Praying Through Pain: Finding God's Peace in Life's Trials

Sometimes life knocks us down so hard we wonder if we'll ever get back up. For Mike and Luisa, hosts of the Journey to Eternity podcast, these aren't just abstract concepts—they're living through them right now. Recording from the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, they take a departure from their usual format to share the raw reality of their current struggles: Mike supporting his 87-year-old mother through a devastating fall and cognitive decline, and Luisa navigating the painful aftermath of complex shoulder surgery that revealed more damage than expected.

What makes this episode so powerful isn't just their willingness to be vulnerable, but how they demonstrate the transformative power of prayer through their own lived experience. The contrast between Mike's sister, who approaches their mother's decline without faith, and Mike's own peace-filled perspective speaks volumes about how prayer changes not just circumstances, but us. "Even in the trials, God gives us grace and something to celebrate," they remind us, having just marked both birthdays and their 17th wedding anniversary amid these challenges.

Drawing from Psalm 46, they outline six practical approaches to prayer during difficult seasons: being brutally honest with God about your feelings, asking for strength and endurance, seeking wisdom and perspective, maintaining gratitude despite pain, trusting God's faithfulness, and sharing burdens through prayer with fellow believers. Their approach isn't about religious platitudes—it's refreshingly authentic. As Luisa colorfully puts it, sometimes prayer is just "throwing up on God" when life becomes too much. Yet through that honest surrender comes the peace that surpasses understanding promised in Philippians 4.

Whether you're currently walking through your own valley or preparing for trials that may come, this episode offers both practical guidance and the comforting reminder that you're never alone in your struggles. As James 1:12 promises, "Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." Join Mike and Luisa as they demonstrate what it truly means to pray your way through life's most challenging seasons.

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Transcript

Introducing Our Personal Trials

Mike 0:05

Brothers and sisters, god did not send His Son to die on a cross so we could wander aimlessly through life. He had a purpose for us to do His work, submit to His will and glorify His name. Join us on this journey, a journey to eternity.

Luisa 0:31

So welcome to the show. I'm Luisa.

Mike 0:32

And I'm Mike, and this is episode 55 of the Journey to Eternity podcast. In every episode, we help Christians use God's Word to navigate everyday life in a sinful, falling world. So hey, babe, it's a beautiful day here in the smoky mountains of Tennessee.

Luisa 0:50

Hey babe. Yes, we are on location.

Mike 0:53

So this is going to be the most unusual episode we have ever done. First off, God has graced us with a vacation, but we have done this before. Back in February of 2022, we did episode 19 in Orlando, Florida.

Luisa 1:08

But what makes this one unique is that we are outside, we are in the mountains and we have an outdoor patio where we can set up, and you might hear the trees rustle if there is a breeze.

Mike 1:19

Well, I just heard a few acorns falling from those trees so you might get them during this podcast. So we're going to see how that goes. But more unusual for our podcast is that today's episode has more of a focus on us and what Luisa and I have been going through.

Luisa 1:35

We don't like making it about us, but we have been through a rough season recently and we want to share how God has brought us through the trials we are still facing right now.

Mike 1:44

It's also been a special week for us. Happy birthday and happy anniversary.

Luisa 1:49

Happy birthday to you as well, my love.

Mike 1:51

Thankfully, God has blessed each of us with another year and also 17 years of marriage. So even in the trials, God gives us grace and something to celebrate. So let's go to the Lord in prayer grace and something to celebrate.

Luisa 2:05

So let's go to the Lord in prayer. Oh Heavenly Father, here we are once again with the privilege to record another podcast. Thank you for making us both usable for your kingdom and glory. You said that, as believers in Christ, that we will go through trials, so this is for all believers to hear. I pray for those in a trial right now that you would give them ears to hear. I pray for those whose trial is around the corner that you would prepare their hearts to receive it, and I pray for those who are in constant trials that you would sustain them through it as you do graciously. Holy Spirit, take over and let our Heavenly Father be glorified In Jesus's name. We pray.

Mike 2:46

Amen. So let's get into it. For the past few months, Luisa and I have been in the midst of some trials, and they are continuing as we speak. Even on this trip, we've been afflicted.

Luisa 2:57

To keep it short, we will tell you what we have been going through and then talk about how God is sustaining us as we push through.

Mike 3:05

So I'll talk about mine first. So my mom my mom is 87 years old and last year we moved her from her house to an independent living apartment in a senior community. Well, at the beginning of June she fell and that's about the worst phone call that anybody could ever get.

