When the Pipes Freeze and Faith Is Tested: Lessons in Life's Storm

With Each Day Comes New Struggles 

God uses these struggles as lessons to help mature our faith. The past and the future are connected. We can learn from the past or keep walking through similar situations until we learn the lesson God is trying to teach us. 

The Day Everything Went Wrong

In 2009, within a few days of accepting Jesus as my Savior, every drain pipe in our trailer froze solid, and it was only the beginning. A few days later, it snowed heavily, the main water line burst and poured down the hill all night, covering the frozen river it created beneath. 

How did I figure this out you might ask? I had to take my oldest daughter for a CT scan that morning and slipped on the hidden mess beneath the snow while heading to the car. That morning turned into both of us getting a CT scan of our heads. This was only the beginning of the misfortunes that would come in the weeks ahead. 

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 KJV

Faith Tested In Life's Storm.

My husband, not saved, used this opportunity to let me know that it was my fault this stuff was happening. He said something along the lines of, “The devil is attacking you. You got saved and the devil isn’t happy.” 

Learning to Pray When You Don’t Know How

I knew nothing about how to pray and I hadn’t read my Bible enough to understand who Jesus truly was, but I knew there was power in prayer. I knew if God could change my heart and make me into someone new, then He was the one who had the answers.

In my feeble attempts I began to pray and read my Bible as best I could while juggling three rambunctious girls. It didn’t take long for me to crash and burn. I struggled through sleepless nights and lots of fights. I was in a tremendous spiritual battle. 

All the while, I felt God pressing my heart. It was as if I could hear Him saying, “Don’t stop praying. It doesn’t matter if you can see the results yet, I see what you can’t see. I’m working behind the scenes in the heavenlies. Keep trusting, keep reading, keep praying.”

God’s Lessons Through Life’s Repeated Trials

So I pressed on day to day. I tried to be the best mom and wife I could be and learn what this new life in Christ held for my future. God sent many lessons my way. Some I learned quickly, some took repeated tries to perfect, but all led me closer to Jesus. My faith was tested through life's storm.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

The Beginning of My Prayer Journey

It was during these early months of my new life in Christ that I began to journal my thoughts. It was more so writing Bible verses down and jotting some thoughts on those, but it was a start nonetheless. My prayer journey began so small and in the middle of adversity, but God can do great and mighty things with the tiniest of seeds. 

I failed God many times throughout my first year, but He never failed me. He picked me up time and time again. Trials are a tough part of our Christian life, but a very necessary part. Without them, we would wander mindlessly, never understanding the closeness we can experience with God in the secret place. 

Press On with a Heart of Praise

Friend, where are you today? Are you at the beginning as I was or many miles down the road? Wherever you are, remember,  there will be more trials as we continue this journey toward our hHeavenly home. Don’t lose heart. Press on with a heart of praise and know you are not alone. God walks every mile by your side. 

If this post spoke to your heart and you’d like to press deeper in your prayer life, I’d love to invite you to explore Book one of my devotional series, His Name Is Jesus. It was written through the trials and struggles God used to shape my journey of prayer. May its words draw you closer to Him and remind you that everything God touches becomes beautiful.

His Name Is Jesus