What Story Are You Believing?
- Marla Waldron
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let that perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
The story that we tell ourselves, the one we believe, impacts major decisions about our relationships, careers, finances and health choices. Trust and faith come easy when plans unfold exactly as expected. It’s easy when the check clears, the car starts and the road ahead is unobstructed. However, what happens when something goes wrong? When there are delays or trials?
I don’t know about you, but for me when things go wrong, or at least not as I expect them to, life has a way of throwing me off my path completely. Sometimes life has broken me down and it’s exactly in those moments when God does His best work in my soul. That brokenness often strips away self-reliance and creates space for God to reveal His presence, deepen trust, and form within me a faith that is rooted in Him.
When life doesn’t go as planned it seems as though fear quickly replaces confidence and the lie that God has abandoned me can surface in my heart and take control of my thoughts and actions. I tend to forget to acknowledge God, or I start to feel that God has left me to figure things out on my own which can easily lead me to sink into despair, or at the very least, to throw a pity party.
One small set back can spiral into a series of missteps. An unanswered prayer or delay becomes doubt or discouragement. Before I know it I’m not just facing a problem, but I’m believing a false story about God and my life. A story that says, “God isn’t listening,” or “I’m on my own and I can’t do this.”
Looking back, I can see that some of my greatest spiritual growth didn't happen when life was easy and everything was working out. It happened in the seasons that stretched me, disappointed me, and brought me to the end of myself. James tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, and Paul echoes this same truth in Romans 5:3-5:
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Paul says suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Paul adds that our trials refine our faith like gold tested by fire. And Jesus Himself never promised a trouble-free life. Instead, He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Together, these passages tell a different story than the one fear whispers to us: our trials are not proof that God has abandoned us. They are often the places where His presence and purpose become most evident.
Comfort and ease in this world are not promised, and actually quite the opposite is true. But Jesus’s words remind me that trials and troubles are not meant to destroy me. The truth is that God never abandons me in times of trouble, not even when the outcome isn’t what I hoped.
In moments when I’m uncomfortable, or down right desperate and have felt that I’ve run out of options, those are the exact times that God reveals a faith in me that does not crumble due to circumstances. My faith can stay strong no matter what happens. I am convinced that although God does not delight in anyone’s discomfort or suffering, He is not going to waste it.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
Waiting and delays rarely feel like gifts. They can leave us frustrated, disappointed, or wondering if God has forgotten us. But what if these seasons are not punishments or signs of God's absence? What if, beneath the surface, God is doing a deeper work within you—forming perseverance, humility, and a greater dependence on Him?
Take a moment to consider your own story. When life does not unfold as you hoped, what assumptions do you make about God? Do you believe He is distant, silent, or withholding something good from you? Or could it be that He is inviting you into a deeper trust?
Reflect on a trial or unanswered prayer in your life. Instead of asking, "God, why haven't You answered?" consider praying, "Lord, what are You forming in me through this season? What do You want me to learn about You, myself, and faith?"
Trials are painful, but they are not pointless. God does not waste our suffering. Often, the very circumstances that threaten to weaken our faith become the places where He strengthens our character, deepens our hope, and reveals His faithful presence in ways we may have never experienced otherwise.
PRAYER
Gracious, loving God, when fear tries to convince me that I’m on my own, help me remember that You are present in all of my setbacks and trials. You strengthen my faith, especially in uncertainty. Help me trust that You are building my faith and endurance for Your glory and my good. Thank You for being a faithful God who writes a good story for my life. Amen.
ABOUT MARLA WALDRON
Marla Waldron is a devoted daughter of the Heavenly Father, and she embraces her roles as a sister, wife, mother, teacher, and friend with grace and dedication. For 35 years, she has served as a public school educator, mentoring countless beginning teachers and currently working as an Intervention Specialist with Kindergarten students. In her local church and community, Marla faithfully contributes by volunteering at food and clothing banks, participating in fundraising events, and actively engaging in, as well as leading, small group Bible studies for The Dented Fender Ministry. A mother of three grown children, Marla has also taken on the responsibility of caring for her 50-year-old brother with multiple handicaps since their father's passing. Despite facing dark tunnels of grief and self-doubt, Marla has learned to lean on God’s grace, holding tightly to His truths and trusting in His guidance one step at a time. She and her husband live in Ohio, embracing the unpredictable ride of life with faith and resilience.
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