Mike 3:22

Your parent, your elderly parent. They fell and we know that sometimes when they fall it's the beginning of a decline and this is a trial for us. Yeah, it's a big trial. So she hit her face hard, first on a table and then on the floor, and that's where they found her. You know they used to go check on them when they don't go down for dinner, and when they went and they opened up her apartment door, they found her on the floor and they called 911, took her to the hospital and she spent two weeks there.

Mike 3:55

While she was there she got a urinary tract infection which made things a lot worse for her and it severely affected her cognitive ability. So after two weeks they couldn't do anything else with her. They gave her medication and they discharged her back to the facility where she lived and they put her in the rehab unit. Now she spent five weeks there and while she did improve physically, her cognitive decline would not allow her to be in her independent living apartment by herself. So, long story short, my sister and I had to move her to a different facility and now she's in a memory care unit in her own studio apartment with 24-hour observation. We finally got her settled a few days before we left for this trip. Now she's in good spirits and has enough cognitive skills to know who we are and have small bursts of coherent conversation. But it's rough and God has been graceful to us through this trial and it's been a long hard trial.

Luisa 4:58

It's been crazy for you, babe, I know that for you. You've been going back and forth to Tom's River. You've been driving, you've been helping your sister because you guys take turns but what I see is that you are dealing with the trial so much better than your sister's dealing with it.

Mike 5:15

It is different. Yeah, it is different, and I know it's all God, it's all God.

Luisa 5:19

God is giving you the grace to get there. God is giving you the grace why he gives you rest, he's giving you patience, he's giving you wisdom, because we're taking it to him in prayer.

Mike 5:29

All the time. Yeah, it's just amazing what difference it makes when you have God in the mix. So talk about what you got going on, babe, here I go.

Luisa 5:39

As for me, I have been battling pain in both of my shoulders for some time. You know that, yep. I went to see our orthopedic doctor and, by the grace of God, they approved me for a double MRI.

Mike 5:49

Both shoulders.

Luisa 5:50

Thank you, Jesus the right shoulder is my dominant shoulder and we agreed that I would consider surgery after this trip.

Mike 5:57

Right, we were going to try to delay this.

Luisa 5:59

Right.

Mike 5:59

I'll be honest with you, Luisa. I knew she was hurting pretty bad and she goes. Oh, mike, we're going to go on vacation. I don't want to go through surgery now.

Luisa 6:08

I should have listened to myself, now that I'm in it and went through it and we're here.

Mike 6:13

I think it would have been worse for you, babe. You think, you think, I think so.

Luisa 6:20

Okay, I don't know. I'm telling you and it would have showed me after surgery what I would be going through. I would have just said no at that moment. I know that.

Mike 6:28

Right, but the MRI babe, that's what changed things, right?

Luisa 6:31

So the MRI revealed more than I expected, and pain became so bad that I could not wait until after this trip. The doctor had an opening for July 23rd, exactly four weeks before we were to fly out, so I took it and hoped for the best.

Mike 6:45

Yeah, we thought you'd be good by now.

Luisa 6:48

No, seriously, what did I know? Okay, I really thought four weeks was enough. I've had a lot of surgery, you know that, and none of my surgery has been easy but this one.

Mike 6:59

This was tough.

Luisa 6:59

The surgery was successful, though, but the doctor found more than what the MRI showed. He removed a bone spur, repaired a fully torn rotator cuff and found a hole in the muscle that had to be fixed. Who has a hole in the?

Mike 7:15

muscle.

Luisa 7:17

Me. You know I'm special babe, Come on, Even the doctor said it. What did he say to?

Mike 7:22

you the before and after pictures were really great they were. Like he showed us those pictures after the surgery and it was seriously insane and that's why I was going, yeah but this is why I had so much pain.

Luisa 7:32

You're not kidding. It was horrible and it was like yeah.

Mike 7:35

You had to get that fixed.

Luisa 7:36

No, I did so the post-surgery pain was so intense that I wanted to cry.

Mike 7:40

And I think you did a couple of times.

Luisa 7:42

No, I have A couple of times I've been crying for the past couple, almost two months, from this pain. My arm has been in a sling now for five weeks, including in this trip. You know I'm frustrated, okay, because I'm frustrated that I can't do anything and I thank you, honey. I want to take this moment right now to just thank you for being, for making you wear your sling from here. No, I'm not thanking you for that, because you know that ignored that.

