trials

The Quiet Fight to Believe

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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

Backstory:
On some days, faith feels steady and sure. But on others—especially in the quiet weight of ongoing trials—it can feel fragile, like something slipping through tired hands. This writing was born out of those harder days, when physical and emotional exhaustion make even prayer feel like a struggle. It is a deeply personal pleading to Heavenly Father, asking Him to stay close, to strengthen what feels weak, and to carry what cannot be carried alone. It reflects the quiet truth that even when faith wavers, it doesn’t have to disappear—and that we are never left to endure our trials without divine help.

The Quiet Fight to Believe

My dear and loving Father in Heaven,
I have faith that Thou lovest me without question.
But there are days when my faith isn’t very strong
Because of my trials I feel like things are always going wrong.

Some mornings it is a struggle to get out of bed
Or to pull the heavy covers from my head.
My faith wavers on those hard days
When it’s difficult for me to sing Thy praise.

Some days my body feels so weak
And every hill feels like a mountain peak.
Please, Father, help me to be strong and faithful,
And help me to recognize my blessings and be grateful.

Please, help me to feel Thy love for me shining in the darkest night,
And help me to recognize Thy embrace so I can feel more light.
Especially on the days when my faith is more fragile,
Stay close beside me through every battle.

My dear Father, some days all I can do is pray to Thee,
Please help me hold on to my faith so I can more clearly see.
Help me to feel of Thy loving embrace on my skin
So that the light of my faith never grows dim.

The Takeaway: Faith isn’t about never struggling—it’s about continuing to turn toward Heavenly Father in the midst of that struggle. Even when our faith feels small, fragile, or worn thin, He honors every effort to hold on. We are not meant to face our hardest days alone. As we reach for Him, even in our weakest moments, He stays—and He strengthens the faith we’re trying so hard to keep.

When I Falter, You Remain

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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

Backstory: 
As I reflected on the phrase “Jesus is my portion,” I couldn’t stop thinking about Job. He lost everything that defined stability — family, health, security, reputation — yet he did not lose his faith. If I’m honest, I don’t know that I would respond with immediate praise the way he did. I know my heart. I would probably grieve loudly. I might question. I might wrestle. But then I realized something: Job did wrestle. He lamented. He questioned. He sat in ashes. What made him faithful wasn’t the absence of pain — it was the refusal to let go of God in the pain. As I’ve walked through my own trials, I’ve faltered at times. I’ve doubted. I’ve wondered if I could keep going. But I am still here. Still believing. Still calling on the name of Jesus. And maybe that is what it means for Him to be my portion — not that life is easy, but that He remains.

When I Falter, You Remain

We treasure things in life, those material possessions
Until they slowly turn into our obsessions.
The world can take away our material wealth,
It can even take away our strength and health.

These things are fleeting in the grander scheme,
Though losing them feels like a broken dream.
What truly matters is our faith in the Son,
For with Him by our side, the battle is won.

Like Job who lost his home and family,
And sat in ashes, grieving bitterly.
In that dark hour, he faced every weakness,
Yet held fast to the promise of his Jesus.

When storms of life begin to rage and swell, 
And we have stories of deep grief to tell, 
We find that when the Lord is made our portion, 
Our souls find peace amidst the world's commotion.

If we remain quite faithful to the end, 
And keep the Savior as our truest friend, 
He’ll guide our footsteps all along the way, 
With love far deeper than our words can say.

The Takeaway: Faith does not require perfection. It requires persistence. We may falter. We may question. We may sit in ashes for a season. But as long as we keep calling upon the Lord and trusting Him to be our strength, we are not lost. When Jesus is our portion, He becomes our security when everything else feels unstable. He is our inheritance when earthly things are taken. He is our strength when we are too weary to stand alone. We do not have to endure life’s trials by ourselves. If we cling to Him, we can make it through anything — together.

Scattered Stars of Hope

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My Daily Musings-Feb.17th, 2026

Sometimes I think about why our Heavenly Father created the sun. Of course it gives warmth and life to the earth, but I also believe it is a tender reminder that we were never meant to live in darkness.

And even when the sun sets, He did not leave us without light. He placed the moon and scattered the stars across the sky so that even the darkest night still carries a glow.

