strength in weakness

by on

“You just don’t have enough faith.”

It’s etched into my memory of a pastor telling me that years ago when I told him about my anxiety. Which, ironically, gave me more anxiety.

I walked away wondering, “Am I a bad Christian? Do I really not have enough faith?” A pit formed in my stomach thinking that I wasn’t doing enough. The room felt as if it was closing in on me, and I looked around to find the nearest exit. All of a sudden, I was getting flashbacks of all the memories in high school.

My earliest memory that I have of an actual anxiety attack was when I was 17 years old at a rehearsal for a school play. I didn’t know what it was at the time. It just felt like something was genuinely wrong. In my head, it felt like I had 100 computer tabs open that wouldn’t close. I went to the doctor and was told that it was anxiety. And from there, my anxiety progressed as I got older.

“Christians don’t have anxiety,” is what was being taught around me at the church I was attending at the time. Therefore, I didn’t feel like a real Christian. It produced shame which led to minimum prayers and reading of my Bible less.

All I kept thinking was, “I can’t be a Christian and have anxiety.”

Years later, after I got married, I connected with a Christian therapist through a free resource. As I shared my experiences, she listened carefully and eventually explained that I struggled with several anxiety disorders and OCD. It was almost like there was a rolodex going through my mind and piecing details together like I was Sherlock Holmes. I once again felt shame, but then she reminded me of this passage in the Bible.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

Here’s what I love about this passage. Paul pleads three times for God to remove his thorn, and where else do we see something similar in the Bible? In Gethsemane when Jesus prayed to God three times to let the cup pass from Him.

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”” Matthew 26:36-46 (ESV)

Both Paul and Jesus ultimately submitted to God’s will even when both fully had faith. God didn’t remove their trials, but instead provided the grace and strength to endure.

What if God allows our “thorns” to keep us totally dependent on Him?

A great quote that I love from C.S. Lewis is, “You may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.”

I was reminded that I can indeed have both: be a Christian and struggle with anxiety. It doesn’t make me any less of a Christian.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

Having faith doesn’t always mean we get our prayers answered. Even if God doesn’t remove the “thorn” He sustains and strengthens us through it. Having faith also doesn’t mean that we are immune to feeling anything negative. If Jesus faced this, then we should give ourselves grace.

I still pray that one day I will be healed, our God is a Healer and can perform miracles; but maybe that won’t be until I am in Heaven. And that’s okay. Learning to accept my “thorn” is what allows me to write to you today about my own struggle with anxiety.

I’m not enough, but Jesus is.

In certain cases, both Jesus and medicine are needed because everybody is unique. As Christians, we need to do better to break the stigma, and not use manipulating tactics as well as shaming people into Christianity. That leads to resentment and bitterness and, unfortunately, in a lot of cases it leads to people walking away from God all together.

God can use doctors, medicine, therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists to help with mental illness. To say that seeking help for mental health is “unbiblical” is dangerous to say and is why so many Christians suffer in silence.

It’s okay to not be okay.

Give yourself permission to lament and space to heal. And when the anxiety returns, as it sometimes will, remember this: your struggles do not make you a lesser Christian.

God’s grace is sufficient for you too.

Get to Know Mel Davis

Mel Davis is a military wife based in Omaha, Nebraska. She writes from a Christian perspective, sharing stories shaped by authenticity, resilience, hope, and a deep rooted faith in God.

When she’s not writing, she’s behind the camera capturing life’s meaningful moments. With a love for nature and a curious spirit, she is always pursuing new adventures and creative endeavors.

***

Let’s chat! What resonated with you most in Mel’s post? When have you experienced something similar, and how did you respond? How have your struggles increased your dependency on Christ? Share in the comments below!

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed? Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past. If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time. In this episode, you'll discover: Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing Why you don't have to carry your pain alone Guest: Rebecca TagumaExecutive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society) Bible Passages Discussed Genesis 2:18 Psalm 42:1 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 34 (lament) Job 33:4 Connect with Rebecca Taguma Trauma Healing Institute Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources) Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn 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.
  1. Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay
  2. How to Move Forward When Trust Is Broken
  3. How to Experience Strength for Overwhelming Assignments Through the Names of God
  4. How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic
  5. How to Stop Letting Conflict Control Your Emotions

by on

Sometimes trust feels risky. It often feels challenging, at least for me.

I’ve always found coming up with ideas easy—ways to love people well, ways to reflect Christ, ways to make an impact. It’s the follow through trips me up.

