When Faith Feels Fragile: Holding On Anyway – Guest post by Zeeva Usman

by Jennifer Slattery on May 8, 2025May 7, 2025

There are days when faith feels unshakable—when the worship is sweet, the Scriptures speak directly to your heart, and the path ahead looks clear. But then there are days … when faith feels like it’s barely hanging on. Fragile. Thin. Quiet. And maybe today is one of those days.

I remember a time when I wrestled with doubt. I had been praying and seeking God’s guidance, but everything felt still and silent. I wondered if my prayers were even heard, and I began to question my faith. During that time, I realized that it’s okay to wrestle with doubt—it doesn’t mean we’ve lost our faith, but rather, we’re being honest with God and ourselves about our struggles. That moment taught me that faith isn’t about never feeling weak; it’s about choosing to trust, even when we’re unsure.

If so, you’re not alone.

Even the strongest believers face seasons when doubt whispers louder than truth and prayers feel like they bounce off the ceiling. But Scripture doesn’t shame us for fragile faith. In fact, it gives us permission to be honest—about our fears, our questions, and our weariness.

Even Heroes of Faith Had Weak Moments

Abraham doubted. Elijah hid in a cave. John the Baptist—who once pointed boldly to Jesus—sent messengers to ask, “Are You the one, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3)

If they struggled, why do we think we shouldn’t?

Faith isn’t about never wavering. It’s about choosing to trust—even when we’re trembling. It’s about leaning in when everything in us wants to run. It’s about holding on to Jesus, not because we’re strong, but because He is.

When All You Can Do Is Stay Close

Sometimes faith is loud and confident. Other times, it’s quiet and persistent. It shows up in whispered prayers. In opening the Bible, even when it feels dry. In wearing faith-based apparel as a simple reminder of who you belong to. In choosing worship when you feel numb. In staying in community, when isolation seems easier.

And sometimes, it simply looks like saying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

That prayer counts. That is faith.

God Doesn’t Despise Fragile Faith

The beautiful thing about our God is that He doesn’t require perfect faith—He just invites us to come. He meets us in the valley, in the questions, and even in the silence. Jesus never turned away the weak-hearted. He drew near. He lifted heads. He offered peace.

He still does.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to reach for Him, even with trembling hands.

Faith That Grows in the Cracks

The very places where your faith feels fragile might be where God is doing His deepest work. Growth doesn’t always happen in the mountaintop moments—it often happens in the in-between, the unseen, the waiting.

So if your faith feels fragile today, let this be your reminder: Fragile faith is still faith. And the One you’re holding on to will never let go of you.

Get to Know Zeeva Usman

Zeeva Usman is an experienced content manager at Christian Marketing Experts and a content specialist at Salt of Heaven, where she uses her expertise to create impactful, faith-centered content. When she’s not crafting words, Zeeva finds joy in worshiping and singing for the Lord Jesus, drawing inspiration from her faith to encourage others.

Why We Lose Ourselves in Relationships—and How to Find Our Way Back – Faith Over Fear

In this opening episode of our new Faith Over Fear series, Relational Peace: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself, Carol sits down with Bible teacher and author Becky Harling for an honest conversation about the subtle ways we lose ourselves inside relationships. Together, they explore how fear, people-pleasing, overfunctioning, and the pressure to keep everyone happy can quietly erode our peace, identity, and emotional health. Becky shares practical wisdom on boundaries, friendship, emotional dependency, and how Jesus modeled deep love without losing Himself in the process. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying everyone else’s emotions or guilty for needing rest, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical next steps toward healthier, Christ-centered relationships. In This Episode, learn: Why people-pleasing is often fear in disguise The difference between healthy love and self-erasure How Jesus modeled boundaries and emotional health Signs you may be losing yourself in relationships Why Christian women and men especially struggle with overextending What healthy friendships actually look like Practical tools for saying no without guilt How to love others without carrying their emotional weight Scripture References Mark 1:35–38 Proverbs 4:23 John 2:24 Ephesians 2:10 I think I got them all? Key TakeawayHealthy relationships are not built on fear, guilt, or emotional exhaustion. They’re built on truth, grace, wisdom, honesty, and an identity firmly rooted in Christ. Find Becky Harling: On her website On Facebook On Instagram On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Holy, Intimate Wrestling with God

by Jennifer Slattery on July 4, 2024July 3, 2024

(Copy edited by Aneah Epshteyn.)

