Category: Trials and Tribulations

Bible Verse of The Day – 1-28-26

James 1:2-3 (LSB) 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.

Walking with God teaches us a wide variety of things.

Some of those things are surprising.

We learn of who He is. We learn His ways. We learn of His faithfulness.

And we learn of our own weaknesses, frailties, and faults.

But another thing we learn is less obvious.

It is this; unless we are in a battle or facing a giant or an enemy of some kind, we have no need for victory.

We don’t recognize it until we have walked through many things and see Him move on our behalf.

We all wish life could be easy; lacking tragedy, difficult times, or seasons of distress.

But that would be unrealistic.

Instead, we may face seasons of famine. We witness the realities of what life throws at us from time to time.

And some of it can be gut-wrenching, leaving us feeling as though we have been kicked in the stomach, trying desperately to catch our breath.

But until we face things, we have no need for God’s miracles working on our behalf.

It is the difficulties in life that allow us to see His power and His faithfulness.

It was being sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army that allowed the Israelites to see God part that sea and let them walk through on dry land.

It was a severe famine that allowed the widow and her son to see God fulfill what Elijah had spoken and watch Him provide sustenance for them from what was only a single meal’s worth of flour and oil for the duration of that famine.

And it was a looming giant that David faced that allowed the entire Israelite army to witness God’s power as a young shepherd boy killed that giant with a single stone.

Are giants, famines, and attacks of the enemy inconvenient? Yes!

Do they cause us discomfort, pain, and frustration? Of course they do!

But they also cause us to pull on God and trust Him in ways that would not happen had we not faced these difficult seasons.

So, let us embrace the words of wisdom found in James 1:2-3, above, and learn to walk this truth out in our own lives even as we push through the discomfort and frustration of the trials we face 🙏

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 – 12-12-25

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV) 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

There are times when God allows hard times to come upon us. Yes, He allows them.

The word of God tells us that Job was an upright man.

Job 1:1 (NKJV) 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

Not only was he upright, but he was blameless. And he feared God.

Job was a man of integrity who cared for his family and possessions. And he turned away from evil.

So, if he was an upright man how could such terrible events have been allowed to happen to him?

Job 1:12 (NKJV) 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

But God did allow satan to touch his possessions. And eventually, He also gave permission to touch his body and his family. Job lost everything he held dear.

Job being blameless, upright, and a God-fearing, faithful man did not exempt him from trials and tragedy in his life.

We need to understand that even as faithful believers we may still face very hard situations; times of struggles and suffering.

And we need to know that we don’t have any special privileges that prevent tribulations from befalling us because we are God’s child.

We cannot let fake, hyped-up preachers come along and fill our heads with lies.

What lesson can we learn from Job’s experience?

In summary, we will see that suffering isn’t necessarily a punishment. In fact, it may very well be a time of testing.

Even during suffering, we should not give up hope.

We must trust that He will be there to help us through it all and show us what it is we need to learn from what we are going through.

It is important to remain humble so that we are teachable, especially during these moments.

Even though God allowed Job to go through this, Job stood strong in His faith. He never abandoned his faith in God, nor did he grow bitter toward God.

He allowed God to teach Him and show Him his heart.

And in this, Job learned some very valuable lessons that strengthened his faith and softened his heart.

Let us not get so caught up in our trials that we lose sight of what we may glean from them. God is faithful, even in our toughest times, to hold us up, teach us, and strengthen us.

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 – 3-19-25

Isaiah 48:10 (NKJV) 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

God’s word frequently likens our lives to precious metals, which are more pure when purified by fire.

The fire referred to in these references is the trials and tribulations that we face from time to time.

These times of pressure and difficulty squeeze us. And in the process, as we allow God to walk us through them, the squeezing pressure that we experience causes the impurities in us to be forced out.

God uses these times to cleanse us.

No one likes trials. But they will surely come regardless of our preferences. God’s word tells us this repeatedly.

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.”

Jesus told us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.

But His word also tells us more!

Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

These same trials and tribulations are good for us, producing perseverance, character, and hope.

Nothing that is painful ever feels good while we are experiencing it. But when the pain and struggle is past, we can see the benefits more clearly.

Let us glory in (embrace) trials with a different attitude and a Biblical point of view that allows God to use them to refine us as gold refined in the fire.

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 – 3-9-25 – Purified By Fire

Please click to watch the video now.Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus. 

We serve a God who is mighty and merciful. He teaches us, molds us, and shapes us. 

We have a new video for you today. In this video, we teach about being purified by the afflictions and trials we face in life. 

