, the panting had stopped, the drool was under control, and his temperature was normal. The swelling was still there, but he was stable. I went to bed but set an alarm every hour through the night to check on him.

Troubles in the Barn

I was exhausted this morning and slept in a bit—which did not sit well with my goats.

A couple of weeks ago, we lost one of our babies, likely to one of the Great Horned Owls in our woods. Since we have too many goats to stall, I cobbled together a solution using wire panels, fence staples, and bungee cords, so they can stay safely under the barn roof at night.
Usually I’m out fairly early to release them, but this morning I was soooooo tired. I slept in a little once I knew Aragorn was safe.

Jethro, my buck, was not pleased.

Jethro

He was NOT happy with me.

To show his displeasure, as I started unhooking the wire gate, he began butting it—and before I could stop him, he hit it so hard that the board the gate was attached to ripped right off the barn. That’s just —wonderful.

My husband is out of town. The nails are sticking out of the board, so it clearly needs to be screwed in instead of hammered—which means finding the drill, buying long screws, and somehow holding the long board with a wire gate attached to it in place while I fix it… alone.

A Roadside Setback

A couple of hours later, I headed out for a quick errand.

As I drove down our driveway, a lost motorist pulled in. I eased off to the side so we could talk—and hit something hidden in the grass (later discovered to be a stump).

After I redirected him and continued on, my truck started to shimmy.

That stump destroyed my tire.

Why is this happening to me?

There I was, pulled over on the side of the road, with a truck that wasn’t going anywhere… and I just felt defeated.

As I stood there staring at my tire, I could hear Shane & Shane singing in my mind:

“Though You slay me, Yet I will praise You.
Though You take from me, I will bless Your name.
Though You ruin me, Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need.”  

As my soul settled into those words, the Lord reminded me—He is my all. No matter my circumstances, He is enough.

I began to sing the words, and thank Him for being Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide.”  I began thinking of scriptures and personalizing them.

“And my God will meet all my needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19

“God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…The Lord Almighty is with me; the God of Jacob is my fortress.” —Psalm 46:1-3, 7

There is something powerful about taking Scripture and making it personal—claiming it as truth for your own life.

Reflections on God’s Provision

Now, sitting at my computer, I can see all the ways God showed up for me in just these past hours.

When I was worried about my dog, friends were praying—and others were available by phone when I needed help. I didn’t spend panicked hours in an emergency clinic or sit alone in a house worrying after I had to leave him there; I was able to care for Aragorn at home and watch him improve.

My adult son gave up part of his day to come over with the tools needed to reaffix the gate to the barn, so my goats will be safe tonight, and I didn’t have to struggle on my own.

My spare tire was in good condition. Roadside assistance came quickly. I was close to home, on a quiet road—and the tire went flat instead of blowing out on the interstate.

Would I have placed,
“Dog bitten by something dangerous”
“Goat damaging barn” or
“Flat tire”
on my Bingo card had I been choosing?

Not a chance.

But God was present in every single moment.

And so I will remember, and

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Thank you, Lord, for Your constant presence—no matter my circumstances.
You are good, all the time.

What a 50-Year-Old Measuring Cup Taught Me About Scripture

A simple kitchen tool reminded me of an important truth: a Bible sitting on the shelf won’t change our lives. God’s Word only transforms us when we open it and use it.

A measuring cup that has been faithfully used for over fifty years - and recently helped remind me to spend more time in God’s word.

An Old Cup Full of Memories

It’s old. In my kitchen cupboard sits a Tupperware 8-cup measuring cup from the 1970s. It’s nothing fancy, but you have to respect something that’s been faithfully doing its job for half a century. Thanks to its tight-fitting lid, you can mix something in it and move the whole container straight to the fridge.

Dad loved this cup. He enjoyed cooking—though not cleaning up afterward, poor Mom—and he used it for all kinds of batters: pancakes, cornbread, biscuits, and dumplings.

It shows up in many of my memories of him in the kitchen. When I picture him cooking, I can still see that measuring cup sitting on the counter beside him.

After Dad passed away, Mom gave it to me when she downsized her kitchen. It’s a link to my past and a reminder of him, but it’s not something I’d put on a shelf and admire. The memories only come when I actually use it. Right now it’s serving an important purpose: mixing and storing homemade formula for a rejected baby goat. Since he needs feeding every three hours, that old measuring cup isn’t spending any time in the cupboard these days.

