How to hold onto our faith when we feel overwhelmed by life’s trials

If it’s not one thing then it’s another, when it rains it pours; I don’t know about you but sometimes there are seasons of life where things seem to be just getting worse, instead of better. So, when life’s trials threaten to overwhelm us - how do we hold onto our faith?

The Bible defines faith as ‘the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.’ When we are surrounded by bad news, when the diagnosis is worse than we had expected, when we’re not sure we have the strength to continue, it would be easy to lose heart. 

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Scripture encourages us throughout the New Testament to persevere and keep the faith

Scripture encourages us throughout the New Testament to persevere and keep the faith, even when facing trials and temptations. I believe it is important to not lose hope, but also to try and avoid becoming bitter, which when we are experiencing pain and loss, seems almost impossible. If we can keep our eyes on the cross and the promises of scripture, we will, we are told persevere to the end. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans that ‘I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us’ which is a promise I cling to.

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Since my daughter was born almost seven weeks early, it has definitely felt like one thing after another. I was very ill after her birth and even once we were both home from hospital we had to deal with reflux, sleepless nights, constant stress and for myself an ongoing battle with a chronic illness.

Then just as things seemed to be improving, our daughter stopped standing and never learned how to walk independently. Twelve long months later she has been diagnosed with a condition which impacts her mobility which was why she wasn’t meeting her milestones.

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Romans 8:28 tells us that “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  But how do we reconcile this verse when we or someone we love is going through something hard and painful, that might seem senseless?  I take comfort from the fact that while God does not cause these things, he can use them for his glory in ways we may never understand in the here and now, that he can bring beauty from the ashes.

As Christians, we are not promised that we will never experience heartache in this life, but we are promised that Jesus will be with us through it all.

As Christians, we are not promised that we will never experience heartache in this life, but we are promised that Jesus will be with us through it all.  As Jesus told us ‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33 ESV.) Our faith is not just based on wishful thinking but on the solid assurance of eternal life later and a peace that surpasses understanding in the here and now.

There are days that are so hard, and yet there are moments that contain so much beauty. When my daughter smiles at me or hugs me close, I know how blessed I am.

While our faith does give us the eventual promise of eternity, it also provides us with the hope that life is still worth living here on earth. That we shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And even when it all feels so overwhelming there is always a small portion of goodness to be experienced. For me, its the hope that perhaps through this difficult situation I will one day be able to minister and walk alongside those going through a similar situation, and we have the continued hope that God will heal my daughter. And that I will hold onto my faith while I walk through this storm.