Tag: What the Bible says about trials and tribulations

Bible Verse of The Day – 8-15-22

John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Right now, at this very moment, so many are going through trials.

The world has become a very difficult place over the last 2 years or so. We have all faced many difficulties of one kind or another.

Some of the things we have faced have been at the hands of evil people. Others have come about in different ways; loss of a loved one, loss of a job, health problems, etc.

Regardless of the means by which they came, they have been very difficult, and in many cases leaving scars that will last a lifetime.

Many of us have been changed by these things, and we will carry those changes with us for many years to come; maybe even until the day we depart this earth.

But in all of the difficulties, there has remained one Constant who keeps us anchored; Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior.

He told us that there will be trials and tribulations. He spoke it plainly. But in that same verse, He also told us to “be of good cheer”. Why? Because He has overcome the world.

As children of the Most High God, we are not guaranteed an easy life of only pleasures and immense happiness. Instead, we are assured that when we go through the difficulties, He will be with us, walking us through each step.

So, it is in this that we take our comfort, knowing that even in His own difficulties, He overcame them, giving that victory to us as well.

So, take heart today. Hold tightly to Him in the midst of your storm. He will not lose His grip on us.

In that, my brothers and sisters, take heart, find your rest and your comfort.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-5-21

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NKJV) 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

Paul went through some things in his lifetime. As an apostle, he was beaten many times, stoned and left for dead, survived shipwrecks and much more. And he suffered all of this as a result of his work to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Because Paul knew what it meant to suffer, I tend to pay attention when he says something like what he said above; “we despaired even of life”.

They expected to die as a result of the persecution that they faced in Asia.

Paul calls the intensity in which they were persecuted as being “burdened beyond measure, above strength”. He was so sure he would die for the gospel that he had literally pronounced a death sentence upon himself.

It was that very situation, though, that caused them to stop relying on themselves and to turn fully to the God who raises the dead for their help and their survival.

Isn’t this just like all of us? We get backed into a corner and try with everything in us to fix the problem ourselves. Then, only when we realize that we can’t fix it, we finally hand it over to God for His help.

We know about this too. We have been in situations where we exhausted ourselves and were laying with our backs to the floor. Then we finally gave our situation over to God for His help. Once we did that, we started seeing light at the end of the proverbial tunnel pretty quickly.

Let’s change this up in our lives. Let’s start going to God first, instead of waiting until we are in dire need and on the verge of dying.

If we would do this, most of the struggles we face will be resolved much more quickly, and we will learn to trust God even more as we see Him work on our behalf.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-19-20

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

As I sit and ponder today on these past few months, I see change that has come not only in my own life, but in those around me. In the lives of all people around the world.

I am in awe at how God has given me such a peace that, through the hard times, through the decision making, through the learning experience, He stuck it out with me.

I have such wonderful memories to hold onto and reminisce about. Things I would never have experienced if I hadn’t gone through the fires at different times in my life.

Boy, I definitely know it’s not easy facing some things. I’d say sometimes it is even gut-wrenching hard.

But, instead of dwelling on the trial, I choose to keep the good at the forefront of my heart; the happy things that have brought me joy. And, I rejoice and thank God for all the new memories that I have!

We can always look around and see bad situations, and spend time talking about them. These things are there in all of our lives at one time or another. Or, we can choose to focus and move on with the good things.

Finding the good things in the land in which we live is a challenge sometimes. But it’s there and well worth the effort when we find it.

Psalm 27:13 (NKJV) 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Enjoy the goodness of the Lord and don’t stop praying. He is faithful to turn things around.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – When God Puts Us To The Test – 1-14-18

Greetings! 

How many of us enjoy preparing for and taking tests? It’s safe to say that not many of us enjoy it much. 

But life is actually a never-ending series of tests that we have to pass if we wish to advance. And God is the test administrator! 

We just published a brand new video on this topic. It’s eye-opening, to say the least. 

Please click here to watch the video now. 

When we face a trial in our lives, God can use it to test us. Whether we pass the test or not is completely up to us. 

Please click here to watch the video now. 

But whether we advance in our lives is also dependent on whether we pass the test! 

Please take a few minutes to watch the video and see what God has to say about the tests we face in our lives. 

Please click here to watch the video now. 

Enjoy the rest of your day and be sure to seek God when trials come, so we can be sure to pass the test the first time we take it! 

Sincerely in Christ, 

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie 

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808 

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 8-10-16

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

We want to tell you today that YOU are doing a GREAT job!

You’re facing trials and struggles but you’re doing your best to hang in there. You are trying to do the right thing. You haven’t given up, you are still STANDING and that is all that is required.

We can’t worry or compare ourselves with others and where they are at in their life, because everyone is in a different place. Some may be celebrating a victory, while others are fighting to make it through a battle.

We can absolutely learn from others at times, but as we are learning we can’t compare our situations or where we are at to theirs. It can cause discouragement.  Everyone is in a different place, working on different things in their life.

I remember one day I was praying and I heard, “you are doing wonderful.” I was like, “what? Who me? I really didn’t think so”.

