Faith in the Fire

Ah, faith. It sounds great when things are going well, doesn’t it? You wake up feeling blessed, your prayers seem to flow effortlessly, and maybe even your coffee or tea tastes a little better that morning. But then…life slaps you upside down. Suddenly, you’re facing struggles, hardships, or perhaps the dreaded “why is this happening to me?” moment. It’s like you’re trying to hold onto faith while being smacked by life’s curveballs – and, let’s be honest, sometimes it feels like faith is one thing that’s slipping away.

I’ve been there – so many times. And I can tell you, the struggle is real. But here’s the thing: as difficult as it can be to maintain faith during hardship, it is absolutely possible. The key is not to deny the struggles but to lean into them - and into God.

FAITH ISN’T ALWAYS EASY – BUT IT’S WORTH IT.

I think we’ve all had those moments when life feels like a storm and we’re just holding onto the little life raft that is our faith. Some days, it feels like faith isn’t even floating anymore. But here’s where the Bible has something to say about that.

“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.

That’s right. Joy. (I know, it’s like James didn’t get the memo about what “trials” really feel like.) But hear me out – those challenges, those doubts, and those tough seasons? They’re shaping you. They’re building perseverance, and with perseverance, comes deeper, more mature faith.

I remember a time in my life when everything felt like it was falling apart. Everything seemed to be crumbling around me. Yet, when I took a step back and remembered God’s faithfulness in the past, it gave me the strength to press on. I leaned into prayer, I journaled, and slowly but surely, my faith began to rebuild through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

DOUBT IS PART OF THE PROCESS, NOT THE END.

Let’s be real – doubt is the enemy of faith, and sure feels like it when things are crashing. If you’re questioning, “Where is God in all of this?” or “Why hasn’t He fixed my problems yet?” you’re not alone. There’s a common misconception that doubt is something we have to hide or feel guilty about. But even I the Bible, doubt isn’t a new thing.

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

This was said by a father whose son was suffering, and it’s one of my most used Bible verses in prayer for myself and others! It’s honest. It’s raw. It acknowledges the struggle and the willingness to believe, even if it’s a little shaky. God can handle our doubts. And sometimes, it’s through the doubts that we come to understand Him better.

There was a season when I struggles with doubts, particularly with God’s timing. It felt like I was praying for years for a breakthrough, but nothing happened. I finally reached a point where I was so frustrated I just cried out, “God help me! I’m barely hanging on here!” And guess what? In that moment, my faith didn’t feel huge – but it was enough for God to work with.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

When hardship strikes, it’s easy to think you’re alone in your struggles. But the reality is, the Christian faith is meant to be lived in community. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, “Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other.” Faith wasn’t meant to be lived in isolation. When life is hard, sometimes the best thing you can do is turn to someone who gets it – a friend, a mentor, or a group of fellow believers. We’re not meant to carry our burdens alone. As much as we’d like to think we’ve got it all together, there’s strength in vulnerability, and there’s healing in community.

THE JOY OF KNOWING GOD IS WITH YOU.

Here’s the bottom line: faith isn’t about everything going perfectly. It’s about knowing that, no matter what’s going on around you, God is with you.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

Even when your heart feels shattered, He’s near. Even when you faith feels weak, He’s strong. Even in your darkest moments, His light is there to guide you. When life feels unbearable, don’t forget that God is holding you. In fact, those moments of hardship are often when we can experience God’s presence deeply.

Life can be tough, and maintaining faith during hardship? Yip that can be really challenging. But if you’re going through a rough season right now, remember that your faith is not in vain. God is with you, and He is using this time to strengthen you.

I want to encourage you – no matter where you’re at in your faith journey – keep pushing forward. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Lean into God and let His Word be your anchor in the storm. And if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out to your faith community. There’s strength in unity, and together, we can encourage each other through the highs lows of life.

Let’s encourage each other and keep growing in faith.

God bless you and sending you massive Holy Spirit filled hugs,

Michelle