In the same way, He has never left our souls without light. When discouragement creeps in, when grief feels heavy, or when trials seem too much to bear, we are not abandoned to spiritual darkness. He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Light.

Sometimes that light feels bright and steady. Other times it may feel small—like a distant star. But it is always there.

Because of Him, there is always hope.
Because of Him, darkness never wins.

🤍 Reflection Questions

  1. When have I felt even a small “star-like” light from the Savior during a dark time in my life?
  2. How can I reflect His light to someone who may be walking through darkness right now?

A Small Light (Question of the Month)

/ Christine Maynor / 2 Comments

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

I believe that faith wasn’t meant to be lived out in silence. We are meant to walk this path together, sharing the things that lift our hearts and steady our feet.

As I prepare for some exciting things coming in March—including being a guest on the Latter-day Lights podcast—I want to take a moment to hear from you.

Each month, I’ll be asking a “Question of the Month” to help us connect. For February, my question is:

“What is one small ‘light’ or tender mercy that has guided your path this week?”

Whether it was a line from a favorite poem, a quiet moment of prayer, or a kind word from a stranger, I’d love for you to share it in the comments below.

Let’s fill this space with the little lights that keep us going.

Keep Your Eyes on Him

/ 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-Feb.16th, 2026

Watching The Chosen episode where Jesus walks on water stirred something deep in me. When Simon steps out of the boat and begins walking toward Him, it’s breathtaking. But what touched me most was when Jesus asks him why He allows trials. The answer: to show your faith and strengthen you.

Simon does the impossible — as long as his eyes are fixed on the Savior. The moment he looks at the wind and the waves, doubt creeps in, and he begins to sink.

Isn’t that how it feels in our own lives?

We all face storms. Some are sudden and fierce. Others linger longer than we ever expected. Most of the time, the trial itself isn’t removed. The wind still blows. The waves still crash.

But when we keep our eyes on Jesus — truly fix our hearts on Him — something changes. Maybe not the storm… but us.

He strengthens us.
He steadies us.
He reaches for us the moment we begin to sink.

The miracle isn’t always that the water becomes solid beneath our feet. Sometimes the miracle is that we don’t drown.

With Him, we can walk through anything.

Reflection Questions:

  • What “waves” in your life are threatening to pull your focus away from the Savior right now?
  • What would it look like for you to intentionally fix your eyes on Jesus in the middle of your current trial?

Joyful Greetings

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My dog, Coco enjoying her best life!

My Daily Musings-Feb.15th, 2026

Coco, my little dog, gets so excited when someone comes home—her tail wags, her whole body shakes, and she can hardly contain her joy. It reminds me of how our Heavenly Father feels when we reach out to Him. He delights in our prayers, no matter how big or small, and He is always ready to listen.

It also makes me think of the parable of the Prodigal Son. When the son returned home—after being gone far too long—the father didn’t hesitate. He ran to meet him with open arms. I truly believe our Heavenly Father feels that same joy when we come back to Him, no matter how long we’ve wandered. He never distances Himself from us. Only we step away. And the moment we turn back, He is already there—ready, loving, and full of joy.

When we prioritize Him and seek His guidance, we open ourselves to His love and presence in our lives. Just like Coco’s joy is contagious, connecting with our Heavenly Father fills our hearts with peace and happiness.

Reflection Questions:

  • Have I allowed distance to grow between me and Heavenly Father, or am I turning toward Him daily?
  • What would it look like to return to Him today with trust and excitement?

Cemented Together

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My Daily Musings-Feb.14th, 2026

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about celebrating a spouse or significant other. For me, it’s a day to feel grateful for every person who has shared my journey.

There is something sacred about going through hard times together. When two or more people walk through trials side by side, it has a way of drawing their hearts closer. The people I feel closest to—my wonderful husband, my sisters, my parents, and dear friends—are the ones who have stood with me in both joy and struggle.

I don’t mind being vulnerable and sharing my experiences, even the hard ones. That’s how trust is built. That’s how hearts grow closer. When we allow others into our lives and choose to show up for one another, it feels like our lives become gently cemented together.

So today, I simply want to say thank you to those who have walked with me. I appreciate each of you.

Happy Valentine’s Day 🤍

Reflection Questions:

  1. Who in your life has walked through hard times with you and helped shape who you are today?
  2. Is there someone you could open your heart to more, allowing your relationship to grow through greater trust and vulnerability?