Mike 8:08

That just really just no idea.

Luisa 8:10

Frustrating to me but I know you're doing it because I care. But I just want to acknowledge you and thank you for your patience. I want to thank you for the way you're taking care of me. I want to thank you for using wisdom. I want to thank you for comforting me. Okay, Cause I've been.

Seeking God Through Hardship

Luisa 8:24

I've been a pill, and I know I have, because the pain is so, so bad and the physical therapy has been intense and it's painful, but it is starting to bear fruit. You are seeing some progress. I think I still can't comb my hair but, I have a problem I can't comb my hair, that's why you have grandchildren. I can see that the healing, though, starts to take place, but even to this day it is painful. The recovery time is expected to be several months.

Mike 8:55

So you can see that we both have a lot going on. Yeah, but even on this trip, babe, we're afflicted. Saturday I started feeling sick, and, and Saturday I started feeling sick and I knew I'm saying, oh my goodness, I know this feeling. It feels like sinus infection.

Luisa 9:07

And, babe, you know that every vacation we go on.

Mike 9:10

Something happens.

Luisa 9:11

But no, no, no, but it's never been you urgent care. That's right, it's usually you, it's usually me, ok. So when I started seeing you not feel good, I was like saying is he getting sick? I'm shocked because you're using me.

Mike 9:21

We better go to urgent care and.

Luisa 9:22

I said, you better go to urgent care. And here we are.

Mike 9:24

So we found an urgent care and I did get some antibiotics and I've started to feel better. But even as we do this podcast, you might hear the congestion in my voice, so thank you for bearing with me Right.

Luisa 9:35

But even in all this, we are not defeated. In our strength we are weak, but in God we are strong.

Mike 9:43

Amen. So let's start off with some scripture. Let's get to some happy things here. Scripture is always happy. Psalm 46 starts and ends with the answer to the questions we're going to pose throughout this episode. Verses one to three state God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. And it ends with verses 10 through 11.

Luisa 10:19

He says. He says and know that I am God. I will exalt it among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.

Mike 10:33

Thank.

Luisa 10:33

God for scripture babe.

Mike 10:35

So you look at this, you look at verses 1 to 3. God is our refuge and strength. And then it goes on to describe some really rough stuff. To me it's earthquakes and tsunamis and all kinds of upheaval that the earth causes, and it's got to be the most terrifying.

Luisa 10:53

Because those are trials too.

Mike 10:55

That'd be the most terrifying time for us to be in. It says God is our refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble. So basically, what this is telling you is look to God even in the worst of possible circumstances look to God.

Luisa 11:09

That's why you know that this be still and know that I'm God is my favorite verse yes, it is, it's on the wall in our house and it's my favorite verse because you know, I understand that scripture so well. In my own trials, God is always reminding me look to me, look to me, be still and know that I am God, and I believe that with everything in me. So I'm so grateful for that verse.

Mike 11:31

Great. So now that we know what the answer is, how do we get there?

Luisa 11:34

By staying connected to God through prayer, amen. So, as you can tell, this podcast is about how to pray your way through trials.

Mike 11:43

Yes, prayer is just the best practice that we could have.

Luisa 11:47

Listen, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have God to pray to through all these trials that I've been through all my life, and I know that it's only prayer that has guided me from point A to point B Amen. Am I happy in my trial? No, absolutely not. But I am grateful that I can surrender to him so he could give me the comfort and peace that I need at that moment.

Mike 12:10

The practice of praying helps believers to seek comfort, strength and wisdom from God. In difficult times, prayer will always shift your focus from your fears to God's faithfulness, reminding you that you're not alone. And that is so true. When we don't pray, we're essentially alone. Right, I don't care that, you're not alone.

Luisa 12:24

And that is so true.

Mike 12:26

When we don't pray, we're essentially alone. I don't care what you're doing, but when you forget that God is in the mix, but let's think about your sister, babe.

Luisa 12:35

I'm going to use her as an example. Okay, you've been praying through this whole situation with your mom and she wonders why you're so peaceful behind it.

Mike 12:44

Yeah, I don't think she gets it.

Luisa 12:45

She doesn't get it. When I talked to her that day on the phone, I was on the phone with her for an hour and she was a hot mess. Yeah, like she just didn't understand what to do with this situation, that her mom is in this situation. Yeah, and it's harsh, it's harsh, it's harsh for us, it's harsh for me. We know that's where our comfort comes from. She doesn't have that. It works. So she's trying to be this strong woman. I can handle it.

