Category: Perseverance

• How to Accept it When God Says ‘No’ to Your Prayer

  When we process through a problem or confusing decision with prayer, we do so to find answers. To find relief, right? But, like the Apostle Paul, God expects us to come at these prayer times with an open hand. With hands that are not so much waiting for a handout as much as being lifted […]

  BethSteffaniak

  November 14, 2021

  Acceptance, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender, Surrender Series, Trials, Trust, Weakness, Worship

  Acceptance, Faith in God, Prayer, Surrender, Trust God

• How Praying in a Certain Way Can Bring You Perspective

  Have you faced a situation that was so dire that you found yourself saying, “All we can do is pray”?  And as you’re saying those words, you might not even believe that prayer is the only thing you can do.  As humans, we so often don’t.  When the pain is fiercest, you and I want […]

  BethSteffaniak

  August 22, 2021

  Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Perspective, Prayer, Surrender Series, Trauma, Trials, Trust, Wounds

  Healing, Marriage, Perspective, Pray, Prayer, Praying, Scripture

• How to Face Suffering Like Jesus and Why it Helps

  

  This is a golden oldie I’ve pulled from my vault, written years ago. I hope it encourages you in every struggle and trial you face in life or marriage. Anyone who knows me well, knows I’m not much of a crier—at least not someone who usually cries publicly. But put me through a time of […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 25, 2021

  Acceptance, Avoidance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Choices, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, God’s Redemption, Grief, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Purpose, Salvation, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Trials, Trust, Vulnerability

  Christ, Obedience, Pain, Perfection, Prayer, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Troubles

• 10 Inspiring Ways Troubles Can Be Used to Ignite Joy

  

  I remember the moment like it was yesterday—the day I recognized the unbreakable link between troubles and joy. Ironically, that day and moment happened more than 20 years ago. 😉 My husband had just been called to pastor a church. And we were so excited to get started on that new journey. During those first […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 18, 2021

  Acceptance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Contentment, Desires, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Grief, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Joy, Marriage, Pain, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Unity

  Bible, Bible Study, Christ, Conflict, Encouragement, Joy, Suffering, Trials, Troubles, Unity

• The Best Truth for Improving Your Marriage

  

  Have you ever tried to improve something but went about it the wrong way, achieving dismal results? I came across a funny testimonial from someone online that illustrates the craziness of doing things the wrong way. Here’s what they said … “I once caught a friend of mine rubbing an antibacterial hand wipe from KFC […]

  BethSteffaniak

  January 31, 2021

  Accountability, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Bonding, Christ-Centered, Connection, Encouragement, Faith in God, God’s Redemption, Marriage, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Salvation, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth, Unity

  Bible, Bible Study, Encouragement, Faith in God, Marriage, Prayer, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, Truth, Truths

• How to Find Hope When You Feel Cursed in Marriage

  

  I entered marriage with the mistaken impression that it would always feel much more joyful than painful. Ironically, my parent’s marriage should have proven the opposite of that reality for me! 😉 Don’t misunderstand—it’s not as if my marriage hasn’t had plenty of joyful moments. It’s just that the joys have ALWAYS been mingled and […]

  BethSteffaniak

  September 20, 2020

  Acceptance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, Encouragement, Hope, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Joy, Marriage, Marriage Battle Strategies, Pain, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Redemption, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Warfare, Surrender, Thankfulness, Trials, Trust

  Christ, Conflict, Cross, curse, cursed, enemy, grateful, Hope, Marriage, Rejoice, Satan, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation

• 3 Ways to Handle a Failed Confession or Apology

  

  Sometimes you do everything you can to prepare your heart and mind for a moment of confession and/or apology with your spouse, and end up failing miserably! But how does this even happen? Typically, for me, this happens in the heat of the moment and for a variety of reasons. Consider this scenario: I’ve prayed […]

  BethSteffaniak

  August 13, 2020

  Anger, Apologies, Attitude, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Confessional Culture, Conflict, Humility, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Perseverance, Prayer, Vulnerability, Wedded Wednesday

  Apologies, Apology, Confession, Failure, Humility, Perseverance, Prayer, Vulnerability

• How to Be More Grateful and Make Your Marriage Stronger

  

  Being grateful is not an attitude and choice I easily make most days. Because I’m rather detail-oriented, my eye immediately goes to the visual imperfection or the disappointment in most situations. Yes! I’m rather embarrassed to admit I’m more of a glass-half-empty kind of gal. But I remember a story I read in middle school […]

  BethSteffaniak

  May 31, 2020

  About Me, Anxiety, Bible Study, Christ-Centered, Contentment, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, God’s Redemption, Gratitude Inventory, Insight for 2020 Series, Joy, Love for God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Pain, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Thankfulness, Trials, Trust

  Anxiety, Anxious, Bible, Faith in God, Gratitude, Joy, Marriage, Prayer, Rejoice, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials

• How Much Do You Trust God in Time of Crisis?

  

  With a pandemic coming ever-closer to our door, I felt like this was a perfect time to shift from a marriage focus, to a spiritual one of trusting God more. Rest assured, our trust in God is a marriage issue! [bctt tweet=”When we trust that God is for us, with us, empowering us, protecting and […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 5, 2020

  About Me, Anxiety, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Choices, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Encouragement, Faith in God, Fear, Insight for 2020 Series, Love for God, Love of God, Marriage, Perseverance, Persevere in the Lord, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Trust, Trust in God Inventory

  Anxiety, Bible Study, Courage, Crisis, Faith, Faith in God, Fear, Prayer, Surrender, Trust, Trust God, Trust in God

• How to Live Out God’s Word in a Difficult Marriage

  

  Today I’m excited to share a guest post from my blogging friend, Jana Carlson, who will be guiding us on how to use God’s Word in the difficult moments of marriage. And who hasn’t hit one of those?! Be sure to welcome her with lots of engagement and encouragement!  The day after the dreaded “D […]

  BethSteffaniak

  February 23, 2020

  Acceptance, Anger, Bible Study, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Differences, Discouragement, Divorce, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spiritual Warfare, Trials

  Armor of God, Bible, Bible Study, Conflict, Marriage, Pain, Prayer, Scripture, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Trials