My road to becoming a Christian was fairly easy. But staying faithful? That’s where things got interesting.
My parents are faithful Christians. They always took me to church as a child. My grandfather showed me how to study the Bible so I could discover God’s truth for myself. I learned the gospel straight from the Bible.
At 15, I chose to become a Christian, and at 18, I left home to attend a Christian university. During my college years, I went to church, singing services, and devotionals with dozens of friends. Every semester, our college required at least one Bible class—for which we received college credit.
Yep, those early years as a Christian were wonderful. And then…two months after graduating and three weeks after our wedding, we moved to Missouri.
My husband began a ministry job in the Kansas City area. We said goodbye to all our family and friends and headed to the modern-day prairie. That first January was especially cold, with record-setting snowfall. That’s when I began learning what to do when faith gets hard.
When My Faith Was Tested
This particular test of my faith was subtle. It didn’t come from a big tragedy. It came quietly in the dead of winter, at the tail end of a global pandemic.
When my deep and wide support system was in the rearview mirror, the truth hit me like a Midwest snowball to the face.
During those college years, spending time with the Lord was convenient. Most of my time with God happened because of organized events (like those required Bible classes or spiritual retreats).
I wasn’t trying to neglect a personal relationship with the Lord. But I hadn’t walked through life experiences that showed me how critical pursuing a personal relationship with the Lord would be.
Moving away from all my family and friends was the first big-girl-grown-up life experience that challenged my faith. When we were snowed in for weeks at a time and my mind was quiet, I felt lonely. I felt intimidated by the idea of being a pulpit minister’s wife at 20 years old and trying to fit into a new church family. The adjustment was hard. I wondered if something was wrong with me.
I have everything I thought I wanted, I remember thinking. A husband, our home, we’re working in ministry. Why does this feel so hard if this is everything I thought I wanted?
And deep down, I wondered if the real problem was that I wasn’t a good enough Christian. Could the problem be that I just wasn’t good enough, and that’s why this adjustment felt like a trial?
Now, I understand that (1) no, I wasn’t exceptionally weak. Major life adjustments are just hard, and there’s no way around that. But also, (2) I had some growing up to do, spiritually speaking.
Guaranteed to Be Tested
Every Christian experiences tests of faith at some point. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a Christian two years, 12 years, 26 years…tests happen for all Christians, during any season.
Jesus told his disciples in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation.”
Peter says, “…do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you…” (1 Peter 4:12).
Christians have been warned that hard times will come. We experience loss, loneliness, disappointment, mistreatment, suffering, temptation, unexpected change…
But like James says, we can rejoice because these hardships provide the opportunity to refine our faith (James 1:2–3).
Just as we’re warned that trials will come, every Christian faces the same decision when the trials arrive. We have to decide how to respond. Will we walk through our trials alone, or will we cling to Jesus?
Hope for a Growing Faith
Look at Jesus’ complete statement.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”John 16:33
When Jesus says “take heart,” the original Greek word means be courageous. We can face our tribulations with courage because our Jesus is victorious, and he gives us peace.
Peter continues, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials. Instead, “rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13 CSB).
Peter’s not saying that the suffering is exciting. But doesn’t a partnership with Christ sound refreshing? Remaining faithful through hardships means we are following in the footsteps of the Savior.
James gives us another reason to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4).
Steadfastness, perfection (or we might say maturity), spiritual wholeness: These can grow when a Christian uses hard times to deepen her faith. That growth doesn’t erase our hurt, but it uses our pain purposefully.
Will We Dig In or Give In?
When I look back on our move to Missouri, it hardly feels like a hardship now. Certainly, I’ve walked through harder things. But the loneliness of moving to a new place was a tension point that pushed me into the arms of Jesus. And that push prepared me for more fiery trials that were ahead of me.
Spring eventually arrived, and we discovered a new support system in our new church family. But these days, my faith no longer relies on my support system alone. My faith is truly my own.
Growing your own faith takes time, dedication, and discipline (in this article, I share more about the spiritual disciplines that help us grow our faith). No matter the age or season when you came to Christ, you’ll have good days and not-so-good days. Your faith will be tested, and you’ll face the same decision I did.
When the growing gets tough, will you dig in or give in? Will you choose to grow closer to God? Will you make faith your own? I hope your answer is yes.
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