Mike 13:08

I got this you know, that's my favorite line.

Luisa 13:10

I got this. And I always tell her Donna, drop the I, you got nothing.

Mike 13:15

Right, okay, because we don't Right. We are helpless without it. So let's look at six ways we can use prayer to help us get through the trials of life.

Luisa 13:25

Number one is to be honest about your feelings.

Mike 13:28

When you say honest with your feelings, you just have to go to God and just let it all hang out.

Luisa 13:33

Babe, do you hear me going to God? I throw up on God.

Mike 13:35

I know you do, you know that.

Six Ways to Pray in Trials

Luisa 13:37

I throw up because I'm in every type of emotion there. Sometimes my trials are so hard, and I'm just so tired and I'm so weary and I'm frustrated and I'm angry and I'm and I'm just telling God this. This is what I say to him. I'm not going to sit there and say, god, you know, I'm OK in feeling like crap right now. I'm OK in this pain. I'm OK, I'm not OK.

Mike 14:03

Right.

Luisa 14:04

I'm frustrated, I'm frustrated.

Mike 14:05

It's OK to do that with him. He'm okay. I'm not okay, I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated and it's okay to do that with him. He loves this. Okay, when you go to God and you just lay it out and you're honest. It's like people get a little confused. They don't understand how that works. Prayer is. It's nothing more than a conversation with God. Like you and I can sit here and have this conversation and we could speak freely. We know, however it comes out, it comes out. God is the same way and he's waiting for this.

Luisa 14:28

Because we have established that relationship with him. The minute I go to him. He knows my voice.

Mike 14:36

He does, he does. Nobody prays like you. Faith, and that's not a prideful thing. That's just and that's not a prideful thing.

Luisa 14:46

No.

Mike 14:46

That's just. Louisa is who she is with God.

Luisa 14:48

Yeah.

Mike 14:49

And I try to be the same way. So when I'm in my alone time, when I'm driving in the van and I'm upset about something like I'll just God, this is hard. God, like God, help me in this.

Luisa 15:01

I got nothing here, god, I'm weak, I'm weak and I need you, god. I need you, god, I need you. I need you right now.

Mike 15:06

Right now, I feel like I'm drowning in my sorrow and pain, right, and you could tell him anything, right. You have to be honest with him and express how you feel.

Luisa 15:15

Because he already knows babe, Nothing surprises.

Mike 15:18

God, nothing. Yeah, we think we're like telling him something he hasn't.

Luisa 15:21

God, are you listening to me? God is like yeah, okay, but God's gentle ear.

Mike 15:27

it's bent down and he leans his ear towards you and he hears our cries, and sometimes we do cry in our prayers.

Luisa 15:35

How many times have you heard me crying?

Mike 15:37

In tears, right In tears.

Luisa 15:38

And like I'm sobbing because I'm under so much distress.

Mike 15:42

Right.

Luisa 15:42

And I know that the only place I'm going to find comfort is in my Father in heaven.

Mike 15:47

Right, because God is a safe refuge. You can express anything to him.

Luisa 15:52

And when I come out of that space with God.

Mike 15:54

I have to say that my pain is not gone.

Luisa 15:57

I'm still in my affliction, but I've surrendered it all to him because I have to get it out of my system and I feel this comfort and peace.

Mike 16:05

Right. Even Jesus cried out to God in his pain. Remember, in the garden of Gethsemane he was about to go to the cross, he was laboring and he was grieved what he had to go through, but again, it was about God's will and he submitted himself willfully to that, which was just like the most amazing thing, because that's what saved us.

Luisa 16:23

Yeah exactly, but that's what God's words tells us to do. God says come to me, those who are weary and burdened, and I'll give you rest. I believe that In 1 Peter 5, verses 6 through 7, humble yourselves. Amen, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him because he cares about you Amen.

Mike 16:46

The first two words you said humble yourself. It takes humility to go to God and leave all of your burdens at his feet. That's why it's so important to go to him. The pride is what keeps you stuck. The pride is what keeps you thinking you could do this all yourself. And you can't.

Luisa 17:01

Even in your own flesh. Sometimes we might go through stuff and in my flesh I'm not going to come to you the way I come to God.

Mike 17:08

No.

