Keeping Your Faith During Hard Seasons: Trusting God Through Struggle
We all go through seasons that test us, moments when life feels confusing, overwhelming, or just plain heavy. Those seasons can make you question yourself, your purpose, and sometimes even your faith. And if we’re honest, following Jesus doesn’t make us immune to struggle. Hard things still happen. Prayers aren’t always answered right away. Life doesn’t always move the way we thought it would.
But even in the middle of all that, God hasn’t let go of you. He isn’t disappointed in you for being tired, frustrated, or unsure. He’s close. Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Hard seasons don’t mean God is absent. They often mean He’s working in ways we can’t see yet.
When life gets overwhelming, it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have it all together. But faith isn’t about pretending you’re strong. It’s about knowing where to run when you feel weak. God never asked us to carry everything alone. In fact, Jesus invites us directly, saying, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest isn’t something we earn—it’s something He offers.
Leaning on the Lord looks different depending on the season you’re in. Sometimes it means praying even when you don’t have the words. Sometimes it means opening your Bible looking for one verse to hold onto that day. Sometimes it means crying, being honest with God, and letting Him meet you in that honesty. Faith doesn’t have to be perfect to be real. God honors a heart that keeps turning toward Him, even shakily.
One of the hardest parts of a difficult season is that it can feel long. We want breakthrough right away, but God often works in layers. He strengthens us, shapes us, and prepares us for what’s ahead. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us of this promise: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Hoping in the Lord isn’t passive. It’s choosing to trust Him daily, even when the situation hasn’t changed yet.
And then there’s Proverbs 3:5–6, a verse many of us learned early in our walk with Christ but end up returning to again and again: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Leaning on our own understanding usually leads to anxiety. Leaning on God leads to peace, even when the path isn’t clear yet.
Your hard season does not mean God has forgotten you. It does not mean you took a wrong turn. It does not mean you’re being punished. Sometimes the struggle is the place where God strengthens you. Sometimes the silence is where He teaches you to listen. Sometimes the waiting is where He builds the faith you prayed for.
If you’re in a difficult season right now, take this as a gentle reminder: God is still with you. He sees every tear, every thought, every fear, and every step you take toward Him. He is not done writing your story. And even if you don’t feel strong today, you can still place your trust in the One who is.
Hard seasons will come, but they don’t have to break your faith. They can deepen it. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to lean on Jesus. He is your comfort, your healer, your peace, and your strength. Whatever you’re facing today, walk through it with Him. God is faithful, even when life is not. And He will carry you through this season, just like He has every other one.