July 19th, 2025

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this crazy life, it’s that I will fall flat on my face, again and again. And honestly, I think God has His own loving (and sometimes humorous) way of making sure of it. It’s not that He wants us to fall, but rather, He uses these moments as check-ins. Reminders to stay humble and not get too confident thinking we’ve got this life thing figured out on our own.

I’ve come to understand how valuable these hard times can be. Scripture tells us in James 1:12 NIV, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I have learned that when I shift my perspective, trials become opportunities rather than obstacles.

When God places stumbling blocks in our path, it becomes a test of faith. Christians often hear, “Anything is possible with God.” And while that phrase often feels cliché especially when you’re stuck in a storm, it holds deep truth. God is a God of miracles. He can make anything possible, no matter how impossible it seems. He moves mountains for His children, for those who call on Him and surrender.

God knows we can’t do this life without Him. So, when we start moving through life selfishly or out of step with Him, He sometimes allows us to hit a wall. Not out of punishment, but to bring us back. In those moments, we’re called to lean on Him, to ask for strength, help, and often, forgiveness. It’s usually our own sin that leads us into consequences, but when it isn’t, it may be someone else’s, and that’s why praying for others matters so deeply.

In fact, God commands us to pray for others. James 5:16 NIV says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” It’s powerful when we take the focus off ourselves and begin praying for others—including those who’ve hurt us. Yes, even our enemies. That’s hard to do, but I’ve learned that praying for those who’ve wronged me is transformative.

There have been many times I’ve caught myself thinking unkind thoughts about someone who hurt me. But when I’ve chosen to pray for them – really pray – it’s opened my heart to healing and even forgiveness. And when it feels impossible to forgive, I ask God to help me. And He does. In ways only He could.

Praying for others is an act of love and compassion. It aligns us with God’s will giving thanks in all circumstances, even the painful ones. Because those moments produce perseverance, and that perseverance brings strength. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV reminds us: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

One person who comes to mind as I write this is my old boss, Kristin. After college, we lost touch. We hadn’t had a close relationship, but God brought her back into my life during one of my hardest seasons. And in doing so, He reminded me that I was not alone. Kristin prayed for me over the phone and on her own. Her encouragement gave me strength when I felt like I had none left.

Are things still hard in that situation she was praying over? Absolutely. But now, I carry a strength I didn’t have before. A strength that came through perseverance, and a confidence that God is working behind the scenes, in the quiet, and in the waiting.

When God places stumbling blocks in our path, He is testing our faith and calling us to seek His strength, His help, and His forgiveness to endure again and again. Through that perseverance, true strength is born. We learn to lean on God in every season of life, remembering that we never walk this journey alone.

Again, all things are possible with God. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Surrender is a daily battle. I know I face it every day. And when I can’t seem to do it on my own, I lean on my community. My friends who know and love God, too. I never truly appreciated having a God-loving community until I became a mother. That was a turning point I’ll talk more about later.