Joyous Trials

In the summer of 2020, my husband and I found ourselves in the middle of the scariest time of our lives. I was pregnant with our second child and my water broke when I was only 25 weeks pregnant.

For the next five weeks, I stayed in the hospital doing everything I could to stay pregnant as long as possible. Then, late one Friday night, Brayden decided that he was tired of waiting and entered this world weighing 3 lbs. 2 oz.

He spent the next ten weeks in the NICU growing bigger and stronger, while my husband and I were completely torn between Brayden in the NICU and our two-year-old daughter at home. These ten weeks were filled with questions and worries and wondering, “WHY?"!

We were told many times that having a baby in the NICU was a test of patience. During those weeks, there were many days that I just could not see through to the other side of this trial.

​When we read James 1, notice he doesn’t say, “IF you face trials,” but “WHENEVER you face trials.” Trials in this life aren’t meant to break us, but to strengthen our perseverance. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, but to have a positive outlook because of what trials can produce in our lives. When we find ourselves entering times of trouble or sudden change, we can take comfort in knowing that God has it under control and there is a purpose for our pain. We must choose to learn and grow in our present circumstances, whatever they may be. Face each day with the assurance that God will be with us and see us through.

In the middle of the scariest time of our lives, God was right there. He was not worried or wondering or asking “why?”. He knew exactly what was going on and where we would go from there. He used each trial we went through to prepare us and produce the strength we needed for the next trial. The five weeks I spent in the hospital, away from Brianna and trying to keep Brayden in the womb, helped prepare me for the weeks that he was in the NICU and I had to split my time between home and the hospital.
Yes, we had a very challenging season, but we also got to witness some amazing miracles firsthand. With God by our sides, my husband and I were able to navigate this season on His strength. Not only did he strengthen Brayden, but he strengthened us.

In September of 2020, after what seemed like an eternity of ups and downs, we got to bring our sweet, healthy baby boy home to meet his sister. That, my friend, is nothing less than a miraculous testament to the faithfulness of the loving God we serve.
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Friend, if you are in the middle of a trial or a time of waiting right now, rest in the comfort of knowing that God loves us too much to answer our prayers at any other time than His time and in any other way than His way. He is with you, whether you see it right now or not. Ask Him to help you trust in His plan for your life and place your fears in His hands, knowing that He is strengthening you while you walk through this trial with Him.

Memory Verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV

About the Author

Hi, my name is Jessica Parker. I am a wife and a stay-at-home mom. My husband is an Army veteran, so we have moved around a lot in our eight years of marriage. We currently live in North Georgia with our two little ones that keep us busy. I love reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. I am most passionate about helping women find their community and learning more about God's love for us.