difficulties

Do you ever feel as if life rushes at you faster than you can keep up, your feet have begun to slip, and your muscles feel so fatigued, you aren’t sure how much longer you can keep standing? If so, then I hope my guest Debbie Wilson’s post encourages you.

Encouragement for the Weak and Weary

by Debbie Wilson

After 16 days of taking oral chelators for heavy metal poisoning, I was beyond exhausted—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I couldn’t hold two thoughts together, let alone think of putting together and presenting an upcoming talk.

I asked a closed Facebook group to pray for me. Hoping for some inspiration, I picked up Robert Morgan’s The Strength You Need, a book a friend had given me. It took me to Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV).

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The author pointed out that although we may feel powerless against emotions that come upon us, we have some level of control over our attitudes. Heeding his wisdom, I selected a channel of praise music on my Pandora app and began to sing.

About this time, notices began popping up on my iPhone telling me people were praying. Each message lifted my spirit. I didn’t have to fight this battle alone.

To know we don’t have to stay discouraged is a wonderful hope when life overwhelms us. As we find joy in the Lord, our inner strength returns.

The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Ps. 119:71 ESV).

I’ve experienced the truth of those words. Whenever I go through a trial, Scriptures that apply to what I’m going through jump off the pages of my Bible.

Have you felt weary, weak, or incompetent for the tasks before you? I want to share some Scriptures that spoke to me in my season of weariness. May you draw strength from these promises.

Strength for the Weak and Weary

“As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25 ESV).
“The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them” (2 Chronicles 16:9 GW).
“The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” (Psalm 68:35 NLT).
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV).

Wisdom for the Weak and Weary

“Do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11 NKJV).
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB).
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).

I experienced the power of community, and God granted me the strength to prepare and deliver my talk.

The whole Godhead is pulling for you (Rom. 8:26-38)! You don’t have to fight your battle alone. But sometimes, we need to ask for prayers.

March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21 NIV

Get to Know Debbie W. Wilson

Drawing from her walk with Christ, and years as a Christian counselor, coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps women give themselves a break so they can enjoy fruitful and grace-filled lives. She is the author of Little Strength, Big God and Give Yourself a Break. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources including the free pdf download “Forty Days to Strength” at debbieWwilson.com.

Check out her latest release, Little Strength, Big God

Discover the Power of a Big God in Your Everyday Life

Whether you’re facing giants, struggling with doubt, or feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, this study reveals how ordinary people throughout the Bible encountered an extraordinary God. And you can too.

Through Little Strength, Big God you’ll:

Learn how to triumph over oppressive enemies and seemingly impossible odds
Discover how God’s power shines brightest through your weaknesses
Gain practical insights for daily living and spiritual growth

Perfect for individual study or small groups, this book on Hebrews 11:23-40 combines in-depth biblical exploration with thought-provoking questions and contemporary applications.

Don’t let your weaknesses define you. Little Strength, Big God shows you how to see your challenges through the lens of a big God. It’s time to move from little strength to life-changing confidence in the God who can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Hope When Life Hurts: Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense – Faith Over Fear

In seasons of deep pain, unanswered questions, and emotional exhaustion, hope can feel distant—or risky to embrace. In this powerful conversation, Jennifer Slattery sits down with author and speaker Kirby Kelly to explore what it looks like to hold onto hope when life feels overwhelming. Drawing from her personal story of loss, addiction in her family, and long-term suffering, Kirby shares how God met her in her darkest moments and gradually transformed her understanding of hope—not as a feeling or personality trait, but as a posture and daily practice rooted in Christ. Together, they discuss how to trust God when circumstances don’t change, how Scripture renews our thinking, and how God uses every season—painful or joyful—to bring redemption. If you’ve been struggling to believe God is good, or wondering how to keep going when you feel worn down, this episode will gently guide you back to the unchanging character of the God of hope. Resource referenced: The Fabric of Hope: How God Weaves Redemption into Every Season by Kirby Kelly 📖 Scripture Discussed Romans 15:13 – God as the source of hope, joy, and peace Psalm 139:5 – God’s nearness and protection (“You hem me in…”) Genesis 37–50 – Joseph’s story of suffering and redemption Job (selected passages) – Trusting God without having answers 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 – Paul’s “thorn” and God’s sustaining grace Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruit of the Spirit (joy and peace) Matthew 11:28–30 – Jesus invites the weary to find rest Reflection Questions: Where in your life does hope feel difficult—or risky—to embrace right now? Have you been placing your hope in a circumstance instead of in God’s character? What past situation can you look back on and clearly see God’s faithfulness? How might regularly reading Scripture begin to renew your thinking in this season? When you feel overwhelmed, what would it look like to pause and intentionally turn toward God’s presence? Which aspect of God—His promises, presence, patterns, or person—do you most need to anchor yourself in today? What is one action step God is inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Connect with Kirby Kelly: On her website On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube Follow her work on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Everyone has moments of doubts. Some of us have years and even decades of wrestling with deep truths and what we’ve learned about God. But as I often say, doubts don’t so much cause the cracks in our faith as they reveal them. They show us false beliefs, misconceptions, and lightly held truths. In other words, our doubts, when presented honestly to God, when we seek Him and His answers, can pave the way to certainty. Read more from my guest today, Marla Bautista, to see what I mean.

