Category Archives: Trials

The Pessimistic Christian

Posted on February 15, 2020 by russellmckinney

A man opened up a hot-dog stand by the side of the road in front of his house. His goal was to make a little money to supplement his monthly income. He didn’t have a grand plan for the whole … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Criticism, Decisions, Depression, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Provision, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How God Can Use Your Patmos

Posted on February 3, 2020 by russellmckinney

The apostle John lived into his eighties, perhaps into his nineties, and in so doing easily outlived all the other apostles. And how did he spend his “senior citizen” years? Post-Biblical church history provides strong documentation that he lived and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Character, Complaining, Disappointment, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Service, Spiritual Warfare, Sports, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Good That Can Come From Your Day of Trouble

Posted on December 3, 2019 by russellmckinney

The residents of a remote area of Alaska were having serious trouble with wolves. In desperation the residents posted a $5,000 reward for each wolf brought in dead. That sizable reward prompted Bill and Joe to try their luck. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Sovereignty, Perseverance, Trials, Trusting In God | Leave a comment

How Can You Give Thanks for Bad Things?

Posted on November 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20, N.K.J.V.) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Death, Disappointment, Faith, Perseverance, Problems, Sickness, Suffering, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Trials | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Clinic Built By a Tornado

Posted on September 30, 2019 by russellmckinney

The city of Rochester, Minnesota, was founded in 1854 and incorporated as a town in 1858. The area had previously served as a stagecoach stop, and the new city experienced rapid growth once the railroad began making stops there in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Perseverance, Problems, Restoration, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gamaliel’s Advice

Posted on September 28, 2019 by russellmckinney

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Perseverance, Preaching, Problems, Prosperity, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Far Better

Posted on September 19, 2019 by russellmckinney

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Comfort, Death, Encouragement, Eternity, Heaven, Persecution, Personal, Problems, Restoration, Reward, Salvation, Sickness, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

How’s Your Perseverance These Days?

Posted on September 4, 2019 by russellmckinney

A boy saved up his money and bought himself a nice pair of ice skates. Not long afterward he had his mom drive him to the local skating rink so that he could learn to skate. The mother watched as … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Commitment, Disappointment, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Reward, Service, Trials, Waiting | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Happily Ever After

Posted on August 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

Everybody loves a happy ending. The fact is, though, that such an outcome usually depends upon just exactly what degree of “happy” the individual is expecting. If those expectations are unrealistically high, well…. The Bible’s classic illustration of this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Disappointment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Problems, Trials | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Kill Worry

Posted on June 20, 2019 by russellmckinney

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1, N.K.J.V.) Clovis Chappell, the great Methodist preacher, once told the following story: In the early days of aviation, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Comfort, Encouragement, Fear, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment