How to Have Faith in God During Hard Times

February came in waves of smoky grey. Patches of blackened snow lined the country roads, and overcast skies cast dim shadows. I was desperate for a quiet reminder about how to have faith in God during hard times.

I went to the woods to find hope on a monochrome afternoon. Perhaps God’s created world would somehow breathe life into my faltering faith.

Beneath the oaks, my mind drifted to the words penned by Henry David Thoreau: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (101).

How to Have Faith in God During Hard Times

I go to the woods when the struggles of life wear on me. Slowing down in the forest settles me and centers me.

As I stood in the forest on the grey winter afternoon, I looked at the trees overhead.

They stood in skeletal silence, staring at the firmament. The only sign of life was a pin oak tree. For some reason, it had not yet let go of its canopy.

I pondered it, thinking of Christ’s words about abiding:

“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:6).

Perhaps the pin oak leaves hold a secret to help us have faith in God during hard times: When life is bleak and difficult, we cling to our Life Source.

How to Have Faith in God During Hard Times: 4 Ways

What might it look like to cling to God like leaves clinging to an oak tree? Here are four practical ways to cling to the Lord.

1. Stay in the Word.

God’s Word is living and active. It holds the power to strengthen our faith.

God wants to renew our minds with his written Word. When life is difficult, make it a priority to read the Bible daily. Memorize verses. Use a commentary and study the Word. Write about what you read in a journal.

God wants to speak to you, and he speaks most often through his Word.

2. Keep the conversation going.

Prayer doesn’t have to be reserved for quiet moments beside candles.

Set aside time to talk to God in prayer and then keep the conversation going throughout the day. Talk to him as you would talk to your closest friend. In the process, he will strengthen you and build your faith.

3. Spend time with people who encourage you.

We were created for relationships with others. Spend time with people who will encourage you and point you toward the Lord. Faith grows in community, not isolation.

4. Refuse to blame God.

Last, if you want to learn how to have faith in God in hard times, keep a soft heart. Resist the temptation to blame God for the troubles that have come into your life.

God can use all circumstances for good, but he does not joyfully inflict you with trouble.

How to Grow in Faith in God

As for me, I walk farther, passing a small grove of oaks. Much to my surprise, every tree in the grove holds onto its leaves.

Suddenly, a thought comes to mind: Perhaps it’s not up to the leaves to hold on.

Perhaps the leaves remain because the oak trees refuse to let go.

Maybe this is true of us as well. We think we’re holding onto God. In reality, he is holding onto us.

A Free Resource to Help You Learn How to Grow in Faith in God During Hard Times:

God wants to lift your head. Learn how to turn to him for hope and healing by downloading a free chapter of my book, Lean Into Grace. This chapter will help you process your emotions and bring your broken heart to God for healing. This chapter “Crying in the Bathroom,” is yours for free with promo code GRACE right here today.

Calling all moms and daughters—and parents of boys!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 14, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or grandparents to read with the children they care about.

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength is for boys ages 5-13. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to courageously carry God’s love into the world. Written with input from our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven, this book will help the boys you care about find courage and strength in God. Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Devotionals for Girls

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.

All three books are available in print and eBook form here on Amazon. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

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God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!