Some of the hardest words in all of Scripture are found right here:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” -James 1:2–3 (KJV)

Let’s be honest—nobody wakes up in the morning asking God for trials. We don’t pray, “Lord, give me something hard today.” Yet James says when the hard days come—and they will—we’re invited to count it all joy.

Not because the trial feels good.

Not because the pain is pleasant.

But because we know something.

James says the trying of your faith is working something in you. God isn’t wasting your struggle. He’s using it. Every pressure-filled moment is strengthening spiritual muscles you didn’t even know you had. Faith that’s never tested is faith that’s never trained.

Patience doesn’t show up overnight. It’s forged in the fire. It’s shaped in the waiting room. It’s built when you keep trusting God even when answers are slow and the road is rough.

Here’s the encouragement today: what you’re walking through is not the end of the story. God is developing endurance in you—steady faith, settled trust, unshakable hope. And one day you’ll look back and realize the trial didn’t break you… it built you.

So take heart. Hold on. Stay faithful.

God is at work in you—and He’s not finished yet.

Some things help for a little while.

Other things help forever.

Paul told young Timothy, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” -1 Timothy 4:8

Now don’t get me wrong—taking care of your body matters. A walk does you good. A good night’s sleep helps. Eating better makes a difference. But Paul reminds us there’s something even more important than working on the outside.

Godliness works from the inside out.

You can be in the best shape of your life and still be worn down in your soul. You can have strength in your arms and still be weak in your spirit. But when you invest time with God—when you pray, open His Word, and walk with Him daily—there’s a return that touches every part of life.

Godliness helps you love better.

It steadies you in hard seasons.

It gives peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

And here’s the best part—godliness doesn’t just help you make it through today. It carries promise for eternity.

So take care of your body—but don’t neglect your soul.

What you do with God today will bless you now… and forever.

Some mornings feel like a victory just to get your boots on.

Not because you don’t love God.

Not because you’ve quit believing.

But because you’re tired in places nobody can see.

Hebrews 12:1 says,

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

I love that word race — because it reminds me this life isn’t a sprint.

It’s a long obedience.

It’s steady footsteps.

It’s one faithful step after another.

Some of us get discouraged because we don’t feel fast.

But God never asked you to be fast.

He asked you to be faithful.

The verse says to lay aside every weight.

Notice it doesn’t just say sin.

It says weight.

Some things aren’t sinful…

They’re just heavy.

Regret can be heavy.

Bitterness can be heavy.

Guilt from things God already forgave can be heavy.

And God says, “You don’t have to keep carrying that.”

You weren’t created to run this race bent over and exhausted.

Then it says, “run with patience.”

Not panic.

Not pressure.

Not perfection.

Patience.

Meaning: keep showing up.

Keep trusting.

Keep walking with God even when you don’t feel strong.

And don’t forget the first part of the verse…

You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Heaven is cheering.

Jesus is interceding.

The Holy Spirit is empowering.

You are not running alone.

So if today all you can do is take one small step…

Take it.

If all you can do is whisper a prayer…

Whisper it.

If all you can do is hold on…

Hold on.

Because slow faith is still faith.

Steady faith is still faith.

And God honors every step taken toward Him.

Keep running, my friend.

Not in your strength.

But in His.

You’re closer than you think.