Because living out our faith—especially in hard, uncomfortable spaces—requires something deeper than grit and determination. It calls for a steady reliance on Christ, not on outcomes we can predict or control.

Unfortunately, there’ve been seasons when fear and self-protection hindered my obedience. I gravitated toward what felt manageable and “safe.” Friendly conversations, familiar people, environments where I could anticipate how things might unfold. Serving Jesus from behind a screen felt far less costly than stepping into the complexity of real, hurting lives.

But I learned that retreat slowly weakens my faith.

Supernatural strength grows within us when we follow Jesus into places where we’re desperate for His help. In those spaces our strength and words feel insufficient. That’s where our awareness of our need for Christ leads us to increased dependence.

I saw this clearly when my husband and I opened our home to a hurting teenager. Her pain ran deep. Far deeper than anything I could fix. Night after night, I listened as she shared her story, aware of how little I could actually change.

Sometimes this felt overwhelming, and I wanted to protect my heart from anxiety and pain. But God didn’t ask me to fix her situation. He invited me to stand with her in it. To simply remain present.

And in that messy, stretching, and often uncomfortable place, I experienced Christ in a powerful and deeply comforting way.

In moments when I didn’t know what to say, He gave me the right words. When I felt overwhelmed by my weakness, He sustained me with His strength. When I completely blew it, which sadly, occurred far too often, He gave me grace.

In this, He reminded me of an important truth God initially spoke to me, through a pastor, when my marriage was floundering: sometimes things get harder before they get better, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

Because He is always working for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).

Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, thereby declaring Himself as the One who leads, protects, and remains with us, His sheep. He doesn’t leave us alone in hard places, our pain or fear. He goes before us, walks beside us, and sustains us when we feel weary and the road ahead steep and clouded with fog.

When we trust that He’s carrying us, our burden feels a little lighter, the path ahead a tad clearer, and our souls bolstered by His faith-bolstering grace.

The discomfort, uncertainty, and emotional weight we long to avoid often becomes the very place where our faith grows most. Not immediately or without struggle, but through repeated moments of choosing to trust when He doesn’t provide the clarity we seek.

That season with that teenager stretched me more than I expected. Yet through it, I encountered God in ways that dramatically deepened my faith. I saw more clearly how He cares, guides, and remains present in situations that feel unresolved and maybe even unresolvable.

When you sense God nudging you toward something difficult—a conversation you’d rather avoid, a person whose pain feels overwhelming, a step of obedience that stretches your comfort—pause, turn to God, lean on Him, and receive all the blessings your soul needs to take that next right step.

Because of Jesus and our relationship with Him, we don’t have to figure everything out. We simply need to fix our spiritual eyes on Him and follow however He leads

Because the Lord won’t abandon you in your stress, overwhelm or insufficiency. Instead, He meets you in it to transform you through it.

With time, as you trust Him to lead you well, a quiet confidence forms in your growing awareness that He is faithful, present, and at work in ways far beyond what you can see.

If you’re presently in a difficult season and in need of hope, catch my conversation with author and YouTuber Kirby Kelly in the Faith Over Fear podcast episode titled, “An Unshakable Hope to Steady Your Anxious and Hurting Soul”. Find it HERE.

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed? Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past. If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time. In this episode, you'll discover: Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing Why you don't have to carry your pain alone Guest: Rebecca TagumaExecutive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society) Bible Passages Discussed Genesis 2:18 Psalm 42:1 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 34 (lament) Job 33:4 Connect with Rebecca Taguma Trauma Healing Institute Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources) Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn 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.
  1. Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay
  2. How to Move Forward When Trust Is Broken
  3. How to Experience Strength for Overwhelming Assignments Through the Names of God
  4. How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic
  5. How to Stop Letting Conflict Control Your Emotions

by on

Our already busy and fast-paced world seems to be continually speeding up. As soon as I create margin in my life, I find myself bombarded with numerous opportunities to fill it. And there are days when I simply feel weary.

If you can relate, I hope you’l gain encouragement and some helpful insights from my sweet friend Becky Harling’s post. (This first posted on her blog.)

Do you ever feel completely spent—like you’re running on empty? Maybe you’ve been battling a relentless illness, or perhaps you’ve been pouring out your heart in prayer for a loved one without seeing change. Or, maybe you’re simply tired from the daily grind, struggling to keep up with life’s demands. Whatever the cause, we all experience seasons of exhaustion. In those times, we desperately need to find renewed strength. But how do we access it?

David reminds us in Psalm 18:1, “The Lord is my strength.” And Isaiah offers hope when he writes, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).

The key to finding strength lies in hoping in the Lord. But what does that look like practically?

