Nov. 19, 2025

How to Keep Your Faith Strong

Send me a text When faith feels shaky and life hits hard, you don’t have to fall apart. In this episode, discover how to stay strong in your faith by leaning on God’s truth, God’s presence, and God’s promises, even when your emotions waver. Ever hit a season where your faith feels thin? Where you believe God intellectually, but fear still knocks at your heart? You’re not alone. In this episode, Bart shares the story of pastor and author Tim Keller, who faced pancreatic cancer in 2020 after sp...

Send me a text

When faith feels shaky and life hits hard, you don’t have to fall apart. In this episode, discover how to stay strong in your faith by leaning on God’s truth, God’s presence, and God’s promises, even when your emotions waver.

Ever hit a season where your faith feels thin?

Where you believe God intellectually, but fear still knocks at your heart?

You’re not alone.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of pastor and author Tim Keller, who faced pancreatic cancer in 2020 after spending decades teaching others how to suffer well. Suddenly, he had to learn how to keep his own faith strong in the dark.

Keller’s journey reminds us that strong faith isn’t loud or effortless; it’s rooted, honest, and strengthened one day at a time. Through his story and the truth of 1 Corinthians 16:13, you’ll see how God helps you stand firm even when life feels unstable.

Main Scripture:

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT) – “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

Why strong faith isn’t about feelings, it’s about foundation
How honest prayer can strengthen your walk with God
Five practical ways to stay faithful when life is hard
How Tim Keller’s suffering reshaped his intimacy with God, and how yours can too

Today’s Challenge:

Choose one of the five practices from today’s episode: Scripture, honest prayer, Christian community, remembering God’s past faithfulness, or taking just one small step of obedience, and intentionally do it today. Ask God to strengthen your faith right where you are.

Send Me Your Prayer Request

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail/

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who’s walking through a tough season.

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/112

And if this podcast has encouraged you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find hope and strength in Christ.

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/reviews/new/

Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

WEBVTT

00:00:01.413 --> 00:00:04.522
It's easy to talk about faith when things are going well.

00:00:04.923 --> 00:00:17.013
But what about when suffering hits you hard? One pastor who'd counseled thousands about suffering experienced his own trial by fire. In 2020, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

00:00:17.263 --> 00:00:30.292
Tim Keller went public in 2020 and started treatment. In an openly honest essay, he admitted faith didn't automatically feel comforting. He had to relearn how to meet God in the dark.

00:00:30.693 --> 00:00:36.643
What do you do when your feelings don't line up with your faith and fear begins to creep in?

00:00:39.429 --> 00:00:56.209
Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Léger, and today we're talking about what it looks like to keep your faith strong when life feels painful or overwhelming. We're not talking about perfect faith, just what I call faithful faith.

00:00:56.838 --> 00:01:19.664
Our scripture today is 1 Corinthians 16.13. The Apostle Paul has been writing to a church going through its own set of problems, and as he finishes his letter to them, what's his final exhortation? It's this. Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

00:01:13.603 --> 00:01:29.944
That's easy to say, right? Well, I think Paul had the right to exhort the Corinthian Christians to be courageous and to stand firm in the faith. He was speaking from experience.

00:01:26.683 --> 00:01:39.301
Standing firm doesn't mean pretending life's easy. Not at all. bout with pancreatic cancer.

00:01:39.691 --> 00:01:43.600
And my wife is experiencing her own devastating health issues.

00:01:43.960 --> 00:02:00.730
Now, that's a story for another episode. We all have to admit that life can be tough. I believe standing strong in our faith means refusing to let go of God when life gets hard, no matter how we feel. Now, let's get back to Tim Keller's story.

00:02:01.381 --> 00:02:12.471
Keller slowed down and went deeper. He and his wife, Kathy, rebuilt their days around prayer and the Psalms. Back to basics.

00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:26.890
Later, he said, I never want to go back to the prayer life I had before cancer. He went on to describe how facing mortality reshaped his intimacy with God.

00:02:21.931 --> 00:02:35.360
He said, He's never had more days filled with comfort. But let's be honest. He also said, It's equally true that I've never had so many days of grief.

00:02:35.698 --> 00:02:49.828
Yet, even in the grief, he kept pointing to Christ as his anchor and his hope. That's what standing firm looks like. Not giving up or denying the pain, but holding on to God through it.

00:02:50.427 --> 00:02:58.288
And maybe today, your feelings aren't lining up with your faith either. Maybe you want to trust God, but it's not coming easily.

00:02:59.217 --> 00:03:25.448
Maybe you know his promises, and you're looking forward to glory one day. But how do you live in the in-between? How do you stay faithful when life punches you in the gut? I I could wave a magic wand and it all easier for you. There are some practical things that you can do to strengthen your faith when you're holding on by a thread.

00:03:20.263 --> 00:03:53.258
get back to Scripture, even when you don't feel like it. I tell people all the time, we all have feelings, but we can't trust them. They're not always rooted in truth, but God's Word is. As a matter of fact, God's Word is truth, and it's living and powerful. And even a short psalm can reset your heart. Next, pray simple, honest prayers. You don't need fancy words. Lord, help me. Hold on today is enough.

00:03:53.867 --> 00:04:24.451
God honors honesty more than eloquence. Then number three, stay connected to other believers. When your strength is at rock bottom, someone else's faith can carry you. We're exhorted to carry one another's burdens. How about letting someone else's faith carry you when yours is flagging? Don't isolate yourself. Lean in to community. Number four, and this one is a really good one.

00:04:19.790 --> 00:05:29.718
Remember past faithfulness. The psalmist did this often. He would say things like, I'm going through a tough time now, God, and I don't know how I'll make it through, but you've been faithful to me in the past, and I know that you'll be faithful to me this time too. Now go ahead, list the ways. Write down ways God has helped you before, because your memory, I think, is a tool that can strengthen your faith. And then number five, focus on the next step, not the next month. often gives strength one day at a time. God often gives strength one day Jesus said, so don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. But just trust that God will give you today's grace, and that's all you need for today. If you do these things consistently, your faith will grow roots deep enough to hold you steady, even in the hardest seasons. And here's today's challenge. Choose one of those five practices and intentionally do it today. You don't have to try all at once.

00:05:30.149 --> 00:05:39.218
Try just one today, and then build on that, because small steps can build strong faith.

00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:43.899
Lord, thank you that you're faithful even when life's hard.

00:05:39.218 --> 00:05:53.399
Help me stand firm and to trust you in uncertainty and draw strength from your presence in your Word. When I'm weak, be my strength. In Jesus' name, amen.

00:05:54.418 --> 00:06:17.738
I would love to partner with you in prayer. If you would like me to join with you in prayer for whatever you're going through right now, go to dailydevotionsforbusylives.com and click the microphone button in the bottom right corner and leave me a voicemail. Let me know your prayer request and how to get back in touch with you.

00:06:13.598 --> 00:06:21.999
Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

00:06:17.738 --> 00:06:26.059
Remember, staying faithful doesn't require perfect strength.

00:06:21.999 --> 00:06:35.399
It requires trusting the God who strengthens you. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.

How to Keep Your Faith Strong

Listen On

Support On

Recent Episodes