HELEN SANDERS
7-16-2026
JOY IN OUR TRIALS

If I were to ask you if you have been going through a trial, most of you would say, “Yes, How did you know?” That sounds so familiar, doesn’t it?

There is one thing about being a Christian; if you are doing something right for the kingdom of God, you are likely to come under attack. Satan does not bother the ones that are already his. He has them under his control, knowing that without the Lord they will be with him in hell. He goes after the Christian to destroy their walk with God by causing them to stumble and lose their faith.

John 10:10 tells us how Satan hurts a Christian. It says, “The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy…”

Satan is the spirit behind the persons that steal, kill, and destroy, doing his dirty work. So how do we respond to these things?

James 1:2 tells us that we are to count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations. Joy? Hardly. We fight and squirm when things do not go our way, and try to escape. Most of us would have to admit that we do not count it all joy. But, my friends, the joy of the Lord is our strength [Nehemiah 8:10].

In Ephesians 6:11 and 13 we are told to wear the “armor of God.” God wouldn’t tell us to wear armor if there wasn’t going to be a battle.

Most of our battles originate with thoughts that transfer into words. Words spoken can bring life or death, which is why we must be careful what we say about ourselves and about others, and what we listen to when spoken to.

Have you been in a battle this week? Has someone hurt you or offended you? How did you respond? We have a choice to praise the Lord in these trials or become bitter. Let the joy of the Lord touch you and forgive the person[s] quickly. Don’t let Satan’s darts get through your armor. The joy of the Lord will sustain you through your trials.