When Life Feels Heavy: 5 Biblical Ways to Keep Going
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Inside: Some seasons leave us wondering if we’ll ever feel strong again. In this post, you’ll discover five faith-filled ways to navigate life’s struggles while keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Are You Facing a Struggle That Feels Bigger Than You?
Maybe you’re battling anxiety.
Maybe you’re walking through depression, grief, discouragement, or a season that feels heavier than you expected.
One of the hardest things about struggles is that they often make us feel alone. We look around and assume everyone else has it together while we’re barely hanging on.
But the truth is this: you are not the only one struggling.
And God has not abandoned you.
Throughout Scripture, we see ordinary people facing impossible situations and discovering God’s faithfulness in the middle of them.
If you’re in a hard season right now, here are five biblical truths that can help you overcome life’s struggles with God’s strength.
Your Story Matters More Than You Think
A few years ago, I took a writing class where we were told not to write about ourselves.
The focus, they said, should always be on the reader.
While I understand the principle, I couldn’t help but disagree a little.
As a reader, I’ve often found hope in someone else’s testimony.
When I was going through one of the hardest seasons of my life with anxiety and panic attacks, I searched for stories of people who had overcome difficult circumstances.
I read books by Corrie ten Boom and found myself encouraged by her faith.
Not because my struggles compared to hers, but because she reminded me that God is faithful.
Her story pointed me back to Jesus.
That’s what testimonies do.
They remind us that God still works, still heals, still strengthens, and still carries His people through hard seasons.
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden”(Matthew 5:14, NLT).
God Is Faithful in Every Struggle
Before we talk about overcoming, we need to remember who God is.
Our victory is never found in our own strength.
Victory is found in His faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 7:9
“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands” (NLT).
Read this verse here.
Psalm 119:90
“Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth you created” (NLT).
Read this verse here.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (NLT).
Read this verse here.
When life feels uncertain, God’s character remains unchanged.
He is faithful even when our circumstances are difficult.
5 Biblical Ways to Overcome Life’s Struggles
1. Trust God’s Faithfulness
When anxiety consumed my life, I wanted immediate relief.
Instead, God taught me something deeper.
He taught me to trust Him one day at a time.
Faith doesn’t always look like confidence.
Sometimes faith looks like taking the next step even when you’re scared.
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).
When I was struggling with anxiety, I eventually realized that what looked like failure was actually exhaustion. (If you’ve ever wondered why your faith feels flat, you may enjoy reading Why Do I Feel Numb Instead of Joyful?)
2. Choose Courage Over Fear
Courage isn’t the absence of fear.
It’s moving forward while trusting God.
Many biblical heroes felt fear.
David faced giants.
Esther risked her life.
Peter stepped out of a boat into stormy water.
Courage begins when we decide God is bigger than what we’re facing.
3. Stay Rooted in God’s Word
When struggles come, our feelings often become loud.
God’s truth needs to become louder.
The Bible anchors us when emotions try to pull us away from truth.
Instead of asking: “What do I feel?”
Ask: “What does God say?”
The answer is often very different.
Sometimes the hardest part of a difficult season isn’t the struggle itself—it’s the exhaustion that comes from carrying it for so long. If your heart feels weary, I created a free resource called A Gentle Reset for the Spiritually Weary Woman to help you slow down, reconnect with God, and find peace in His presence again.
4. Recognize the Enemy’s Lies
The enemy loves to whisper: You’re alone.
You’ll never overcome this.
God is disappointed in you.
But Scripture reminds us:
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NLT).
Many struggles become heavier because we start believing lies that were never true.
Take those thoughts captive and replace them with God’s truth.
5. Keep Growing Through the Hard Season
One of the biggest lies we believe is: “If I’m still struggling, I’m not growing.”
But growth is rarely obvious while it’s happening.
Peter didn’t always look like he was growing.
Joseph didn’t.
David didn’t.
Yet God was shaping all of them.
Sometimes growth looks like:
- Praying when you don’t feel like it.
- Trusting God one more day.
- Getting back up after you’ve fallen.
- Choosing faith over fear.
Growth is often happening long before you notice it.
“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, NLT).
If You’re Struggling Right Now
Take five minutes today and try this:
✓ Read Psalm 46
✓ Write down one fear or struggle
✓ Identify one lie you’re believing
✓ Replace it with one truth from Scripture
✓ Ask God to help you trust Him today
Small steps of faith matter.
Biblical Examples of Overcoming Hard Seasons
Hebrews 11 is filled with ordinary people who trusted an extraordinary God.
They weren’t perfect.
They failed.
They doubted.
They struggled.
But they kept placing their faith in God.
That’s what made the difference.
The same God who strengthened them is available to strengthen you today.
Final Encouragement
Friend, whatever struggle you’re facing right now, remember this:
God is not surprised by it.
He is not disappointed in you.
He is not absent.
The same God who carried Joseph through prison, David through the wilderness, Peter through failure, and Corrie ten Boom through unimaginable suffering is carrying you too.
You may not see it yet, but He is working even here.
And one day, your story may become the encouragement someone else desperately needs.
You don’t have to walk through hard seasons alone.
Each Monday, I send a short Rise and Thrive email filled with biblical encouragement, practical hope, and gentle reminders that God is still working—even when life feels heavy. I’d love for you to join us.
Related Posts
- Why Do I Feel Numb Instead of Joyful?
- When Faith Feels Flat and Distant
- How to Find Peace in a Restless World
- Why Am I So Overwhelmed All the Time?
Simple Ways I Reset When I Feel Overwhelmed
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
When my body feels just as overwhelmed as my mind…these are a few simple things I reach for to help me slow down and come back to peace:
My favorite clean protein or daily nutrition support
(something that helps steady my energy when I feel off)
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A calming essential oil or roller I use during stressful moments
(I’ll apply it to my wrists and take a few deep breaths before I journal)
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Herbal tea I sip during my quiet time or evening wind-down
(a small way I signal to my body that it’s okay to rest)
→ link
Sometimes caring for your body is part of how God gently brings your mind back to rest.