Praise: An Anchor for Your Soul

One of the most powerful tools God has given us is praise. When we lift our hearts in worship, we shift our focus off our circumstances and onto the greatness of God. Worship isn’t about feeding God’s ego; rather, it’s a channel through which the Holy Spirit fills us with Christ’s strength, right in the middle of our human frailty. As we praise Him, we become more like Him, strong and steadfast.

When I feel weary, I know God is inviting me to pause and praise. Recently, I learned that an oncologist has been giving his patients my book, The 30 Day Praise Challenge, to help them face the challenges of chemotherapy. Why? Because as they praise God, they find the strength to face each day. Friend, you cannot praise God without being strengthened—praise connects you to God’s power.

Scripture: Power for the Weary

The Word of God is more than just text to read; it’s a weapon against weariness. When we pray the words of Scripture, we stand on God’s promises, and the enemy of our souls, who wants to drag us into discouragement, is forced to retreat. Having a few key verses ready to pray over yourself can be transformative. Try verses like Psalm 27:1, Ephesians 2:6, and Isaiah 40:29-31 when you’re feeling depleted. When God’s Word becomes your prayer, His strength infuses your heart.

Community: Strength in Connection

When weariness hits, our tendency can be to withdraw, but isolation only increases the burden. Instead, we need to lean into our community and let others carry our burdens with us. God designed us for connection, knowing that our hope is strengthened when we journey together. Be vulnerable, let others in, and allow their prayers and encouragement to lift you. Often, God uses the hope of those around us to renew our own.

Weariness is a reality we all face at times, but the good news is, we don’t have to face it alone or in our own strength. The next time you feel tired and depleted, pause to praise, pray Scripture over yourself, and reach out to trusted friends. I believe you’ll experience hope and strength rising in your heart as you do. Remember, God is always ready to meet you in your weariness and infuse you with His boundless strength.

Get to know Becky Harling:

Becky Harling is an author and speaker, host of the Connected Mom podcast, and certified coach with The John Maxwell Team. She helps those looking to move beyond their personal obstacles to live life intentionally with purpose and passion. She offers mastermind classes and seminars on leadership, communication and personal growth. In addition she offers personal coaching for those looking to grow emotionally, professionally or spiritually. Connect with her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and follow her work on Amazon.

Learn more about her latest release, Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World:

Loneliness is an epidemic, but you can live life with a deep sense of belonging.

If you’ve ever felt that ache to connect and belong, you’re not alone: three out of every five people are suffering from loneliness. No group is excluded—married, unmarried, parents, pastors, leaders, elderly, and teenagers. We all experience moments . . . or long seasons of heart-aching loneliness. And it hurts. It can hurt right to the core.

In Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, relationship expert, mother, grandmother, and John Maxwell Certified Coach Becky Harling taps into the deep ache of loneliness and shares with readers a rich theology of belonging. Does God ache for us? What does it mean that we belong to Him? How do we establish a deeply bonded relationship with others? What steps can we take to improve our relationships?

Because we were made for God and for community, relational isolation or brokenness is incredibly painful. But we don’t have to live isolated and unconnected. In fact, we must not. Our souls were designed for more. Deeply rooted in Scripture and joined with reflection questions, this book shows us how we can strengthen our relationships and experience deep connection.

And make sure to listen to her conversation with my cohost Carol McCracken on the Faith Over Fear podcast.

Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay – Faith Over Fear

Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed? Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past. If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time. In this episode, you'll discover: Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing Why you don't have to carry your pain alone Guest: Rebecca TagumaExecutive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society) Bible Passages Discussed Genesis 2:18 Psalm 42:1 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 34 (lament) Job 33:4 Connect with Rebecca Taguma Trauma Healing Institute Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources) Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn 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.
  1. Why You Feel Overwhelmed Even When Life Seems Okay
  2. How to Move Forward When Trust Is Broken
  3. How to Experience Strength for Overwhelming Assignments Through the Names of God
  4. How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic
  5. How to Stop Letting Conflict Control Your Emotions

by on

Image of a flower with text pulled from post

Our culture tends to idolize strength. We love stories of the underdog who rose to the top despite seemingly impossible odds. But Scripture paints a different image of strength–one found through surrender and revealed through weakness.

When I first met my guest, Victoria Mejias, I was instantly drawn to her sweet spirit, her authenticity, her hope despite incredible challenges, and her steady reliance on God. She’s suffered more than most of us ever will, and yet, it is perhaps because of her weakness that she most reveals Christ. The same is true for us. When we release our expectations and presentations of perfection, something beautiful happens. In the raw and the real, we demonstrate what it means to rest in God’s grace.