When Prayers Turn to Tears

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My Daily Musings-Feb.13th, 2026

There have been moments in my life when the pain felt almost too heavy to carry—like my heart was being trampled under the weight of it.

One of those moments came after my miscarriage.

I was heartbroken. I was confused. And if I’m being completely honest, I was angry. Angry at the situation. Angry at the loss. Even angry at my Heavenly Father for allowing something I wanted so deeply to be taken away. Little did I know at the time that this would be my only chance to be a mother in this life.

One day, not long after, I knelt down to pray. But it didn’t feel like a peaceful, reverent prayer. It was messy. I sobbed. I cried out. I even raised my voice. I poured everything out—every question, every ache, every ounce of anger.

And afterward, I felt lighter.

Not because I had all the answers. Not because the pain was suddenly gone. But because I had given my broken heart to Someone who truly cared.

That experience changed my prayers. It strengthened my testimony of the power of prayer. I learned that Heavenly Father is not afraid of our emotions. He does not turn away from our anger or our sorrow. He invites it. He listens—any time of the day or night.

Since then, when I find myself in deep waters, I try to remember that I don’t have to stay composed in prayer. I just have to be honest.

Maybe sometimes the most powerful prayers aren’t polished.

They’re cried.

Reflection Questions:

  • Have you ever held back your true feelings in prayer? What might change if you let yourself be completely honest with Heavenly Father?
  • When was a time you felt lighter after pouring your heart out to God?

Only a Glimpse Through the Glass

/ 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 therapist once told me that reading my poetry felt like looking through a window into my soul. That thought stayed with me. Windows let in light and offer a glimpse of what’s inside, but they never tell the whole story. Even in my most honest writing, others only see part of what I carry. Living with chronic illness has deepened this understanding—those closest to me often see only a fraction of what daily life is really like. This idea grew from reflecting on what it means to be seen, misunderstood, and still known.

Only a Glimpse Through the Glass

We really don’t know what struggles other humans are going through,
As we only see from a window into their lives from our limited view.
A window allows light and visibility, but we never see the whole picture,
And we see shapes and movement; but it's only just a mixture.

Those with chronic health problems fight every day
And they try to remain positive so that their real issues are tucked away.
Others only see a fraction of what those people deal with daily,
Even though their health impacts their lives greatly.

The grass might look greener on the other side of the street
And other peoples’ struggles compared to ours might seem like a treat.
But we need to be kind to our fellow travelers on this earth
Because we are all fighting our own battles with our self-worth.

If He is invited into our homes, our Loving Father above
Will come in and fill us with His amazing love.
He doesn’t just want to look through a window to our soul
He wants to help us get through our struggles so we can feel whole.

We just need to invite Him in through the door,
And He will help strengthen us so we can get up off the floor.
When you feel like no one understands how you feel,
You can know that He does and that His love for you is real.

The Takeaway: We only ever see one another through windows, never the whole house. Because of that, kindness matters more than we realize. Everyone is carrying unseen weight. While people may only glimpse our lives from the outside, God does not look through a window—He enters the house, fully aware of every room and every ache. Knowing that, may we offer grace to others and comfort to ourselves.

Finding His Love in Spoken Prayer

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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

My Daily Musings-Feb.12th, 2026

As I’ve been working on improving my prayers, I recently started doing something new for me — praying out loud.

The first time I tried it, I barely made it through the first few words. As soon as I began to vocalize my prayer, tears came. The Spirit was so strong. I felt my Heavenly Father’s love so powerfully that I couldn’t even speak.

Since then, I’ve tried to pray out loud whenever I can. Even if I’m not alone, I quietly whisper my words. There is something sacred about hearing my own voice speak to Him. It helps me slow down. It helps me focus. It helps my thoughts feel more intentional.

And somehow, when I speak my prayers, I feel His love even more deeply — as if the conversation becomes more real, more personal, more connected.

Prayer has always been communication. But for me, speaking the words has made that connection feel even closer.

Here are a few questions to ponder: Have you ever tried praying out loud? How did it change the experience for you? What helps you feel closest to your Heavenly Father in prayer? What small step could you take to make your prayers more intentional?