When, not if …

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 43:2 NKJV

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31 NKJV

You’ll never find God or His Word sugar-coating reality; telling us plainly … “When the waters rise and when the flames come …” When, not if. And if you’ve been alive longer than 20 minutes, you know the truth of that “promise.” Adversity. Flood waters. Flames. Trials are woven into the fabric of real life. No one is exempt. Yet, He doesn’t leave us there …

Layered in that raw reality is also the promise that, when the trials come, He will be with us. Though He is the omnipresent God, there is a unique coming-alongside that we experience when trials attempt to overwhelm us, when they graze our lives. As Nazi concentration camp survivor, Corrie Ten Boom put it, “He doesn’t give us the train ticket until we board the train.”

When trials touch our lives, He is uniquely there in a way that sunny days and overflowing bank accounts do not require.

Even when the trial is of our own making. Take a closer look at Peter in the above verse. He took his eyes off of Jesus and instead, zeroed in on the literal wind and waves, and began to sink like a rock. The Word says that, “Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.” No hesitation. No withholding. Immediately. Yes, a lecture followed, but His Presence was not withheld, when Peter so desperately needed it.

I can testify from my own life, that while He has allowed (and I have sometimes caused) great challenges in my life, He has also never failed to lavish me with His Presence in them. A Presence I uniquely felt during the deepest, darkest trials. And He will do the same for you dear one, when you walk through your day of trial … He is with you.

When trials touch our lives, He is uniquely there in a way that sunny days and overflowing bank accounts do not require.

Becky White

Father, we are so thankful for Your presence when life hits us square between the eyes. When life just plain hurts, You are with us. Please enable us to rest in that simple truth. We are not alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Poke the Pain

“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.”  Hosea 6:1 ESV

For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal. Job 5:18 BSB

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:3 NLT

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result. The saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:20 NASB

Seated at a rectangular plastic table adorned with a sugar jar and plenty of creamer, I begin probing.  “So …  tell me, what’s your story?” This purposefully penetrating and open-ended question is one I usually ask in the course of urban ministry. Many of the folks seated across from me, have no home, no bed, no anything.  And often, feel without hope. As other volunteers serve breakfast with all the “fixins”, along with a bottomless cup of hot coffee, I listen intently. My goal is to gently poke until I find the pain. Some share decades-old hurt or regret. Others, eye me suspiciously for possible motives, as they lift their fork for another bite of a dripping-with-syrup waffle. It’s then that I begin sharing a few of my own pain stories as well. I have come to understand that no matter the socioeconomic background, regardless of ethnicity or educational level, pain is our commonality. Some more than others, that’s true, but always, something.

Why do I ask this? Because I know that pain can either be used as a weapon in the hands of the enemy, or a tool in the hands of our Almighty, and sovereign God. As the Old Testament account of Joseph puts it, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” The words didn’t ignore his years-long pain of unjust imprisonment or suffering, but it did put it in perspective. Yea, You meant to jack-up my life.  But hold on. God meant for that pain to bring about something good in my life. And very often, the enemy has used their pain to convince them of God’s “neglect” or even lack of existence.

Pain can either be used as a weapon in the hands of the enemy, or a tool in the sovereign hands of Almighty God.

Becky White

How about you? What’s your story? Is your pain point one of deep regret or childhood trauma? Is it dashed expectations that linger in your heart or widowhood or illness or a prison cell? Is your pain caused by watching the ache of someone you love? Pain is always a pivot point. Do we allow it to drive us to our knees and to greater dependence on the Lord, or allow the hurt to push us away? Away, in anger or depression or bitter unforgiveness?

As I share with the folks at The Bridge Ministry or The Columbus Dream Center, I freely admit that I don’t have answers to all the questions of “why.” But this I know, If God willingly gave the life of His Son for us, surely we can trust Him with what we do not understand. Trust Him with our pain.

The question we all must answer is, will we let our pain draw us to Him or repel us from Him?

In whose hands is your pain?

