When Life Gets Hard – How Faith Can Help You Through

April 29, 2026

I’ll be honest, my life has been pretty smooth sailing compared to many. But there have been times when things have felt difficult. People have falsely accused me of things, I’ve been broken up with, I’ve experienced loneliness and betrayal from ‘friends’. I still physically ache for my 18-year-old self, waiting at the train station for someone who would never show up to my birthday gathering.

My life also felt shaken when I was struggling to stay above water with three small children and a strong, positive line showed up on a pregnancy test. Last year, a marriage within my family that felt solid and certain, faithful and loving, crumbled, and I found myself wondering what else might be less solid and certain than it appeared.

However privileged you are, nobody moves through life without experiencing dark, difficult seasons. So, when life gets hard, how can your faith help you through?

Faith as Something to Fall Back On

I’ve learned this the hard way: when life feels difficult, you don’t suddenly become more disciplined or more spiritual. You fall back on what’s already part of your life.

A verse I return to a lot is Isaiah 41:10: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you.’

It’s not complicated, and that’s why I love it. It’s easy to remember and perfect for repeating over and over. There have been days when this is the only thing I’ve had to hold on to – repeating a verse while I’m walking, or sitting, or trying to fall asleep. It doesn’t fix everything, but it grounds me and keeps me focused on the truth that God will carry me through even the darkest of valleys.

I learned this verse by heart way before I needed to repeat it to myself over and over. So, for me, when life gets tough, the question isn’t ‘what do I believe?’. It’s ‘what do I do when things feel like this?’ because I know what I believe. He has proved Himself true and faithful over and over – He won’t stop now.

‘The Words You Rehearse Become the Beliefs You Live From’

I recently went to a conference where the speaker was a lovely, witty Northern Irish author called Catherine Campbell. She has seen a lot of heartache. She had two profoundly disabled daughters, both of whom died young. I’ve almost finished her book ‘Under the Rainbow’ and would highly recommend it. It describes how God works things for good, how He speaks through His word, how other Christians can harm but also bring balm, and how God brings us through, no matter how difficult the days and trials. Some of our valleys will only end and become mountaintops in glory, while others are momentary in this life.

Back to Catherine. She also found herself leaning on words from Isaiah:

‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.’ - Isaiah 43:1-3

She rightly says, ‘the words you rehearse become the beliefs you live from’, and that’s stuck with me. If I keep rehearsing fear, I feel more anxious. If I keep coming back to the truth, even slowly, something steadies.

How Faith Can Help You Through When You’re Struggling

The biggest thing is knowing God’s character. I know He is good, from my own experience, from the experience of those around me, and throughout scripture. I know He is able, I know He is kind, I know he is with me, I know he is in control, and I know He does what is best and what is right.

Having a knowledge of Him when life seems to be spiralling out of control helps the most. Knowing that He is with me is such a comfort. I also know that He hears me when I call, and that He is never too busy or distant to reply.

I am also so grateful for the family I have in the Church. One friend had a listening ear and arms ready to hug me countless times during some really tough times when I was unemployed, volunteering at our church’s café, and dealing with a difficult relationship and family issues. Older women I would never have otherwise befriended have been such a guide through valleys.

The Church is, of course, fallible as it is made up of humans trying to live alongside one another. But it is also a great joy, a force for good and encouragement, because it is made up of people who (for the most part) love Jesus and want to serve Him in their circles and neighbourhoods. So lean on those you know from your local church.

The Habits and Practices I Lean into During Tough Times

I cry out my heart in prayer. Sometimes with shedloads of tears, sometimes with anger and a heart that feels like it’s going to burst with the pain. I know God can take it. He’s big enough for my feelings, for my tears and for my pain.

You can learn more about cultivating a habit of prayer here.

I write down long prayers and journal, sometimes to myself and sometimes addressed to God. In the midst of my cries for help and mercy, I write promises and verses that are a comfort and a balm to my soul.

Read A Beginner’s Guide to Prayer Journaling for more on this.

Knowing the Bible and reading it regularly definitely helps in tough times. You know all those people whose stories we know so well? Look at what difficult times they went through. Jesus himself went through the worst things and knows exactly how we feel. He gives us His peace which passes understanding, and He loves us tenderly through it. There have been times when I have felt him almost physically with me.

During dark seasons, I read scripture more fervently than at any other time, digging deeply into the Bible and seeking to really get to know God better. Perhaps some of my biggest challenges have been for this benefit and no other, but I’m sure God worked in them, and in me, in a thousand different ways.

You can read my tips for reading the Bible as a busy mum here.

Scripture to Return to When You’re Struggling

I love scripture, and I love that it has so much to say about virtually every situation. In addition to those mentioned above, the words I come back to repeatedly include:

‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ - Psalm 34:18

(A lot of us seem to lean on this verse as it features on my best-selling condolence card)

‘My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ - Psalm 73:26

‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.’ - Psalm 23

(If this resonates, I have a whole collection dedicated to these comforting words.)

‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.’ - Romans 5:3-5

(I relied heavily on this portion of scripture when I found myself pregnant again with 3 young children – it is also where my business name comes from!)