Hi, welcome my friend, come on in & we’ll enjoy a cuppa together while pondering & reflecting on life with all its ups & downs which at times can feel like a roller coaster ride!

But first let’s grab our cuppa’s, a treat & get comfy. Today I’m enjoying a large mug of my ‘ol favourite Earl Grey Tea & a gf Salted Caramel Nut Bar both delicious. We’re sitting indoors where it’s cosy & warm, as it’s absolutely freezing & wet outside with a rather rainy & windy Winter here on the east coast of Australia.

Now we’re comfy let’s begin…

What to do when life throws us challenges – the Downs

Over the last several months our family have been facing some enormous challenges, they could be described as the downs of life. And it hasn’t been in just one or two areas but several, impacting different family members & keeping this ‘ol matriarch of the family before God’s throne of Grace in prayer.

To respect the privacy of our family members who have been facing these challenges I won’t go into the details but it’s enough to say they have been incredulous! Living nightmares for some & one thing after another for others.

Some are in ministry & we know the enemy of our souls isn’t happy about the furtherance of the Gospel & God’s Kingdom so attack on family members is often how he & his cohorts work which is what has been happening.

While other’s who love the Lord have been under severe testing in what seemed a living nightmare that has seen them encouragingly cling to the Lord & Him triumph in what seemed an absolutely impossible situation – but He is the God of the impossible as Jesus told us in;

Matthew 19:26: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”

While others in our family who don’t know the joy of the Lord yet, have also been under some very challenging times with God graciously answering prayer in these situations too.

Prayer Groups

One thing that has been evident & something I believe is absolutely paramount is Prayer, not only by one believer but in corporate prayer. You see I’m a part of two ladies prayer groups, where we pray for each other & any prayer requests that are highlighted to us.

One thing I always do is ask the permission of those family members who are requesting prayer if it’s okay to ask the ladies prayer groups to pray. And I also ask what info & to what extent that info is to share. For not all private details need to be shared, for God knows what’s going on.

One of these groups is on an App chat that began when CoVid arrived, we had been meeting together each week at one of the ladies home but of course when we were all put into lockdown the solution was to open a group chat for prayer & other notices for that group in a private chat. Sadly the lady who was hosting this group originally in her home moved interstate but the group prayer chat has remained ever since with members in various parts of our country now.

The other prayer group who were also meeting at a friend’s home until her circumstances changed & it too went to a group chat are still regularly meeting a few times a month in various group member’s homes.

The Ups in Life

I can’t emphasise enough just how much Joy it is to be a part of these two groups that are filled with faithful & humble women of God. And we have seen so many answers to our prayers, including truly miraculous ones over the years, one shared in The last, I love you!

I love meeting with these ladies where we enjoy a cuppa with homemade delicious treats, share our lives in the Lord, a devotion from His Word & pray together. These are very precious times & special for me ~ a little time of Sanctuary in this season of chronic health conditions.

Of course being a part of these groups a few mutual courtesies are observed;

• complete confidentiality in what’s shared in conversation & prayer requests
• a genuine love & respect for each other

And I believe these times are extra special because the Lord through His Holy Spirit is present as He promised in the following scripture, Jesus said;

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18: 20 NKJV

Don’t under estimate the power of prayer & corporate prayer my friend. For God listens & acts in His wisdom, timing & way.

For we’re told in James 5: 16;

“…The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous believer is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God…”

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

or in Prayer

© 2026 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Isaac Garcia pexels.com/

Blog Party link ups