When Hard Times Cause You to Doubt Your Faith

By Marla Bautista

I’ve doubted God, a lot. When my life was at its lowest, I had nothing. I was homeless, broke, and without support from family or friends. I didn’t understand why God allowed me to suffer and wouldn’t alleviate my pain. I was sure He’d left me alone in the world. I spent many nights on the streets, searching for who I was supposed to be, for hope, and ultimately, for peace. I stopped going to church and reading my Bible because I felt abandoned.

Have you ever felt this way?

Yet God promises to remain with us, to help us, and to strengthen us. Isaiah 41:10 reads,: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (ESV).

My life hasn’t been easy. Both my parents passed away before I turned ten years old. I was left with an abusive stepfather. I experienced sexual, emotional, and mental abuse throughout my childhood. I ran away from home many times. Taking my younger brother and sister, I sought refuge from someone, somewhere, to no avail. At the age of 18, I became homeless. I was confused, alone, and scared. I constantly asked myself what I did to deserve the life I received. When I went to church, I was prayed over and ministered to, but I left; homeless, still hungry, and still hurting.

While on the streets, I saw and did things that were far from God’s desire. I was lost. I attempted to restore myself. I struggled. Some days, I didn’t have a place to sleep, others, I slept in a jail cell. Many nights I cried out to God, begging for forgiveness, safety from harm, and most of all, mercy. But I lacked faith that God truly cared for me or wanted to restore me.

Over time, I fell into despair. I no longer believed God heard my prayers. Yet, along my journey, there were signs that He did. I was walking down a street one day, hungry, and in tears. I prayed, “God please, I’m hungry. If You can hear me please help me.” As I walked hopelessly for miles, I felt defeated. Later that day, something told me to reach into my pocket. I did and pulled out two dollars. Initially, I felt scared. I’d had those Jeans on for three days. If there was any money in the pockets, I would have known. Jesus, thank You, I said as tears rolled down my cheeks.

In that moment, God began to restore some of my trust in Him.

Having doubt doesn’t mean you don’t believe in God. It means you’re uncertain about your faith. When things occur that we don’t understand, we question them. Our faith is no exception. If you’re in a period of spiritual wrestling, take it as an invitation to get to know God through Scripture.

Throughout the Bible, it speaks about the restoration of faith through prayer, fasting, and obedience. God invites us to seek Him, then to hold tight to His response when He gives it. James 1:6 reads:

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (NIV).

I saw this truth played out in my life.

God revealed that He was always with me. He kept a hedge of protection over my life, even in the worst of times. I’m here today only because of His love. He continues to restore me and has equipped me to use my testimony to prove his undying love, and unfathomable mercy toward His children. He will do the same for you.

Are you experiencing a season of doubt? If so, I challenge you to submerge yourself in prayer for seven days. Ask God to reveal Himself and His purpose for you. Study Scripture, take your doubts to God in prayer, and most importantly, obey what He reveals when you read the Bible.

Let’s talk about this! Can you share a time when God met you in the middle of your doubts? What are some ways God has shown Himself real to you? Or maybe you’re struggling right now. What do you most need to hear from God?

Get to know Marla!

Marla Bautista a Military Spouse and mother of three children. She is also the published author of My Thoughts Abandoned, released in 2017. As a freelance writer and blogger, she has written for many publications. Her passion is giving back to people in need. Marla is the Founder of The Bautista Project, a custom décor and apparel company, which uses its profits to provide for homeless communities. The Bautista Project has provided food and basic living essentials to hundreds of people in need.

Visit her online at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Instagram.

If you’re going through a difficult time, especially if you’re in a period of waiting, you may find this video, taken from the Becoming His Princess Study, helpful.

I also invite you to check out Wholly Loved’s Bible app, 30-Days to Emotional Health, available on YouVersion. Find it HERE. And make sure to join our online community by clicking the button below. Oh, and almost forgot: Only five days to release day! Keep an eye out for my next novel, Hometown Healing, releasing in Walmarts and B&Ns near you on the 20th! Woot!

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Encouragement for the Weak and Weary-guest post by Debbie Wilson

Hope When Life Hurts: Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense – Faith Over Fear

When Hard Times Cause You To Question Your Faith — Guest Post