Luisa 17:09

I'm not doing it Because I come to God in just a child that needs his father for whatever it is that I need at that moment. I don't come to you as that. You've seen me cry, you've seen me in pain, you've seen me under distress, you've seen all of it, but I can't come to you the way I go to my father in heaven, because you can't give me what he gives me, that prince of peace and comfort.

Mike 17:31

So don't feel bad about going to God and getting it off your chest. It can give you some form of relief.

Luisa 17:37

And it does so. Number two is pray for strength and endurance, and I have prayed for that constantly. Give me strength, lord, give me endurance, give me perseverance. I need you to get me through right now to an hour from now.

Mike 17:52

Because sometimes it's about getting through the trial. God, he may take away a trial. He may not he may not, and he might be testing us in some way. So think about how we handle our trials. Do we honor God?

Luisa 18:04

No.

Mike 18:05

Yeah, most times not no we handle our trials?

Luisa 18:08

Do we honor God? No, yeah, most times not. No, no, because we get in our own selfish way and we're trying to figure it out ourselves and we don't even think about God.

Mike 18:12

We question him.

Luisa 18:13

Right, we get upset with him, we doubt him, we're angry with him, yeah, we complain about it. Right.

Mike 18:18

It's really about going to him with that humility that we spoke about before and allowing him and being honest, yeah, being honest and allowing him to take the burdens off right.

Luisa 18:27

The character of a person is revealed in how they handle trials.

Mike 18:30

I believe that james, chapter one and verses two to four tell us to be joyful in our trials it says consider it great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Luisa 18:54

Listen, babe. God has been so gracious to me to help me understand this right here, because none of us are happy in a trial, that is because happiness is dependent on our circumstances and, let's face it, trials can make you miserable.

Mike 19:07

Miserable.

Luisa 19:08

Miserable, Okay, and I know, I know like. I know that in my trial, in my circumstance, I get the remembrance that God is who God is today, yesterday and forevermore. My dependence is on Him because he's faithful. No matter what I'm going through, how I feel, God is always faithful and he's shown that to me and that's why my heart, I have a grateful heart for God. I really do.

Mike 19:33

So joy is a state of being and it's a fruit of the Spirit. To be joyful in a trial is a way to honor God while building endurance and character. So number three is to pray for wisdom and perspective. We think we can figure out this trial. We think that I got this, we got this, we got this. No, we don't.

Luisa 19:56

I'm going to wake up tomorrow and I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be tough, right, right.

Mike 20:01

So I think the best course of action is to ask God for wisdom, to understand what he may be teaching you during the trial.

Luisa 20:09

Right. Sometimes the trial is for a purpose and most of the time it's purpose in his life.

Mike 20:15

It's definitely a purpose for God Right, not for us. You know, sometimes we're in sin Right and God's trying to reveal it. He's trying to get us to turn from it.

Luisa 20:23

And maybe we are resisting him in some way and he is trying to bring us back.

Mike 20:27

How many times do we push back at God? How many times do we know which way he wants us to go? And we think you know, I think I know how this is Everything is good right now.

Luisa 20:36

I got this God. I don't need you right now, I'm good.

Mike 20:39

Proverbs tells us not to lean on our own understanding.

Luisa 20:43

And James, chapter one in verse five, says now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given to him. This is God's word. This is what scripture says. This is what we should be doing, not what we want to do.

Mike 21:00

James has got some great scriptures here.

Luisa 21:01

I love James, I love the book of James, because you know what if it doesn't really hit you in the core of your heart and your soul? James is the book reminding us over and, over and over again.

Mike 21:13

We can't do this without him. No, these trials will eat us alive and they will knock us down and punch us repeatedly.

Luisa 21:19

And that's me thinking about your sister.

Mike 21:21

Yeah.

Luisa 21:22

And she's getting punched, she's getting knocked down and she doesn't know what to do with herself.

Being Honest With God

Mike 21:28

And the only thing I could do is just pray for her babe, and I'm not saying I feel great, but at least I'm stable in it. And I'm able to make decisions.

Luisa 21:33

I'm able to say okay, I know how to handle this.

Mike 21:36

God, help me with this, God calm me down, God walk me through this. And he does.

Luisa 21:41

And you've had moments when you came home from your mom's and you are defeated.

Mike 21:45

Yeah.

Luisa 21:46

And what am I doing? Praying, and I'm interceding for you, because I know that that's what you need. We need to intercede and we need to pray for each other and others. When we know a person is in a trial, pray because they need it.

Mike 21:58

God promises to provide wisdom generously if you ask. Pray that your eyes will be open to God's work in your life.

