Faith-Markers

By: Kelly Russell

Monday, July 7, 2025

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

I’ve walked through some hard things. One trial after another. I’m sure you have too. God was not unaware, in fact, He allowed every experience. We know from Job that Satan had no access without God’s permission. Still, our humanness cannot stand against one of the fiery arrows that come at us. We crumble under attack unless we abide in the shadow of the Almighty. There, we find rest and peace, no matter the storms swirling around us.

Know what I’ve learned? That God has walked me through the valleys. He’s stood with me in the fires. He’s been the Light in my darkness. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, knows affliction better than anyone.

We rarely forget the hardships because they leave an indelible mark in our lives. This is when we change the most. These are what I call “faith-markers”, when we remember the times of our life journey when we saw the hand of God at work. Trials aren’t meant to be simple, but sanctifying. And, oh, how they encourage our hearts as we reflect on God’s faithfulness.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, our faith becomes sight. Thankfully, the cross reversed the curse of sin, breaking its hold on us. There will always be a battle between our regenerated spirit and our unsaved flesh. God gave Adam and Eve a choice—obedience over rebellion. We also must choose what pleases Him—FAITH.

Our trials are a classroom, teaching us to focus on the lesson rather than the adversity. During these times, we learn who God really is. Use the checklist below to find victory in every assignment. Learn to:

See Him:

Ask Him to open the eyes of your spiritual understanding to see He is always near (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Submit to Him:

Even in our unwanted, unfavorable circumstances, God knows what is best (Psalm 18:30).

Serve Him:

Jesus came to serve, not to be served, as an example for us to follow (Romans 12:11).

These lessons are not one-and-done but life-long. For each trial you overcome, you gain another faith-marker. You can humbly look back and say, “Thank you, Lord, for engraving this experience in my heart. It was good for me to be afflicted.” Opposition is an opportunity to train your flesh to be led by the Spirit. Our flesh always flunks the test.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Each faith-marker moment changes us, so we are never the same. Can I get an amen?

Read: Isaiah 53:3-5, Psalm 119:71, Hebrews 5:8, 2 Peter 1:3