Overcoming Trials

The Things That Prick Our Journey

/ Christine Maynor / 2 Comments

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-May 27th, 2026

Yesterday morning on my walk with my dog Coco, everything felt peaceful. The weather was beautiful, and we were almost home when suddenly I felt something sharp and prickly inside my sock. Because I was holding Coco’s leash, I couldn’t stop and take off my shoe right then, so I had to limp the rest of the way home until I could finally remove it.

It made me think about life. Sometimes we are walking along and everything feels good. Then suddenly something painful finds its way into our lives — a trial, heartbreak, illness, fear, or disappointment — and it changes the way we walk for a while. We limp through days that used to feel easy.

Some trials are temporary, but others last much longer than we expected. Some of mine have lasted for years and are still things I carry today. But even while limping home yesterday, I knew there was hope because relief was waiting for me when I got there.

I think that is what hope in Jesus Christ is like. Sometimes He removes our trials, and sometimes He strengthens us while we continue walking with them. Either way, because of Him, we are never walking without hope.

What are the things that have “pricked” your journey lately? And even while limping, can you see ways the Savior is still helping you keep moving forward?

Beneath Heaven’s Umbrella

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
A few days ago, I walked to someone’s house in the rain for a few minutes with an umbrella over my head. Even though it shielded me, my shoes still got wet and the bottoms of my pants were soaked by the time I arrived. As I thought about that experience later, I was reminded of how faith in our Heavenly Father works much the same way. Faith doesn’t always stop the storms of life from touching us, but it gives us shelter, strength, and peace while we walk through them. 

Beneath Heaven’s Umbrella

When the clouds cover the sun in our soul,
And we wonder if we will ever feel whole.
When rain and storms cover the ground,
We may want to stay inside where warmth can be found.

But when we step outside in the rain
Under an umbrella we can feel protected from pain.
When the clouds in our souls feel gloomy and heavy,
Our faith in our Father will keep our hearts steady.

We may feel like we just want to stay in bed
When the storms of life are raging over our head.
But using our Heavenly Umbrella, we can feel peace
And the weight of our burdens will find a release.

Our Father in Heaven loves us so much
And whenever we need it, we can feel His loving touch.
Having faith doesn’t usually remove the storms of life
But it helps us to bear them with less strife.

Some storms in our souls may not last very long
But some may linger and we may not feel very strong.
But if we have faith in our Father in Heaven,
We find strength in His love and His holy protection.

The Takeaway: Life’s storms can leave us weary, discouraged, and emotionally drenched. But when we turn to our Heavenly Father, we do not face those storms alone. Faith becomes our umbrella—a shield that may not remove every hardship, but protects our hearts and helps us endure. No matter how fierce the rain around us or within us may feel, God is always near and ready to strengthen us if we reach for Him. 

Watch my YouTube short on this topic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8eZFqrQcbM

Strength Spoken From Afar

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
A Roman centurion — an outsider to the covenant people — approached Jesus with a plea for someone he loved dearly. He understood authority. He knew that when a command was spoken, it was done. So he asked for no touch, no visit, no visible proof. “Speak the word only,” he said, believing Christ’s power was not limited by distance. And Jesus marveled at him. Not because he had perfect circumstances. Not because he was strong. But because he believed.

Strength Spoken From Afar

We all have trials that break open our soul,
Leaving us wondering if we will ever be whole.
There are days when we struggle to take one more step, 
Weary from burdens and the tears we have kept.

Some days are easier to keep moving on
Hiding the ache until the shadows are gone.
We wonder if others could see through the mask, 
Would they reach out to help with the weight of our task?

The Savior who healed in the pages of old, 
Still offers us peace that has never grown cold. 
Though He may not be here for our eyes to perceive, 
He dwells in the hearts of all those who believe.

We only need reach out our hands to His light, 
To find His compassion in the depth of our night. 
Through every dark valley and the storms that we face, 
He lifts up our heads with the strength of His grace.

So if there are days when you’re tempted to doubt, 
When the pain is so heavy you just want to shout— 
Remember the One who has loved you so much, 
Is healing your heart with His heavenly touch.

The Takeaway: Some days our bodies are weak. Some days our hearts are unsure. Some days we wonder if we can keep going one more hour. But the same Savior who healed from afar still speaks strength into weary souls. He does not need to stand physically in the room to be present. He does not need to remove the struggle to sustain us through it. When we feel we cannot take another step, perhaps our prayer can simply be: “Lord, speak the word only.” And trust that He will.