Luisa 22:07

So let's see where we are in the prayer process.

Mike 22:11

So first, we told you that it's okay to throw up on God, as you used so graciously to share all your feelings with him. Second, we pray for strength and endurance. And third, we pray for wisdom and perspective.

Luisa 22:25

Right and number four is to pray with gratitude. Gratitude, yes, gratitude Are we?

Mike 22:31

really to be thankful in a trial.

Luisa 22:33

We should be thankful in a trial. You know why? Because God is growing our character in a trial. The trial is not because God wants to hurt us. The trial is that God doesn't want to beat us down. The trial is he's growing us to have full dependence on him and him alone. I'm in a trial right now and I'm clinging I am so clinging to God's word. I am clinging to the cross, I'm abounding in his love, I'm soaking in his presence, because this trial is really, really hard and if I let go of that vine, I'm going to be in my own flesh and I'm in big trouble.

Luisa 23:10

But, then you have to deal with me.

Mike 23:12

If you think about some things, Thank you for that. I didn't really want to say that, but I said it. Thank you for saying that for me.

Luisa 23:20

That's my honest truth, babe. I have to connect to the Lord right now because this trial is one of my hardest trials that I've been through. This is a hard one for me because I can't do anything. God has taken away the ability for me to do anything for myself. Think about that. So I need dependence on him. Think about this trial. And it's my right hand and I'm frustrated. And God has given me a husband like you that has patience and that is helping me and that's trying to comb my hair, is trying to help me get dressed, is trying to cut my meat and my food. I mean like you're doing it all. So we're both in this trial.

Mike 23:56

God is doing it all.

Luisa 23:57

Yeah, food. I mean like you're doing it all. So we're both in this trial, yeah, but I'm saying we're both in this trial together. He's teaching me something and he's teaching you something.

Mike 24:01

Absolutely. If you think about some of the things that you could be grateful for in a trial, we talked about them already. They were strength, endurance, wisdom and perspective. But you can also be thankful for the trial itself, and we talked about that as well, because you have a God who puts that trial there for a purpose and is going to teach you something in the process. Gratitude can also give you peace in the trial. Now let's be real. Trials produce anxiety. Yeah, okay, anxiety is not from God. No, but the trials will produce anxiety, and most of the time that we worry it's because God is not in the mix and it always plays itself out. When we keep God front and center, when we're praying, when we're in community with him, then the trials are not as burdensome.

Luisa 24:51

Listen, I know that after I had surgery and you went to work and I was home by myself, I felt the anxiety creep up on me. I felt it. I felt it and I was alone. But I'm never alone. I know I'm never alone, but the thought of me trying to take care of myself when you were gone.

Mike 25:11

I know it was really rough at the beginning.

Luisa 25:12

It was hard. It was really, really, really hard and I felt that anxiety starting to creep up and I had to take it to the Lord in prayer. Yeah, I sat with Philippians, chapter 4 and verses 6 to 7, to remind us that anytime we pray, we should pray with a grateful heart.

Mike 25:28

It says don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Petition with thanksgiving present your request to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Mike 25:44

And I know that that was a big thing because, again, that's another one that's on the wall in our house, so if you're sitting there in your chair you have to stare right at it. So these are good reminders to, if you like, scripture on the wall in your house. These are good ways that you could put them to use. They're not just there to take up space.

Luisa 26:00

I know I love Scripture in front of me. I need it in front of me because it's a reminder to depend on God. It's a reminder to what His Word is saying to me. It's a reminder to find peace, because if it's not in front of me, this is just my kind of head.

Mike 26:14

The.

Luisa 26:14

Bible's not open.

Mike 26:21

It's not going to come to you. It's really not. Sometimes you need that little reminder. So choose thankfulness for God's blessing and promises, shifting your focus to his goodness. You can glory in suffering, believe it or not, knowing that they produce perseverance, character and hope.

Luisa 26:31

Right, amen, amen. And number five is pray and trust in God's faithfulness. When you are in a trial, focus on God's promises.

Mike 26:43

Amen, you know I do that. Yes, yes, you have books on God's promises.

Luisa 26:47

God, you said, you said God, you said, you said God, you promised Right they're all over scripture.

Mike 26:53

Yes, there's always a promise for the trial that you're in. You got to just find it Right, and we are used to human promises which have no hope and often broken. But God's promises are sure and true. He cannot lie.

Luisa 27:08

No, I believe every promise in God's word, every single one of them, because God is faithful.

Mike 27:13

God makes a promise it surely will come to pass. 1 Peter, 5 and verse 10 is a promise of God's faithfulness in trials.

Luisa 27:21

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen and support you after you have suffered a little while. I can relate with that. Yes, big time Suffered for a little while I can relate with that.

Mike 27:36

Yes, yes, suffered for a little while.

Luisa 27:38

Sometimes, a little while is a long time especially when you're in a trial and you know that there's nothing you can do but rely on Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.

Finding Gratitude Amid Pain

Mike 27:47

Peter was being nice there when he said suffered for a little while, but sometimes your trial lasts for a long time and you, just you, have to endure your way through it.

Luisa 27:58

And I think that we have to always remember, babe, and this is why, for me, I've learned God has taught me so much in His Word. That's why I love God's Word I really do Because it teaches me how to be and how not to be, and I know that he just is constantly, constantly reminding me. Look to me, yes, look up, look up.

Mike 28:19

Luisa.

Luisa 28:19

Don't look to the side, Don't look to the left or the right to the back. Your help comes from me. Look up.

Mike 28:26

Amen.

Luisa 28:27

And because I know what his word says. It really, really helps me in these trials. Where would I be if I didn't have God's word? Where would I be, I don't want to know, sitting here complaining. You got it, babe. Go ahead, listen, mike, I have to confess that before I was a believer, I complained about everything. Am I right or wrong, babe? You are correct, I was a complainer, I was never joyful, I was never satisfied, I was just a hot mess. And you know, since I've become a believer, how do I complain?

Mike 29:06

now it's cut down a lot, a lot.

Luisa 29:09

Okay, a lot. I'm not perfect, but I remember when I wasn't saved, it was just no joy, all joy, no gratitude. It was me and me and me alone.

Mike 29:19

Right, so remind yourself of God's character and promises, trusting that he is in control and you will find peace Right. And number six it's really an important one and it's usually overlooked, and that is pray with others.

Luisa 29:34

Yeah, that's so important.

Mike 29:36

So there's a reason why we fellowship with others in the church. What's the reason, babe? Well, it's not only for good barbecue. So I'm sorry, I know I'm in Tennessee and there's good barbecue here, but there is no better barbecue than we get in our own church in New York.

Luisa 29:49

City, Amen, amen and amen. And so we can pray for others and also get prayed for ourselves Right, so this works two ways.

Mike 29:58

It's a two-way street. We have can pray for others and also get prayed for ourselves, right, so this works two ways. It's a two-way street. We have to pray for others when they're going through a trial, but we also need to be sharing our burdens with other people.

Luisa 30:07

And that's how you know to pray for others. If you don't share your burdens, how is someone going to pray for you so?

Mike 30:11

I think it's really important that we establish relationships in the church where we can regularly pray for each other.

Luisa 30:18

I agree.

Mike 30:18

And you don't have to share everything with the whole church. You don't have to stand up in front on a Sunday and tell everybody what you're going through, but we all have like a small circle of really good relationships within the church Close relationships, yeah, and you know you have to find those, you have to cultivate those, and you don't get that unless you seek that out. But when you have them, there are people that you can go through. I know I got some guys. Okay, I got guys that I could go to.

Luisa 30:41

And I have women, I have sisters in Christ. If I have something going on, I could talk to them.

Mike 30:45

And if they have something, they can talk to me. And the whole key is that it's not a shameful thing to ask people to pray for you when you're in a trial.

Mike 30:56

The apostle Paul asks for prayer all the time, all the time it's in scripture, when somebody prays for you or when you pray for somebody else, the burden is laid at the foot of Christ and he hears it and he comforts. So we have to be ready. When somebody comes to us and shares a burden with us, we have to pray for them. We have to pray right. Then. Don't say, oh, when I go home I'll pray for you, because what's going to happen when you go home? You're going to forget, you're going to forget about it, or it's not going to be that important, or whatever. Or you really didn't mean what you said. Some people say, yeah, I difference, because there's a difference between praying for someone and praying with someone.

Mike 31:39

Exactly so. When you could like, a brother comes to you and says, hey, I got this going on and I need to unload this, you put your arm on their shoulder and you pray for them right then, and you would hope that if you went to somebody with a burden, that they would pray for you right then too. That's the whole key about establishing relationships, about fellowshipping, about being within the body and forming those relationships. It's really important People need prayer right then.

