The heat is on…so let’s cool things down

A look at fiery trials and biblical resilience

The heat is on…in more ways than one

It was warmer in Texas this week, so I was a bit sweaty Wednesday when returning from a morning walk with our puppy.

My husband was already at work and my daughter was house/pet sitting, so I thought I could squeeze in a few moments of memory verse review before showering and preparing for the day.

Confession: This wasn’t just a light, “for-the-fun-of-it” review. Our lives have felt the heat of multiple trials the last few months. This was an “I’m-digging-in-my-heels-and-clinging-tightly-to-truth-because-I-need-it!” review.

I pulled up the first set of verses. 1 Peter 4:12-13 abounded in the truth I was seeking:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Pet. 4:12-13, ESV)

---

Before I could text these words to my husband, my daughter called. She was en route to her weekly appointment as part of a clinical trial that has absolutely fit its name: a trial. The drive downtown, the number of times she is poked to find a vein each week, the length of the infusion–every aspect has been a trial. Still, she presses on.

When I answered, I anticipated some anxiety in her voice (because–just being honest–it’s hard to prepare yourself to be a pincushion every week), but the sadness and frustration reflected in her tone were unexpected.

Someone had rear ended her on the tollway.

Her new car…nick-named JJ…for Jehovah Jireh…because the Lord had provided this car…had a crack in the back.

And yet, God truly had provided! I had just breathed in those verses. I could see the event from an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one. My daughter was fine physically and her car could be repaired, so I was able to speak calm, reassuring words that settled her spirit rather than echoing back her frustration. It was truly a blessing.

Back on the road, she proceeded to the treatment. However, the vein they finally accessed collapsed, and she couldn’t get the infusion. (**sigh…repeat the memory verse, repeat the memory verse**)

Have you ever felt the heat?

Have you ever had days where things just kept going wrong? Days where you knew you were doing what God wanted you to do, but the trials surged, the frustrations mounted, and the tears flowed? Your child woke up three hours before normal. You grabbed the day’s clothes from the dryer–only to discover ink stains from the missed ball point pen. The freezer door was left ajar and your food for the week was ruined. Of course there are always things like construction slowing the trip to work, an appointment escaping your calendar, or a call from school with news of a sick child–the one you just dropped off.

Or maybe on a daily basis you confront ever-present concerns of long-term health issues, severe financial constraints, loneliness after the death of a loved one, job expectations that challenge beliefs, family members who are hurtful, and so on.

Cooling things down

How do you respond to trials like these? Is it possible to admit they are “fiery” (1 Pet. 4:12), yet still act with a cool head? What is necessary to adjust to the demands of the day without succumbing to a victim mindset (i.e. “These things always happen to me.”)? How do we rise again and again and again, still displaying the fruit of the Spirit rather than the frustration of our flesh?

While being a Christian doesn’t insulate us from the problems of this world, our faith does offer a source of strength—Christ, our Savior (Phil. 4:13)—who far surpasses the “inner strength” promoted by secular psychology. Furthermore, Scripture provides a way to frame problems that allows us to act with resilience. To rise again…even as tears fall. Let’s pause and gain a biblical view of resilience from the following verses:

Did you notice there are no promises that we won’t fall? In fact, these verses pretty much guarantee we will. Repeatedly. Oh, but they also boldly ensure the Lord’s faithfulness to help us rise. Victoriously.

The question is: Do we believe it?

You see, the degree to which we trust the truths encountered in God’s Word determines how we frame our problems. Our resiliency depends on our view of God. Do we believe He really is good, just, righteous, powerful, sovereign, loving?…and do we believe we can trust Him to faithfully act in accordance with these traits?

In closing…

So, I encourage you to examine your view of God. Pray and ask Him to make you aware of areas where it’s hard for you to believe He is who He says He is or to trust He always does what He says He will do. I’m joining you because we all have areas of struggle–and He knows that! But He wants us to seek Him (Jer. 29:13). He wants us to trust Him through the fire (Is. 43:2). He chose each of us, and He longs for us to know and believe and understand that He is God (Is. 43:10)!

Let’s close today in a rather unusual way: an acrostic poem based on the scriptures above. It’s not fancy or profound, but the lines increase by one syllable each time, much like our resilience grows little by little the more we know and trust God.

Oh, dear reader, may you experience resilience in all your struggles because you know and trust your Lord.

With joy ~ Catherine

P.S. I would love to hear your thoughts on fiery trials and resilience below.

©2025 Catherine L Hill. All rights reserved.

A shameless plug for my daughter, Rachel C. Hill

Displaying her resilience in spite of persistent health issues, my daughter has designed several journals that are available on Amazon. Please ​check them out​!