Father God, Yes, there are times when my heart is pained and raw from the realities of life. But I choose to trust You with all that comes my way. For my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus  

Got Faith?

The righteous shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4b

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:17 NASB

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” Hebrews 10:38 NIV

“The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11 ESV

There we were, standing quietly and waiting at the front of the church, near the front row of seats. Our small circle was there to pray for others from the congregation, but no one stepped out that day, so we were left to ourselves. After several minutes, someone innocently asked if any of us had a prayer request. Immediately, and almost involuntarily, words spilled out of my mouth about a years-long trial that sometimes brings me to my literal knees in emotional heartache. Though giving only a few details, just speaking the words out loud was enough to create a lump in my throat and my eyes to well with tears, threatening to keep me from speaking. (As a side note, why are we so reluctant to admit our real-life needs or pain or hot-mess situations to our brothers and sister in Christ?)

From the expression on the faces of those in our tight circle, I could see this was not what they were expecting to hear. This was no “easy” request for healing of a bad back or enough money for the month. (Though I have definitely had my share of those!). No. This was a request that would require not only a miracle, but the ability to patiently endure as I trusted in God’s character and faithfulness. Leaving the outcome in His hands.

After the collective (quiet) gasps, each lifted my request before the Father, and then to my surprise, a fellow-prayer was suddenly willing to share her own agonizing and miracle-requiring request. That’s when I knew why the Lord has allowed me to be so vulnerable about my own heartache.

Having no intention of sharing my own painful need, I now understood why the almost involuntary spillage of my deeply personal and agonizing request came tumbling out. We each continued on praying for one another, lifting impossibilities to our sovereign God who alone performs miracles. Who alone holds the future in His hands. Come what may, we will, by His grace walk, by faith and trust Him. Not for a particular outcome, but to simply trust Him, whatever the outcome. He is good and He is faithful.

We walked away that morning with a greater depth of compassion for each other, and the comradery of walking by faith in our faithful God, in the rubber-meets-the-road realities of life.

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” – C.H. Spurgeon

What about you? Is there a trial or circumstance that causes you to lose faith? To grow weary? To walk by sight? This is your reminder that He has not forgotten you. “He who formed the ear, does He not hear?” Call out to Him (and possibly share with a trusted friend). Have faith in our faithful God.

Father God, I know You are good and You are faithful, but sometimes the challenges we walk through threaten to eclipse that truth. Pain can so easily blind us. Please help us to trust that You are at work, even when we cannot see Your hand. We love You and praise You, In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

faith; πίστεως (pisteōs)

Noun – Genitive Feminine Singular

Strong’s 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

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Audio Only – Montage of thoughts on suffering

An audio only, short montage of thoughts on the topic of suffering.

Though it’s totally unscripted and not at all polished, I pray you hear real life thoughts on God’s Word and how to authentically apply it to our lives.

In His service, Becky White

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Don’t Forget to Remember

They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea…

They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,

And tested God in the desert.

Psalm 106: 7b and 13-14 NKJV

Though I’ve only seen the Red Sea in pictures and I’ve never been to an actual desert, I have been confronted with impassable seas of real-life trials and desert seasons with no end in sight. And if I’m honest, just like the Israelites, I often rebelled and complained all along the way. And maybe worst of all, I forgot the God who delivered me from previous Red Sea impossibilities and carried me through parched desert seasons. Maybe you have too.

I have faced the Red Sea of total financial collapse, of divorce, of burying two of my precious children, the gut-punch pain of betrayal and childhood trauma. I’m sure most reading these words have faced similar Red Sea scenarios. I’ve also walked through desert seasons of loneliness, depression, of feeling forgotten and the ache of regret. Though there’s nothing we can do (in most cases) to stop such challenges from showing up at our front door, we do have a choice about how we respond when they show up.

