Facing Difficulties with Faith & Courage

"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

At DuHope, we witness incredible stories of women who have learned to take ownership of their challenges rather than be defined by them. True courage isn't the absence of difficulty—it's the decision to face hardship with faith and take purposeful steps forward, even when the path seems impossible.

Taking Ownership of Her Future: Claire's Journey Through Challenge

Sometimes the most profound transformations begin with the smallest steps. For Claire, that first step was joining a small savings group during one of the most difficult periods of her life—when she was working on the street as a sex worker.

Despite the challenges she faced, Claire managed to join a small savings group where she learned how to save money. Through those small savings, she managed to buy a small piece of land and build a house. Today, she feels very fortunate that she doesn't have to pay rent every month—a security that represents true freedom for someone who has known uncertainty.

Claire describes coming to DuHope as a double blessing. All the teachings she is participating in are helping her in a multitude of ways,  including how she stewards her money. This growth is evident in her approach to finances—she says she doesn't have much trouble when it comes to how she uses money and she knows exactly where to spend it.

Looking ahead, Claire has set her sights on entrepreneurship. Her biggest business goal is to sell clothes, and she's already taking concrete steps toward that vision. She has a bank account now and continues to save in the small savings group that first taught her the power of putting money aside.

Claire's story illustrates how taking ownership of challenges means making deliberate choices in the midst of difficulty. She could have been paralyzed by her circumstances, but instead she chose to learn, save, and build, creating a pathway from survival to stability and ultimately to dreams of business ownership.

Taking ownership of challenges means acknowledging where we are while refusing to stay there. It means taking small, faithful steps forward when we can't see the entire staircase.

How can you take ownership of the challenges you're facing today? Maybe it's taking that first small step toward a goal or choosing to see opportunity where others see only obstacles. Don't let your challenges define you—let your response to them shape your future.

Want to be part of this incredible work? Your support helps empower women like Claire to transform their greatest challenges into their most powerful testimonies.