When God Wants You to Grow: How Hard Seasons Build Your Faith and Strength
There was a time in my life when everything felt like it was falling apart…
and I couldn’t understand why God would allow so much struggle.
I had already walked away from my abusive marriage. I had taken that step of faith, trusting that God would lead me into something better.
But instead of things getting easier, life got harder.
I was trying to rebuild from nothing.
Trying to provide for my kids.
Trying to stay strong when I felt completely worn down.
There were days I felt like I was barely holding it all together.
And I remember thinking, God, I did what You asked… so why is this so hard?
What I didn’t realize at the time… was that God wasn’t punishing me.
He was growing me.
Because the truth is, when God wants you to grow, He will allow you to walk through seasons that stretch you.
Seasons that test your faith.
Seasons that make you uncomfortable.
Seasons that force you to rely on Him in a way you never have before.
And those seasons?
They’re not easy.
But they are necessary.
One verse that speaks so deeply to this is:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2–3
I’ll be honest, there was nothing in those moments that felt joyful.
It felt exhausting.
It felt overwhelming.
It felt unfair.
But looking back now, I can see what God was doing in me through those hard seasons.
He was building my strength.
He was deepening my faith.
He was teaching me that I didn’t have to carry everything on my own.
Before that season, I relied a lot on my own understanding. I thought if I just worked harder, planned better, and stayed strong enough, I could figure everything out.
But that season showed me something different.
It showed me that real strength doesn’t come from having it all together.
It comes from learning to depend on God when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
And slowly, through all the challenges, something began to change in me.
I became stronger. Not because life got easier, but because my faith got deeper.
I became more resilient. Not because the struggles stopped, but because I learned God would carry me through them.
If you’re in a hard season right now, I want you to know this:
This is not punishment.
This is growth.
God is strengthening you in ways you can’t see yet.
Here are a few things that helped me hold on during those seasons:
1. Shift your perspective from “Why is this happening?” to “What is God teaching me?”
This one changed everything for me. Instead of feeling defeated, I started looking for what God was developing in me through the struggle.
2. Trust that growth often comes through discomfort
We naturally want things to feel easy and stable, but growth rarely happens there. God often uses the hard seasons to shape us into who we’re meant to be.
3. Stay rooted in God, even when you feel stretched thin
There were days I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and didn’t feel like I had anything left to give. But even a small moment in prayer or scripture helped keep me grounded.
4. Remember that resilience is built, not given
The strength you’re gaining right now? You’ll carry it into every season ahead. What feels hard today is preparing you for what’s coming next.
5. Look back and see how far God has already brought you
When you’re in the middle of it, it’s easy to feel stuck. But when I look back at where I started… I can see just how much God has already done.
Sweet friend, I know how hard these seasons can feel.
I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and anxious of what’s coming next.
But I also know this:
God doesn’t waste hard seasons.
Every challenge…
Every setback…
Every moment where you feel like you’re barely holding on…
He is using it to grow you into someone stronger, deeper, and more anchored in Him.
One day, you’ll look back and realize that the season you thought was breaking you…
was actually building you.
Hold on, sweet friend.
God is growing something beautiful in you. 🤍