So I’ve been thinking about “trials and tribulation” a lot lately, and my dad pointed out a very basic principle that I occasionally forget: Nothing takes God by surprise. New “events” in life that take us off our feet, or bring us to our knees, they happen because He planned them. But instead of calmly continuing to cling to Him and trusting, we often will be like, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?!” and begin to doubt. God has promised He will never forsake us! He has promised to never leave! We may see news as being “earth-shattering” but wait, Who is holding the earth? Did He squeeze too hard and now is just watching it all fall on top of us? No. Is He still holding everything safely together in His hands? Yes!
“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control: that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed His own blood for my soul!”
Which leads me to ask: Do I allow Christ’s reassurance to control my thoughts and emotions when trials come, or do I allow doubts and fears to squelch and slander that blessed assurance?
Fear paralyzes. Jesus strengthens.
“But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands…”
– Psalm 31:14-15a
jess leigh hanna 
As a Freshman in high school, I made starting Quarterback on the Varsity football team (we only had 15 guys). We got trounced a lot that year. But, one thing that our coach kept telling us was, we will never not finish a game. We will never quit trying to play to the best of our ability as a team. Faith in God is a lot like that concept. Just because I (or someone I love) may be getting hit hard, and may appear to be on the losing side of a battle, does not give me an excuse to stop living by faith to the very maximum ability that God in His grace gives to me. I may be concerned about how much the next hit is going to hurt, but God is bigger than the hits.
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