A Woman With Issues

By Victoria Mejias

My loved ones will be the first to tell you- I am a woman with issues. I know, I know, as a Christian I should have my act all together but I don’t.

I am admittingly not a morning person. I drink way too much coffee and don’t seem to be technically-inclined. And that’s the superficial stuff.

Despite my faith, I get anxious. I can have trust issues. I’m a planner that can be irritatingly-scheduled. And those are a few of my finer qualities. The ones most people cannot see.

On top of that, I’m a single mother with two children and multiple sclerosis. My illness has effected my body for more than 10 years to the point where I can’t hide it anymore. I’m now colorblind, most days I ambulate with a walker, other days a wheelchair. Not to mention, half of the week I struggle with a terrible stutter that I fear makes me sound inarticulate and uneducated.

Somehow the latter issues make me the most self-conscience. The thought of people knowing the former, more able-bodied me, versus the disabled me can render me too anxious to think clearly at times. The loss of my straw-like, brittle hair at the slightest touch and the weight gain brought on by my medications can reduce me to tears. And the inability to participate in my children’s activities like I used to can make me feel helpless.

And boy have I tried for years to treat my illness—and to do it privately. In fact, most people didn’t know I was disabled until fairly recently. Oh to think of the years of failed treatments, the thousands of dollars spent for me to just get worse, the effect my illness took on my marriage … it’s daunting.

The fact that people can see these issues only add to my sense of defeat. My challenges are far too visible to mask with a Sunday smile and too real to pretend all is well, even at church. It’s during these moments that I have to fight the negativity that bombards my mind by clinging to Scripture.

Mark chapter 5 describes a scene in which a large crowd follows and presses around Jesus. Among them is someone many people refer to as “the woman with the issue of blood.”

A woman much like me.

Mark 5:25-26 says, “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” Reading this paints an all-too-personal image for me.

Here was a woman with issues, who knew what it was to suffer and to suffer publicly. She’d been to multiple doctors, drained her life-savings, and had been basically cast out of society. After all, this took place during a period of time where even godly people avoided the unclean. Yet, here she was, unapologetically reaching out for Jesus.

She didn’t just “follow” Him the way the others did she came up behind Him and pressed in through faith “because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed’” (Mark 5:28). She let the Lord lead her and she pressed in to the point where she touched Him. So much so, that the Lord Himself felt the healing power leave His body.

I love Jesus with all my heart and I still believe the Lord will physically heal me. In the meantime, I’m grateful God’s healed my need for approval and my embarrassment surrounding my weaknesses. I long for the day when I’ll hear “Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34).

I’m still physically hurting. I still have issues. But I’m determined to let Christ lead and to press into Jesus through it all.

My comfort comes from knowing that He goes before me. I am His. I trust Him, despite my suffering and, regardless of Image of a flower with text pulled from post.how He chooses to respond to my prayers.

I pray you can, too.

Let’s talk about this! Consider your current struggles. How has God revealed Himself to you through them? How might He want to use you and your difficulties to reveal Himself to others as well? Share your thoughts in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another.

If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to join our closed Facebook community. Wholly Loved Ministries’ Facebook group is a confidential and safe place where women can share their struggles, doubts, fears, and celebrations.

Wholly Loved Ministries
Closed group · 467 members
 

Join Group

 
A place for women to come together, share their struggles, celebrations, and insights, and inspire one another to be all God created them to be.

We also encourage you to check out our Bible reading plan, 30 Days of Emotional Health, on YouVersion. You can find that https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/15904/.

Get to Know Victoria

Victoria Mejias is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska College of Law prior to making a leap into public service. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the private, public, legal and non-profit sectors. She has previously served as the Missions and Small Groups Pastor at StoneBridge Christian Church and the Development Director for Open Door Mission / Lydia House. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Heartland United for Puerto Rico and her past service includes a variety of other boards.

Victoria received her Certification in Urban Ministries from the Dallas Theological Seminary’s Urban Ministry Institute in 2012. She has spoken at a variety of venues on matters of leadership, diversity, spirituality and faith– locally, nationally and internationally as far out as Damoh, India at the World Leaders Evangelical Conference. Recently Victoria was the recipient of two Congressional awards for her service by Puerto Rican Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón and Nebraska’s Congressman Don Bacon during a floor speech at the US House of Representatives. She has two children, loves the Lord, reaching the lost and enjoys travel, arts and culture.

She serves with Wholly Loved Ministries as a translator, speaker, and blogger.