The Bible never promises that living the Christian life will be easy. God never said that His children will be free from hard times and difficulties. He did say, however, that He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). There are many dark days we must endure, and God expects us to trust Him when we cannot see our own way. We walk by faith, not by sight, and are not to be dismayed by our surroundings. When we are faced with trying circumstances, we must remember that God will make us victorious and that the joy of the Lord is our strength (cf. Ne.8:10). When we are staring down an enemy that is larger than we are and is threatening to steal everything God has given us, we must remember this: “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). (Bible, Expositor and Illuminator Union Gospel Press, Fall Quarter 2021).