Chaplain's Corner
Mark Shogren
Sept 2026
September's Monthly Chaplain Message:
From: Ch. Mark Shogren, Post 91, Edwin L. Jones, Oconomowoc
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
Proverbs 24:10
September is a month of remembering the terror attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives on September 11, 2001. It’s hard to believe that it has been twenty five years since that catastrophic day happened; it stands as a memory etched within our lives forever.
Since the beginning of creation adversity has been a part of the human experience. No man or woman knows their moral strength until they come face to face with adversity. (Joshua 1:9) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Life is not easy it is full of challenges, trials, and hardship. Adversity can come in many different forms, such as health concerns, financial battles, relationship problems, or being persecuted for your faith, to name a few. During these times it can be tempting to give in to losing your hope, becoming discouraged, or even walking away from your faith. However, (Proverbs 24:10) encourages us to persevere and not lose heart. This verse teaches us that our response to adversity reveals the strength of our character and the depth of our faith, and trust in God, (Romans 5:3-4) “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
The intention of a trial is not to take away our strength or weaken our character, but to increase it, and deepen our faith and trust in God, (1 Peter 1:6-7) “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
When faced with some kind of adversity I have often thought of Job and his time of testing. Job lost everything including his family, yet he remained faithful to God; and in the end God blessed him with more than he previously had. Job is an example to every believer that God never forsakes us or leaves us He is faithful, and in turn we need to be faithful, (Deuteronomy 31:8) “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
Fainting at the first attack of adversity is not pleasing to the Lord, and leaves little faith to meet the next trial, and will ultimately leave us weaker than before. However standing firm in our faith in God when confronted with difficulty, we will eventually emerge victorious according to His Will. When we refuse to allow ourselves to be driven to despair or doubt, we will come out of the trial stronger than when we entered into it. Over time when you experience God working in your life during hard times your faith and trust in Him grows stronger.
As we face life’s challenges, let us remember that God provides us with help, guidance, and encouragement in every situation. We are never alone; His care and love endures forever. We can approach life’s circumstances with confidence knowing that He will work out all things according to His Will, (Romans: 8:28) “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
We can live with hope, knowing that God loves us, and is with us every step of the way through the life He has given us!
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