Graphic with quote on wrestling with God and how He uses our wrestling to transform us.

(Image first used on March 31, 2022 in THIS post.)

Do we proclaim, “God’s ways are higher than mine” (Is. 55:8-9) too soon? While true, God never intended us to use this statement to silence our questions and numb our discomfort in painful situations. Not only does our faith grow exponentially during wrestling seasons, but our very willingness to engage reveals a depth of trust I’m certain touches our Father’s heart.

Only one secure in their mom or dad’s unconditional love can express their most anguished emotions, especially when they blame that parent for their pain. Those conversations, as excruciating as they might feel, can lead to deeper relationships. In pushing past surface niceties to the most hidden places in the soul, they forge a connection not experienced otherwise.

Parenting an adult child profoundly elevated my appreciation for this holiest of struggles. When my daughter left for college, her physical distance and maturity widened her view of me, my parenting, and how both had affected her. She came to realize that I possessed flaws and that they’d caused her pain. In the years following, she shared some of these wounds with me in conversations we both found excruciating.

I imagine there were many times she debated keeping silent. There were certainly numerous occasions in which I wished she had! At least, in the moment. Standing on the other side of that uncomfortable and healing season, I’m grateful for her courage because I’ve witnessed the converse. I’ve watched other young adults and their parents grow increasingly distant due to unresolved hurts that remained undisclosed, out of fear.

While I can’t speak to other people’s motivation, I can share what my daughter told me one afternoon not long ago. “You were always a safe person for me to come to,” she said.

I take this to mean that she knew, even when I didn’t always react well in the moment, that I would always reach for her. Just as, through those raw and frightening conversations, she was reaching for me.

These were my thoughts as I contemplated the words of Habakuk, the Old Testament prophet living during a dark period of ancient Israel’s history. Granted, unlike me, our Heavenly Father is always the perfect parent. But that doesn’t mean His kids won’t respond to His actions with intense emotion. In Habakuk’s dialogue with God, we see a courage and trust that drove him straight to his Father, and the unconditional, healing love that met him there.

The prophet launched this lyrical discussion asking God how long He’d remain silent to his cries for help and tolerant to violence and injustice. The Lord responded by the foretelling of Babylon’s invasion. Increasingly distraught, Habakuk said, in essence, “How could You, the Holy One, do such a thing?”, adding in chapter two: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (v. 1, NIV).

I envision him with feet planted and arms crossed, determined not to drop the matter until the Lord responds. Does that seem brazen? Were we to encounter similar behavior from a brother or sister in Christ, would we view their words as rebellion? Or the raw expression of an anguished child to the one Person whose comfort they most crave?

Graphic with quote from post. Christ is always our safe place.

The book of Habakuk assures us that Christ is and always will be our safe place. When we live in that reality, as the prophet did, we reach a firmer understanding that, indeed, God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We reach a place of greater trust where we also can say, no matter what happens, “I will rejoice in the Lord … The sovereign Lord is my strength” (Hab. 3:17-19, NIV).

Let’s talk about this! When you think of wrestling with God, what feelings arise? What are your thoughts regarding Habakkuk’s interactions with the Lord? How can allowing ourselves to wrestle with God lead to deeper faith and relational intimacy with the Lord?

Before you go, did you know Faith Over Fear now has a GodTube channel? You can find it HERE!

Why We Lose Ourselves in Relationships—and How to Find Our Way Back – Faith Over Fear

When God Speaks–Our Role

by Jennifer Slattery on May 7, 2020November 1, 2021

God is always speaking to His children, always guiding us toward His very best, but sometimes His voice grows faint amid the noise and confusion all around us.