In our humanness, our first reaction may be to fall to the floor from the gut-punch pain. But once we’ve absorbed the shock, we have a choice to make. I have a choice to make. It’s then that He calls us to remember that He is the same God today as He was before the life-altering phone call. Before the devastating news or sting of painful memories. We dare not allow our circumstances to speak louder than our God, and His Word.  And, if you’ve lived long enough, recall to mind your very own personal experiences of His strength, grace and faithfulness. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. Our particular trial is not the one exception.

“We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.” – Dwight L. Moody

Let’s pray

Father God, help me remember Who You are, what You have done and that I am never alone. You will faithfully walk Your children through every season of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Lord, If You Had Been Here…

The sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” John 11:3

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11: 5-6

Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:20-21

When Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44

If you’ve never read the Biblical account of Lazarus (or it’s been a while), grab a cup of coffee, open your Bible to John 11, and prepare for emotional whiplash. And questions. Lots of questions, and possibly a whole new perspective on the “dead” things of your life.

Let’s take a look at the cliff-note version. Jesus, given news that a friend, whom He loved, was near death, chose to wait two days before even beginning the long journey to see him. In fact, the Word tells us that because of Jesus’ love, He purposefully waited. Waited while the sisters, who had sent word of the illness, longed for a miracle. Waited until death had occurred. Waited. Until there was no hope. At all.

Only when the situation was a complete impossibility, did Jesus show up on the scene.

On the outskirts of the city, Jesus was met with the heart wrenching, I-can-feel-your-pain guttural cry by Martha, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” The other sister, Mary, uttered the exact words, guttural ache and all…. Can’t you just feel the pain reverberating from their question?

In their pain, it never occurred to them, even for a moment, that this Jesus, whom they sought in order to bring healing for their brother, would instead, raise him from the dead. That He would allow such tragedy as a vehicle to bring such glory. That He would risk being misunderstood and misjudged as uncaring, in order to grant them the gift of seeing God’s miraculous power first hand. On their behalf.  To be shared for all time – to encourage others in their “dead” and impossible circumstances.

Truly, I don’t know what has “died” in your life or how impossible it looks right now. But He knows. Has a marriage or a dream or a relationship died? Has a literal death occurred and your hopes for the future died as well? Maybe, like these two sisters, you’ve cried through tears, “Lord if You had been here.” Maybe you’ve reacted by turning your back on the One who loves you, hardening your heart as you’ve secretly cried, “Lord, how could You?” 

No judgement call here, I’ve done it myself a time or two or ten… I cried out as I buried two children and as I struggled through other chasm deep trials – some of my own making and some not…But in the end, I clearly see how He has faithfully used my pain, or done the impossible by bringing life out of a “dead” situation in my life as He walks me through it. Learning firsthand that if He has allowed “it”, He has a purpose and a plan for it and I can trust Him. And so can you dear one. So can you…

“If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty, but impossibility.”

Streams in the Desert  10/14

Let’s pray –

Oh Father, I admit that I have thought, even if left unspoken, the words – “If You had been here…” I am ashamed at my lack of trust in You Father. When difficulties happen, what makes me think that You don’t have a plan? That You have lost control? That You can’t bring life from what has “died”? You are good and You are faithful…and You are for me… I love you. Regardless of my circumstances. In Jesus name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Comfort My People

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Isaiah 40:1

Though it’s been 20+ years ago, I remember that Monday morning like it was yesterday. Between homeschool co-op classes, I hurriedly walked down the hall of the crowded co-op lobby. As I directed my children to their next class, I spotted *a woman sitting alone on a lobby bench, reading a Bible. It caught my attention, so much so, that even though I was painfully shy, I stopped and sat down beside her. “What are you reading?” I asked with sincere interest.

Looking up from her weathered Bible, she pointed to the passage from 2nd Corinthians 1:3-5. “…He is the God of all Comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions, so we may be able to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God….”

“Oh, yes!”  I said with enthusiasm. “That’s exactly what He’s teaching me!”

That exchange began a friendship that has spanned more than two decades. It all began with authentically sharing the pain (in all its horrid detail) of what we were walking through, and our prayer that God would somehow use it all for His glory. Use it all to encourage others in their walk of life. Life that is more often strewn with thorns than with rose petals.

