How to Strengthen Your Faith in Difficult Times

When life breaks you in places you never prepared for, faith is not a luxury — it is survival. That's exactly how we live our lives here in Nigeria and many people who know the current economic situation seem to wonder and ask about how we manage to survive. 

That's because faith is our currency even though this may not make sense to the sensory perceptions. 

We're not moved by what we see or feel, we're only moved by the word and live by the word of God which is above the systems of this world.

There are seasons when waking up feels heavier than sleeping. When prayers seem unanswered, tears replace words, and silence from heaven feels louder than noise on earth. If you are reading this right now, chances are you are in — or have passed through — one of those seasons.

I know because I have been there.

This is not a motivational article written from a mountaintop of ease. It is written from valleys — deep ones. From moments when my faith was shaken, my strength depleted, and my heart bruised by disappointment. Yet, here I am, breathing deeply, standing again, still believing and not perturbed by the challenges that life throws at me.

And if God did it for me, He can do it for you.

Why Difficult Times Test Our Faith the Most

Difficult times do not create unbelief — they reveal it.

Faith is easy when prayers are answered quickly. Faith is comfortable when money is sufficient, health is stable, relationships are whole, and plans are working. But when life collapses without warning, faith is stretched, pressed, and refined.

According to 1 Peter 4:12 (KJV) — the Bible says:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

Hard times are not proof that God has left you. Often, they are evidence that He is doing a deeper work within you. Soon, it will manifest and your story will change for the better.

My Story: When Faith Was All I Had Left

There was a season in my life when everything seemed to go wrong at once.

I prayed — yet the doors seemed to be closed.

I trusted — yet disappointments seemed to have multiplied.

I believed — yet my heart ached in fear and disbelief daily.

There were nights I cried silently so no one would hear. There were days I smiled publicly while I weeped privately. Moments when I questioned myself: Did I hear God wrongly? Did I miss something? What am I not doing well? What should I do to make life better for me?

I faced emotional exhaustion and depression over unmet expectations, pressure from life’s responsibilities, and the weight of uncertainty about tomorrow. Many people around me had no idea how broken I truly was. 

Yet, in that brokenness, I discovered something powerful:

👉 When everything else is stripped away, faith becomes your lifeline. I began to embrace faith and started putting it to work. Guess what? When it's faith – it will surely work.

How I Learned to Strengthen My Faith in Difficult Times

1. I Stopped Pretending I Was Strong

One of the most dangerous things believers do is pretend.

We pretend we’re fine.

We pretend we’re not hurting.

We pretend faith means suppressing pain.

But God never asked us to pretend.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.”

I learned to cry before God honestly. I spoke my fears. I admitted my doubts. I told Him when I felt weak, confused, and tired. 

Psalm 51:17 says, With a broken and a contrite heart, God will not despise. 

Faith does not grow through denial — it grows through surrender.

2. I Held Onto God’s Word When Feelings Failed

Feelings are unstable. God’s Word is not.

There were days I felt abandoned — yet Scripture said I was not.

Days I felt defeated — yet the Bible declared me victorious.

Days I felt forgotten — yet God said He had me engraved on His palms.

Romans 10:17 says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I began to intentionally feed my faith, not my fear. Faith is built through the entrance of the word of God. For by strength shall no man prevail. We work by Faith and not by sight.

Even when I didn’t feel strong, I read God’s Word aloud. I prayed Scriptures back to Him.

 I wrote down promises and reminded myself daily:

👉 If God said it, He will do it.

3. I Understood That Delay Is Not Denial

This was one of the hardest lessons.

I assumed that unanswered prayers meant rejection. But God showed me something profound: timing is part of His love.

Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it.”

What I wanted immediately, God was preparing me to sustain.

Some prayers take time because you are being prepared for what you’re asking for.

I learned that patience is a virtue.

4. I Chose Praise Even When It Hurt

Praise during pain is warfare.

There were moments when worship felt heavy — but I lifted my voice and worshipped God anyway. I praised God through my tears. I thanked Him even when I didn’t understand Him. Trust me, it feels so heavy to do that in the face of your challenge.

But something changed.

Praise lifted the burden off my heart. Praise restored my spiritual strength. Praise reminded me that God was still God — regardless of my situation. God always showed up for me in so many ways that I never expected.

“Yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:18

5. I Let God Rebuild Me From the Inside Out

God didn’t just fix my circumstances — He healed me.

He taught me patience. He taught me trust. He taught me obedience even when the path was unclear.

I realized that faith isn’t about controlling outcomes — it’s about trusting God’s character.

And slowly… peace returned. Strength returned. Clarity returned. Problems solved.

The Results: What Faith Produced in My Life

Let me be honest with you.

The storm didn’t end overnight — but I changed within it. It became insignificant to me after crying unto God for help because He hears. And soon enough solutions arrived.

I emerged with:

Stronger spiritual discernment

Deeper intimacy with God

Unshakable confidence in His promises

A faith that no longer depends on circumstances

I can now look back and breathe deeply, knowing that what almost broke me actually built me.

 “What the enemy meant for evil, God turned it for good.” — Genesis 50:20

Biblical Keys to Strengthening Your Faith in Hard Times

✔ Stay Rooted in Prayer

Prayer connects your weakness to God’s power.

The Bible says, “Cast all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

✔ Surround Yourself With Faith Builders

Who you listen to matters. Choose voices that strengthen your faith, not feed your fear.

✔ Remember Past Victories

If God did it before, He can do it again.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

✔ Keep Working With God

Faith is not passive. Continue obeying God. Continue trusting God. Continue moving with God — even when it seems slow.

Victory Is Still Your Portion

If you are tired right now, pause — and take a deep breath.

God sees you. God knows your pain. God has not forgotten you.

 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5

I decree and declare that your joy is restored by the Power of the Holy Ghost.

Your difficult season is not the end of your story.

Hold on. Stand firm. Keep believing.

Because the same God who carried me through my darkest days is carrying you right now — even when you can’t feel His hands on you.

Soon, you will look back, take a deep breath, and say: “Thank you Holy Spirit of God for carrying me.”

Your testimony shall be: “God was with me all along but I never knew.”

✨ Keep walking. Keep trusting. Victory is yours abundantly. ✨