Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Struggles… life can be hard. We can plan, but then something happens that shatters those plans, and it is not always because of something we have done that our plans did not work as we expected; often it is something over which we have no control.

So, where does that leave us?

We can be angry and bitter, or we can try again. It’s easy for someone to say, “Pick up the pieces and move on.” It’s harder when I am the person picking up the pieces and trying to make the best decision about what to do next when it seems every way is blocked.

It took Thomas Edison 2,774 tries until he got the right filament for the light bulb—one that would burn for more than a few minutes.

When an assistant complained they were learning nothing, the reply was, “Oh, we have. We’ve learned over 2,000 ways that don’t work.”

Can we imagine a world without the light bulb? It’s something we take for granted… as a necessity… but how different would our lives be if he had given up?

Having a positive attitude in looking at what might be considered a failure will help us work through the problem.

When a butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it struggles. Its wings are weak and wet, but it is in breaking through those strands of silk that the wings gain strength, allowing it to fly. If someone tries to help by cutting the silk threads of the chrysalis, the butterfly will die within minutes. It needs the struggle to be healthy.

It is in our struggles that we grow… even when we don’t like the process.

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) reads,

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Suffering… endurance… character… hope.

Financial struggles can make us more compassionate toward those who have less than we do and help us learn to budget.

Health struggles make us thankful for medical care and for better health when it comes.

Relationship struggles help us appreciate those friends or relatives who encourage us.

Think about the struggles some of those in the Bible experienced:

Noah and his family lost everyone they knew in the flood. When the door of the ark was opened, they stepped into a world where there was no one else.

Sarah was barren, longed for a child, and was mocked by her handmaiden.

Naomi lost her husband and both sons while living in a foreign land.

David found himself in a dark place, far from his shepherd days and glory as king after taking another man’s wife.

Elijah was hated by Jezebel and fled after a “mountain top” experience on Mt Carmel.

Daniel was one of numerous young teens captured and taken to a foreign land… away from family and friends.

The apostle Paul tells of his struggles in 2 Corinthians 11:24-29, yet he was still able to write,

“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

“The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thes. 3:3).

The writer of Hebrews gives this assurance, “He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).

We belong to the Father, and Jesus is interceding for us. When struggles come, we need to remember the words written long ago by David, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Ps. 118:6)

We have the assurance that God is faithful, that Jesus is our Advocate, and that the Spirit lives in us, so let’s use these struggles to live as “children of Light”! (Eph. 5:8)

Written by Claudia Pérez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

What happens when a Christian and her faith are tested in times of struggle? Who has not experienced difficult situations? Truth be told, we have all had struggles at some point. In those moments of uncertainty, we ask ourselves, “Why me? What should I do with this struggle?” instead of asking ourselves, “Why is this happening to me? What am I going to learn from this?” or even “Why does God allow us to have these struggles?” Maybe we think that in our lives as His daughters, we will only have paths that are filled with light and that are colorful and beautiful.

The reality, however, is that it is through these struggles that the Lord's purpose is fulfilled in our lives. A global pandemic showed us this.

Two years ago, many of us fought a fight that completely changed our lifestyle. Locked up, without contact with each other, grandchildren were looking for a way to hug their grandparents through transparent curtains, masks, and gloves. Screens became the only contact in the family, school, and work. All physical contact was prohibited. The church was affected worldwide. And in that struggle, many of us asked, “Why, Lord?”

In those moments of struggle, many forgot the word of the Lord, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom. 8:35 KJV).

In those moments of struggle where our God tested our faith, many became stronger, and sadly, others went astray. Two years ago, I was in a hospital in Mexico in the COVID area, isolated from everything and everyone. The only thing that sustained me was my faith; that faith that makes us strong in our weaknesses and that hope of eternal life. I was trusting that my spiritual family was praying for me. It was not an easy fight. There were weeks of strengthening myself in the Only One who can make us strong. These were weeks of uncertainty, and it was in those moments when the word of God strengthened me. Without access to anything, with nurses and doctors that God put in my path, and with confidence in the promises of the Lord in my mind, I remembered those hymns of encouragement, strength, hope, and trust.

I remembered the words of the apostle Paul,

“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's” (Ro. 14:8).

The day finally came when the will of the Lord was fulfilled and I left that place, more strengthened than when I entered, with the sole purpose of continuing to fulfill His command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15). In those moments of struggle my faith grew even more.

I remembered 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Clinically, my diagnosis was not encouraging at all. But the Lord says, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Ps. 42:11).

Maybe you are going through a struggle right now. Ask yourself, “What am I living this for?” Remember that He will complete His work in you. God has a purpose for our lives. And, it is through struggles that our faith is tested by fire. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1Pe. 1:7).

So, if you are going through a difficult time, I invite you to trust Him, honor and glorify Him who can do everything in everything— because when we are weak, then we are strong.