Decades later, though our children are long-grown and gone, and there are no co-op classes to attend, we still meet together (usually over chips and salsa, rather than algebra and history books!) and talk about the pain of trials and real life, and what He has taught us through them. My friend and I both recognize that it’s been the pain of storms walked-through, that have enabled us to embrace the ability to offer genuine comfort. His comfort.

Because we have experienced the need of His comfort and finding Him sufficient, we now have the privilege of offering that comfort back to others.  

“To comfort others with the comfort we have received.”

I don’t know what you’re walking through today, or what miracle you’re praying for, but He knows. I pray that as my friend and I found His grace to be sufficient, and as we learned to find strength in Him alone, that you too, would find that same strength and you would be privileged by God to offer the comfort you have received, back to those He puts in your path.

God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.

-Dr. Jowett

The world is full of comfortless hearts, and ere thou art sufficient for this lofty ministry, thou must be trained. And thy training is costly in the extreme; for, to render it perfect, thou too must pass through the same afflictions as are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Thus thy own life becomes the hospital ward where thou art taught the Divine art of comfort. – Streams in the Desert

Father, Though I would much prefer not to have needed Your comfort and avoid the pain of life. It’s an honor to share the comfort I have received from You. From Your hand, to my heart and soul. Thank You Lord! Let me not waste this opportunity to honor You. In Jesus. Name, Amen

* Barb Albert (Thank you sister!)

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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Flawed Clay

I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working at the wheel. But the vessel that he was shaping from the clay became flawed in his hand; so he formed it into another vessel, as it seemed best for him to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “O house of Israel, declares the LORD, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay? Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 18:3-5   Berean Study Bible

As part of my night-time routine, I usually turn on the One Year Audio Bible and listen as I drift off to sleep. One particular night, as I listened and attempted to let go of the day’s headlines, I heard these words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, “The vessel became flawed in his hands, so he formed it into another vessel.”

The words jolted me awake, and lingered in my heart as I drifted back to sleep. “Became flawed… formed into another vessel.”

Flawed Clay. That’s me all right.

It spoke so loudly to me that I awoke the next morning still absorbing its meaning. To me. I realize the Lord was specifically providing an illustration to the nation of Israel, yet we are always to ask the Lord how His Word applies to us as well.

How often I am that flawed lump of clay. Feeling like I’ve blown it or am of little use because of past failures or past wounds or lack of ability, etc. Yet, like that flawed lump of clay, He willingly puts me, puts us, back on the wheel, to reshape, rework and remold. Such patience and tender love as He reshapes these lumps of flawed clay.  His ability to take a mess and turn it to something beautiful is beyond me.

Have you ever felt like you’ve blown it? Gone too far? That maybe you’ve somehow missed God’s will for your life? Perhaps, like me, you have lost count at the number of times you’ve felt like that flawed vessel on the potter’s wheel. A lump of clay, marred by imperfections, feeling beyond use to the Lord or those around you. But. Oh how I love this…He reshapes, He snips and molds and personally reworks these lumps of clay into vessels of honor. Lives transformed by the Master’s hand, ready for use.

If you’ll let Me, I’ll use your trials to make you into someone I can use in the lives of others to show them that no matter where they’ve been, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how painful the trial, there’s hope. There is victory.

–        Kay Arthur

Father, I am so thankful…so grateful… that You are willing to rework and remold and cause this flawed vessel to be of use to You and Your Kingdom…for the glory of Your great name,  and in His matchless name – Jesus. Amen

Written by Becky White for my Lord Jesus

According to God’s Word, He is more than able to toss us back on the wheel and reshape us until we are all He created us to be. Let’s be willing to stay on the wheel and let Him do His work!

Are you an Actor?

Just some random thoughts ….