Early in my parenting days, I was probably the most insecure, and often confused, mother around. I felt bombarded by advice, warnings, and contradicting tips from so-called experts. As a result, I routinely felt overwhelmed. Initially, I tried to raise our daughter in my wisdom and strength, largely because I hadn’t learned to discern God’s voice. Therefore, I gave too much weight to the faulty and often shifting “insight” of others and falsely believed I could make sense of it all.

This characterized every area of my life, actually, and in fact, had for some time. But my so-called intellect rarely brought the results I wanted, nor did I experience the peace and confidence I craved.

Granted, I did pray. Oh, how I prayed. Only I wasn’t always alert to God’s answers—in part because I rarely sat still long enough to hear Him. And when I did, though my heart initially pricked with the confidence and assurance that can only come from God, shortly after “common sense” or popular opinion overshadowed His perfect wisdom.

I often resembled a woman caught on an inflatable in the middle of the tumultuous ocean. James, Jesus’s brother, describes this scenario in James 1:5-8, and while he was speaking specifically on how we as believers ought to handle life’s difficulties, the principles he reveals apply to all of life.

James begins by encouraging us to seek God’s guidance, saying, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV)

This brings me such comfort because it tells me, in effect, that God doesn’t expect me to know it all. He doesn’t expect me to have life all figured out, or even to know His will perfectly. Rather, He expects me to seek Him, and when I do, no matter the question, no matter the struggle, He responds with grace.

And yet, responsibility comes with this access and invitation, for he goes on to say in verse 6, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,” hold tight to what God tells you, “because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

When we doubt the very truths God Himself deposits into our souls, our thoughts become divided and disordered and we become unstable, pushed and pulled in whatever direction feels strongest or screams loudest. What an unsettling, if not terrifying, place to be!

Have you ever tried to swim or paddle in choppy water? I have, and it’s exhausting and defeating. For every stroke forward, the waves pull you two strokes back, then shove you to the right, then the left. Without a bright buoy to mark one’s course, it’s easy to get turned around completely and find yourself, hours of intense physical labor later, a long way from where you need to be.

A few years ago, our family vacationed to Hawaii. One afternoon, my daughter and I went paddle boarding in the ocean—over jagged balsamic rock and in waters where sharks truly do lurk. Close to the shore, I felt no danger, and so I relaxed and allowed the current to gently carry me farther out to sea. At some point, I became more alert to my surroundings and realized how far I’d drifted. The people on the beach looked so small and the water surrounding me so vast and deep!

I felt vulnerable, to say the least, and so I began hurriedly paddling back, but no matter how fast and hard I paddled against the waves, I didn’t seem to get anywhere. I only grew more tired, and certainly more frightened.

Praise God, I did indeed make it back, but that experience painted a vivid reminder of what life feels like when we’re not anchored to Christ and His truth. We’re unstable and unsettled, pinged from one philosophy or decision to the next.

Praise God there’s always grace, but life’s hard enough, y’all, without wasting time and energy heading away from our finish line and all the great things God has in store for us. We can trust Him to lead us toward His very best at every moment. But we must trust—trust that He will indeed guide us in His way and His perfect timing. And trust that His ways truly all best.

That’s not to say we’ll never experience doubt, but when we do, may we bring our questions and uncertainties to the One with all the answers. And when He speaks, we must choose to believe what He says, or soon we’ll discover we’re on treading aimlessly against life’s tumultuous waves.

What is God saying to you lately? How can you hold tight to the truths He’s already given you? How can you move forward in faith?

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and connect with me on Facebook and Instagram.

Catch my Faith Over Fear podcast HERE.

Snatch my next release, Building a Family, HERE.

And find inspirational messages from my ministry team members HERE.

Additional resources:

The Divine Dance by Jennifer Slattery

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

Discerning the Voice of God Bible reading plan by Priscilla Shirer

Also, don’t forget about our online book discussion this evening at 7pm CDT! We’re working through Breaking Free from Fear by Maria Furlough. Contact me HERE for more information on how you can join us.

I also invite you to join Wholly Loved‘s private online Facebook community, a safe and encouraging place to share your struggles, fears, celebrations, and prayer requests. Find us HERE. And make sure to participate in our #freedomchallenge! All participants are automatically entered into a drawing to win all THIS.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™