That was my reaction to what I heard. But God wanted me to know how He felt about me. Who was I to disagree with Him?

So today, despite how you see yourself or feel about your situation, we are saying to you, keep on standing, take one day at a time and keep looking to God. You are doing a good job!

Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV) 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – New Video Published – 6-6-16

We have just published a new video. Click here to watch the video now.

In our latest video, we share how to find victory during times of trial and tribulation.

Click here to watch the video now.

Nobody likes going through hard times, but God can bring victory even in the midst of a storm, if we let Him.

How do we let Him? We share how to do this based on our own experiences from the past several years.

We hope you enjoy the video and that God will use it to speak to you.

Click here to watch the video now.

Be blessed in Him!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
PO Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 12-11-15

Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

These are words that were spoken by Joseph, as he faced his brothers; the brothers who sold him into slavery many years earlier. What they did, they did with evil intent. But God turned it around and used it for good.

There are many reading this who are facing situations that are hard. Some may be facing the toughest things they’ve ever faced in their lives. You may feel like darkness has closed in on you and you can see no light at all.

But know this. What the enemy has intended for evil, God can work for good.

It might feel like absolutely nothing good can come from your situation, the chaos you feel, the hurt and the pain that you’re struggling with. You can see nothing good, anywhere.

But when we are at our lowest, looking up, God already has a plan in the works. We just need to stick with Him and walk with Him so He can bring it to pass.

That is the hard part. That is the part that so many of us get wrong, because we get tired, frustrated and scared, and we give up too soon.

We can tell you from personal experiences that those times when we are about to throw in the towel and take things into our own hands are exactly when God has moved on our behalf, and turned what looked like catastrophes into victories.

So hold fast to God. Cling to His word. And remember that where the enemy sows evil, distress and chaos, God will bring healing, peace and joy, if we don’t give up.

Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 11-6-15

John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Some of us are facing some serious challenges in our lives right now.

In fact, the mountain in front of you might seem insurmountable. They loom over us like a black cloud that will suck the life out of us.

But Jesus has told us to be of good cheer. Why? Because He overcame the world. He overcame insurmountable odds Himself, for us.

He told us that we would face tribulations in this world. And it’s a fact that we do. Nobody will argue with this for one second.

But as we place our faith and trust in Him, He gives us what we need to overcome those obstacles.

Don’t get this wrong. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Sometimes the end result of something isn’t at all what we would have wanted.

But in it all and through it all, God holds us up. And, if we let Him, He will give us His peace.

Trust Him, children of God. If there is anyone worthy of our trust, it’s our Savior and Redeemer.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-26-15

John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

You will have tribulations. Not exactly the kind of words we like to hear, are they?

Those words aren’t what we would call encouraging. But wait!

Jesus followed those words up with some encouraging words of hope that should give us comfort.

“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

These days we might not use the expression “be of good cheer” very often, but we might say “take heart” or “cheer up”.

Jesus wanted us to know that despite the trials and tribulations that come our way, we don’t have to be down or depressed about them. He has overcome the world and conquered everything about it, including death and the grave.

Sometimes the things we go through can make us feel like our heart is being ripped out. We’re human and we hurt because of the trials we face.

Some days we may feel like crying, and that’s OK! During these past two years we have gone through some terrible trials. And there were days when we would lay on the floor and cry. We knew we had tough decisions to make and we wanted to make the choice that would please God, not man.

Some days we would wrestle with these choices and decisions and it seemed like the end of that dark time would never come. But we had faith in our God and we trusted Him. And eventually the breakthrough came, and the trials slowly came to an end.

God came through, as He always does. And, not surprisingly, the way He came through was nothing like what we had pictured or thought of in our own minds.

And He will come through for you, too. This time of trouble that you’re facing isn’t forever. Seasons come and go, and so will this trial go in due season.

So take heart, cheer up and trust in God. He is faithful and more than able to do what needs to be done for you in your situation.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-21-15

James 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.If we are going through a trial right now, let’s be honest; it’s probably not feeling very JOYFUL is it?

JOY is probably the last thing we are thinking about. It’s more like “how will we get through this time?  How will it end up? What will we lose? Will it be something we’ve worked so hard to keep? Will we be able to make up for the loss, etc.?”.

When going through a trial, most times we feel more scared than joyful. Our first reaction is almost always to fret.

In order to change that reaction, we have to know what the word of God says and then we have to hold it dear to our hearts every time fear starts to come in.

Let’s stop fretting and start having the faith we need to get through this trial. Starting right now we are going to remind ourselves that everything under Heaven belongs to God, according to Job 41:11 (NKJV) 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

It all belongs to God. We don’t need to get upset, or be anxious about it, but trust that however it turns out will be the way He wants it to be. There is no one like our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our DELIVERER. He is our STRENGTH!!

Psalm 18:2 (NKJV) 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Remind ourselves that God has the final say in all matters. Everything belongs to Him. Put our trust in Him today and wait on Him.

The trial we are in today will not last forever and when we come out of it, we will have produced patience, and patience is good!

James 1:4 (NKJV) 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

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