trials

Debbra Stephens

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Prepared for all this broken world throws at us

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the w...

Be Prepared with a Reply

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvat...

What’s to Fear

The virgin's name was Mary. And [Gabriel] came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly tro...

Persisting in Prayer—The Saga Continues

A tree that stood in my backyard seemed fine to the naked eye. But it was faulty . . . weak . . . vulnerable. It was plagued on the insid...

When we fail to persist in prayer, the hard only gets harder

I could not get to the shower quick enough—but I hardly had it in me to scale the stairs. It had been one of those days at work. Instead ...

What's Needed in Troubled Times

August is slowly limping along, isn’t it? And the week ahead is crammed full of troubles of its own. Corona is not going away. Fires rage...

How Not To Waste A Bad Thing

I hear their voices still ringing in my ears: “Don’t waste it.” That it can represent anything good; like, food, money, health . . . time...

Learning to Walk

I remember what it was like trying to teach my children how to walk. I’d ease them up onto wobbly legs—gently holding and guiding them al...

When things set to spinning and all you want to do is jump

I learned to drive in Michigan—which means I learned how to drive in the snow. I also learned what it means to lose control of the car on...

When Being Stuck Doesn’t Seem So Temporary

Everybody I know feels stuck. Life seems to be on hold. We can’t move forward. And we can’t go back. We tarry here in the in-between. Wai...

An Invitation That’s Really Real

Living alone has its ups and its downs. And the downs fell hard last week. With the whole sheltering-in-place in isolation, plus being se...

Marks of Humanity

My boss is a marked man. But he’s not the only one. He’s sporting a mark across his nose . . . from wearing a mask. It’s a sign of our ti...

Endurance: It Is in Us

There was once a musical called Stop the World I Want To Get Off. I’ve never watched it. But I’ve got to be honest with you, folks. That ...

Surrounded in Isolation

In these days of cancellations and unfamiliar isolation, we find it necessary to look for ways to battle the real enemies of disappointme...

A Has Been That Still Is

What’s brewing around you today, friend? Do you find yourself in the middle of a storm—feeling like there’s no one there to drop anchor? ...

When it seems there’s nothing you can do

My momma often said, “There are no easy answers.” Sometimes, when you get bad news, there’s no easy or ready-made solution. Some problems...

Gift of Faith—The Backstory

There was a time nothing seemed true, all was shifting shadows. I got caught up in the chaotic world, spinning nonsensically out of contr...

A shattering undone

They shattered to bits. And my heart sank. After the shock wore off, I stooped down to pick up the pieces scattered far and wide. I tried...

When your day gets altered

Life has a way of altering a day. BUT . . . As God covered the deep Creation waters, so too He covers the space you occupy. He is the God...

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