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b ESV


Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 LSB

Reactions cannot be manufactured. Any of us can “act” a certain way, but we can only re-act based on what’s already in our heart. Any of us can “act” or play the part of a God-honoring person, but our mouth and actions will betray us when we are in a situation where we only have time to react. As Jesus put it, “Out of the abundance of our heart, the mouth speaks.”

What comes out of our mouth when someone cuts us off in traffic or when we’re treated unfairly? When there’s no time to do anything but react, out of the overflow of our heart, our mouth and actions will speak what’s already in there. These situations don’t create our words and actions, they reveal what’s already there.

(If you’re not sure, ask your husband or wife or close friend, I bet they know!) I’ve heard it said that the “real us”, is exposed when we’re at home – not at church or even at work. At home, where we “let our hair down” so to speak.

This is also true when we go through trials. Most of us, who call ourselves Jesus followers, can talk a good faith-game and quote Scriptures, but what happens when tragedy strikes or betrayal comes or disappointment engulfs? Do we stagger in unbelief and accuse God of neglect, or assume we must be lacking in faith?

Or, do we give thanks in all things, in spite of the pain? Through tears and clenched teeth maybe, but are we able to express our faith in a sovereign God, even as we pour out our heart and pain to Him? Do we stand on the truth of His sovereignty or listen to the lie that the enemy has snuck past our heavenly Father and pulled a fast one on the Almighty? (As if!!)

Again, we can choose to act, but our reaction will pour forth from what’s already in our heart.

Hey, no condemnation here – this is convicting for me to even type. The Holy Spirit convicts us and allows the content of our heart to be exposed so it can be dealt with. Not to condemn us. To restore us. To continue the work He began at our moment of conversion. After all, we are His workmanship. Let’s allow Him to work.

Straight from Psalm 139, let’s pray –

Father, search me and know me. Try and test me Lord. Take from me anything not pleasing to You and reveal anything that I have left unsubmitted to You, Your Word and Your will. I am so glad You love me in the process. Cause me to grow in my relationship with You and closer to You. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

For a more in-depth look at the topic, check out this link from GotQuestions.org.

Look Up

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.…

Psalm 5:1-3 NKJ   John 4:35b NKJ   Psalm 121:1-2 Berean Standard Bible

Recently, during my, before-work-one-eye-on-the-clock Bible reading, the words “And I will look up,” penetrated my heart. Reading and rereading the phrase as I sipped my morning coffee, I pulled out my phone and took a snap-shot of the Bible page in front of me, with the intention of reading it again later. I knew the Lord had His finger on something ….

I can be so self-focused, and so distracted by all that impacts my little sphere of life. Distracted by the challenges before me, or the length of a trial, or the heartache of what-if thinking.  To my embarrassment, I can even be distracted by the blessings God has given me. Do you struggle with any of this too?

If you want to test how self-focused you are, try this. If shown a group photo that you’re a part of, whose face do you look at first? Yep. Me too. We’re a sad lot.

As the day slowed down and I had a chance to mull over His Word, I knew what He was telling me. Look away from myself, and my trials, and my difficulties, and yes, even from the blessings He’s given me. Leave them all on the table, and look up to Him. My God, my Savior and my King. Start there.

Then, as I look away from myself, and to God, He reminds me of the importance of looking at those He has placed around me. Consider their pain, and look at their challenges, and what they may be walking through. There is so much pain all around us. Many of those we bump up against, are trying desperately to appear as if they have it all together. As if any of us do. Some believe the enemy’s lie that their particular circumstance is the exception to God’s promises. Even beyond hope.

While we cannot wave the proverbial wand or remove another’s pain, what we can do is lead them to (or remind them of) The One who can do the impossible. Our God and King. The Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. And help them, to look up as well. Away from the pain or even blessing, to God Himself.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”   

Corrie Ten Boom

Father, Please enable me to look up, away from all that distracts – to You. And to those You’ve put around me. For Your glory …. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

Click here to purchase a hard copy or download a FREE pdf of the devotional, Stony Paths learning to trust Him as we walk the Stony Paths of real life.

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