It might sound a little silly, but as I stood in the kitchen pouring formula from the cup to the bottle, I realized something: it only connects me to my Dad when it’s out of the cupboard and being used.

Sitting on a shelf, it’s just another piece of plastic.

And suddenly I realized something uncomfortable. The same can be true of my Bible.

An unopened Bible sitting on a shelf doesn’t draw us any closer to God any more than that measuring cup reminds me of Dad when it’s buried in the cupboard.

With so many Bibles available today, the real question isn’t whether we have one - but whether we open it.

Throughout history, many Christians have gone without easy access to Scripture. Some faced persecution for owning it. Even today, having a Bible can be dangerous in places like North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. In other parts of the world, believers simply cannot afford one.

Meanwhile, in my home, my husband and I have about a dozen Bibles in different translations, and anyone with a smartphone can access countless versions instantly.

God’s Word Changes Us When We Use It

A Bible we open and read, however, can change our lives.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Scripture gives us guidance, clarity, and direction. It helps us navigate life and make decisions that honor God. Since we usually do not pull out a Bible in the middle of every conversation or pause to study before every decision, it’s vital to have God’s Word already planted in our hearts and minds so that God-honoring choices become second nature.

Psalm 119:11 reinforces this idea: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” 

When we read and study Scripture, it begins to shape our character. God’s Word becomes part of our thoughts, our motivations, and our desires. It becomes a steady standard that helps us recognize and avoid sin.

When Scripture is truly hidden in our hearts, godly choices should come naturally. If a cashier accidentally gives us $20 in change instead of $10, returning the extra money with a smile shouldn’t require a long internal debate. It should simply be the obvious thing to do.

That old measuring cup has convicted me. It’s reminded me that I need to spend more time in the Word.

Romans 12:2 puts it this way: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

Culture is always shifting. What one generation calls wrong, the next may accept or even celebrate. But God’s Word never changes. If we want our thinking and our behavior to align with His will, we have to allow Scripture to shape our minds.

And that only happens when we spend time in it.

The amazing thing is that even though the Bible is thousands of years old, its message has never expired. Isaiah 40:8 reminds us, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

My reminder to dig into God’s Word is an old measuring cup sitting in my kitchen cupboard.

After fifty years, it’s still faithfully doing what it was made to do.

Maybe my Bible deserves the same kind of use.

Sometimes God uses the simplest things to get our attention. What has reminded you to spend time in His Word lately?

God’s Mercies Are New—Even on Hard Days

Each day is a clean slate, no matter how yesterday went.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV

What an incredible promise. Each morning, we wake up to a clean slate.

What was your day like yesterday? Did everything go as planned? Did you accomplish everything you intended? Maybe you lost your patience with your spouse, snapped at your children, or were short with the server at lunch.

Some nights I crawl into bed feeling like a failure—unchecked boxes on my to-do list, goals unmet, temper lost, frustration won, time in God’s Word postponed. When morning comes, it’s easy to wonder whether getting up is even worth the effort.

We live in a hurry, often feeling like we are playing catch-up, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves. As long as we are breathing, we will face challenges. Jesus reminds us that trouble is part of life, even for believers.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV).

We won’t be spared trials, but we don’t face them alone.

“… when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT

God isn’t keeping a scorecard of our shortcomings. He uses challenges to shape and strengthen our faith. James encourages us to rejoice even in trials, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance and spiritual maturity.

When your eyes open tomorrow, remember: God’s mercies are new. You are starting your day with a blank slate. Before you even get out of bed, take a quiet moment to ask the Lord to guide your steps and steady your heart.

Think about the humorous prayer that has circulated for many years:

“Dear Lord, so far today I’m doing all right. I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help. Amen.”

Persistence and tenacity shape our faith, but God often uses that growth for more than our own spiritual maturity. Often, the comfort He gives us in difficult seasons becomes something we can share with others who are walking through similar struggles.

Paul assures us of this in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NLT:

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

As you step into a new day, remember that God’s mercies are fresh and His faithfulness never fails. The struggles you face aren’t wasted—they shape your faith and prepare you to offer comfort to others.

And as He strengthens you, look for opportunities to share that same mercy, patience, and love with someone who needs it today. Every small act of grace is a reflection of His steadfast love.