Luisa 32:06

And you know what? Because if this is why it says that you need your brothers and sisters in Christ, that's your Christ family because, they are the only ones that are going to pray for you. Yes, we have family members that we share our burdens with. How many people in my family have prayed for me in this trial that I've been in Nobody, leah.

Mike 32:23

Leah. Okay, we don't count Leah, because she's 13 and our granddaughter Right.

Luisa 32:28

But she prays for me. I know she does. I know she does.

Mike 32:30

But again, when you're saying your family, that don't count your family wouldn't even know what it is.

Luisa 32:39

My family wouldn't even know what it is. Your coworkers don't know what it is. Your friends have no clue what it is to pray for. You Right, we need our church family. That's why it's so important.

Mike 32:46

We have to have this, yeah. So James, chapter 5 and verse 16 commands us and promises us. It says Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.

Luisa 33:01

Stop right there. The so that you may be healed is key, right and it's healed inside.

Mike 33:06

So God might not heal your shoulder, okay, but he will comfort you and heal you spiritually so that you can endure yourself through the trial. This is an important thing. Don't expect God to all of a sudden take your broken leg and heal it Now. He may do that, but more than likely he's just going to give you the endurance you need to get through it, Because God is always with us in our trials.

Praying With and For Others

Luisa 33:30

He doesn't say that he's going to heal you. He says I'm going to go through it with you. So, whatever I'm going through, what gives me peace is knowing that God is with me in this trial and he's going to get me to the other side. But I'm not alone.

Mike 33:44

Now the rest of verse 16 says the prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. So God hears the prayers. When somebody says let me pray for you right now, god hears that prayer. When you say let me pray for you right now, god is there, he hears you, he's ready. Sharing burdens through prayer with others offers comfort and support. As the prayer of a righteous person is powerful, let someone be that person for you and be that person in return.

Luisa 34:14

But what if we don't know what to pray?

Mike 34:17

Romans, chapter 8 and verses 26 to 28 tells us In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for, as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings, and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God, amen. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Luisa 34:51

Amen, amen, amen, amen. So, as we wrap up, let's recap the six ways to pray in a trial babe. Number one be honest with God about how you feel, and when I say be honest, I mean throw up on him Everything that's going on for you. God can handle anything that you throw up on him Amen Ask for endurance and strength.

Luisa 35:14

And that means God, I'm weak and I need you to help me endure Right. I need your strength to get me through this trial. And number three ask for wisdom and perspective, because we don't want to lean on our own understanding. Right, and a lot of times we try to do that, and how's that working for you?

Mike 35:35

It doesn't work. Number four is be grateful in every way.

Luisa 35:39

And I mean grateful, I mean your heart has to be a heart of gratitude. Again, it doesn't feel good.

Mike 35:48

Right.

Luisa 35:48

Okay, but I'm still grateful that God is with me. There's always something in your trial for you to focus on, besides the pain and the weariness that you could say Lord, thank you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Mike 36:03

That's number five, Right. And number six share with and pray for other believers.

Luisa 36:09

Amen. In closing, we have a few promises from God concerning trials.

Mike 36:15

Remember that Scripture tells us we will go through trials. 1 Peter 4 and verse 12 says Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.

Luisa 36:32

Scripture also tells us to take it to God. Psalm 55, 22 states cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Mike 36:45

Amen. God's word also tells us how God will help us. Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 29 to 31, promises this. It says he gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not become weary. They will walk and not faint.

Luisa 37:14

Amen. And finally, James 1.12. Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Let's pray.

Mike 37:30

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the trials that we experience, knowing that you are always with us, that you will never leave us or forsake us. We ask in the name of your son, that we have the desire to seek you out and lay our troubles at your feet, knowing that you are faithful to see us through. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Luisa 37:49

Amen. So that wraps up episode 55. We thank you for listening. We invite you to leave us a comment or a question by going to our website at jtepodcastorg.

Mike 38:02

That's jtepodcastorg. That was your voice babe, that was my voice. I got almost all the way through it.

Luisa 38:09

Okay, click on the Contact Us page and we will respond within 24 hours. If you don't personally know us, introduce yourselves. We would love to get to know you from across the states or around the world.

Mike 38:21

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Luisa 38:43

And, as always, please support us by sharing this podcast with a friend or on your social media page.

Mike 38:49

Till next time. We wish you God's blessings as you navigate everyday life in a sinful, fallen world.

Luisa 38:55

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.