The video is called, Purified By Fire. 

We hope it speaks to your heart while bringing understanding and comfort to you. 

Please click here to watch the video now. 

We love you all! 

Enjoy the rest of your day. 

Sincerely, 

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 – 12-11-24

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (LSB) 17 For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Have you ever seen the look on a person’s face when they realize that they are about to go through a tough trial; something unexpected and difficult?

Any of us are likely to instantly become concerned and look a bit terrified if we are in that situation.

Why?

Because no one likes trials.

No one likes to be backed into a corner, facing seemingly impossible things.

These types of scenarios force us to deal with situations that are unfamiliar to us. We have no way of knowing what to expect or how to navigate through it.

It is normal to be scared. This is part of our fleshly reaction to difficult situations.

But God has told us that we are not to live by sight (the natural flesh), but by faith in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (LSB) 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight…

It is interesting to note that the word “sight” in the verse above literally means “appearance”, which tells us that we are to walk by faith and trust in God, not by the appearance of our situation.

This can be very difficult at times. Especially when it appears that our whole world is crashing down around us.

It is during these times that we must hold tightly to the word of God and the promises He has spoken.

It is in doing so that we will learn to trust Him in ways that we previously never thought possible. And as our faith in Him grows, we will see Him move in ways that we could never have imagined.

God has us in the palm of His hand. He is sovereign. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

Let us trust Him to take us through the most difficult situations that we face in our lives.

And in doing so, we will find our relationship with Him growing stronger with each passing day.

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 – 10-28-24

Psalm 121:1-2 (LSB) 121 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.

Trials. Tough times. Unexpected crises. Sudden tragedies. Famines. Sadness. Loss. Mourning.

These are things we all face in our lifetimes. Jesus told us this would be so.

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.”

So, the question is not whether we will face them. The question is how we will walk through them.

Where will we find our solace? Where will we find our peace. Where will we find our hope?

Where will we find our help?

There is only one true Source of help; God, our Creator, and our Redeemer.

Others may help us in some way. But if we look only to people, we are missing what God offers us.

He never sleeps or slumbers.

He never changes.

He never leaves us or forsakes us.

He gives us peace in the storm.

Let us put our trust in Him no matter what life throws at us.

We will not regret it.

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 – 10-24-24

Job 42:10 (NKJV) 10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Job was a righteous man who feared God. He was blameless and upright, and he shunned evil.

Despite this, Job went through some very big hardships.

He lost nearly everything he had in a very short period of time.

In fact, the only thing he didn’t lose was his wife.

Job lost all his material possessions and all his servants in a raid.

He lost all his children in a windstorm. And then his health was attacked, and Job suffered great physical agony.

This all took place within a single day.

How devasting this was for Job.

How could anyone go through so much and remain standing?

In all of Job’s suffering, he never once mocked God, despite his wife suggesting that he do so.

Job 2:9 (NKJV) 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

When we are going through tough times and no one is standing with us, being close to God is extremely important.

Job’s faith and integrity were surely put to the test. But he stayed faithful and did not faint.

And in the end, God blessed Job even more by bringing restoration to him.

Job 42:12-13 (NKJV) 12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.

We know that many people are suffering and have lost so much in these difficult times.

And we are praying for you; that as you remain faithful in trusting God, He will restore you and help you get back on your feet again. And that your latter days will be more than your beginning.

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.

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 – 10-12-24

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.”

In this world, difficult things will come our way.

Will they change us? And will that change be for the better, or will it change us for the worse?

Sometimes things happen to people and they can become very hard and bitter. Has this happened to us, and have we seen the change in ourselves?

It’s not an easy thing to stop change from happening. It can be very difficult to remain the same person after facing hardships or seeing something devastating happen.

This is really a choice we must make within ourselves. Let us choose not to let it leave a negative impact on us; to not let it leave a permanent scar on our heart.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Don’t focus on the hard or bad things. Move on and meditate on that which is good.

Ask God to help keep our heart in the right place at all times, finding the good even in the most difficult times.

A hard, calloused heart is not an easy one to fix. It takes time and continued application of God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to keep us soft and pliable.

Let us cry out for God to keep us focused on the good things in life, and not let our situation take over and keep us on an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Only God can help soften us. But we must be willing to lay down our pain at the foot of the cross and pick up the peace that He offers.

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV) 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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 – 5-3-24

1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

Be glad; truly glad.

In its original language, this (literally) means to be exceedingly glad, exuberantly jubilant.

What is it Peter is telling his readers to be exuberantly jubilant (celebratory) about?

He wants them to be joyful about their relationship with the eternal God.

He reminds them that their troubles are temporal, lasting but a little while. But their relationship with God is eternal.

Trouble lasts for a season. It serves a purpose. It comes in various forms.

But in all this, we should never lose our joy because of these troubles, for there is joy ahead!

Our joy should never be found in our earthly situations or circumstances.

Our foundation, and the source of our hope, is God Himself and the eternal promises given to us through the blood of Christ.

Sometimes our flesh has a little trouble remembering this and putting it into real-life practice.

Often, we need to change our perspective, the way we look at things.

When we are self-centric, we can easily become disappointed, or even depressed.

But when we put God at the center, we will begin to see things differently. Our outlook on life in general changes. And the rough patches we hit from time to time will not rattle us as badly as they once did.

So, let us allow God to teach us to look past the trials we are walking through, looking to Him for our joy, our stability, and our security.

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 – 2-13-24

Job 17:6-7 (NKJV) 6 “But He has made me a byword of the people, And I have become one in whose face men spit. 7 My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow, And all my members are like shadows.

When we ended yesterday’s devotional, we were discussing God’s love, and the effects of facing trials; being squeezed by difficult circumstances.

If our lives are always comfortable and cozy, with no trials or tribulations, we simply will not grow to our fullest.

Why? Because we will never be forced to see ourselves.

We will be in cruise control, zipping through life without a care.

But when we get squeezed, usually by difficult or uncomfortable circumstances, the ugly stuff in us tends to ooze out.

I know this is not a pretty picture, but reality is rarely ever picture perfect.

When Job was attacked by satan, many things happened.

He lost his wealth. He lost his family. He lost his dignity. He lost his reputation. And he lost his good standing in the community.

Where Job used to be greeted in public with respect and warm smiles, he was now avoided because of his severe disfiguration caused by the boils.

Job’s physical appearance was so badly changed by his affliction, even his friends had trouble recognizing him when they initially approached (Job 2:12).

But as Job spent time with his friends, who did nothing to encourage him, he pondered his situation in a way that caused him to begin examining himself.

His words at that time were edgy and crass. He was angry with his dilemma. But in it all, he refused to do as his wife told him at the onset; to curse God and die.

Instead, he held fast to his faith, acknowledging God’s sovereignty in everything.

His distressed mind caused him to see things in a very drastic way, so his thoughts were extreme. But during his suffering, he began to reach out to God in a most earnest and sincere way.

In time, God spoke to Job. And Job listened with a sincere heart as God showed him where he had failed.

As God’s words penetrated Job’s heart, and as Job saw his sinfulness, he openly and readily repented.

Job 42:5-6 (NKJV) 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

You see, had Job not faced such dire circumstances, he would never have been forced to see himself. And he would never have recognized his sin.

So, let us not be so quick to run from adversity. For it just may be that during our worst suffering, we find out who we really are. And what we see just might change us in a way that nothing else could have done.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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 – 1-1-24

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time lately pondering on the irony of trials.

They’re a funny thing, these unexpected events that happen to all of us, tossing our world into a tailspin.

They catch us by surprise and can sometimes hit us with life-changing effects. Sometimes they leave scars that take a lifetime to heal.

But here’s the thing that is so ironic about trials; as much as we despise them, they can teach us a lot if we allow them to.

Some of the most powerful lessons we learn are by way of the tough things that we go through.

We learn about ourselves. We learn new things that we never expected or wanted to learn. We learn about the faithfulness of God.

And in all those things, we learn lessons that we can use to teach and help others around us when they face similar situations and circumstances.

Not one of us welcomes trials with open arms. We despise them. We hope they don’t happen to us. And we may even try to run from them.

Jesus told us in John 16:33 that tribulations will come to each of us.

So, what will we do with them when they come?

That’s the key question we need to ask ourselves.

Will we run from them? Will we deny that they’re happening? Will we be miserable? Will we gather people around us to join us in our own pity party?

Or will we seek God and let Him show us how and what we can learn as we let Him walk us through them?

The way we embrace our trials will tell us a lot about our maturity as a believer and our faith in God, whom we proclaim to others that we trust.

When the rubber meets the road, do our actions prove that we trust Him? Or do they show us struggling with unbelief?

Don’t take that wrong. We all wrestle with unbelief at times. But hanging on to it and never letting God get us beyond it is another story.

So, let us ask ourselves today, will we let our trials dictate how we behave, or will we let God teach us valuable lessons as we walk through them, that we might use those lessons to help others, and to bring glory and honor to Him?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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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