When Faith Feels Shaken God Still Holds You - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 27, 2026
"At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:26-28, NIV).
It had been two years since I had a panic attack. I'd been in therapy for 6 years, finally made the leap to try medication, and was making steady progress. But that Tuesday evening, a part of me broke. In between sobs and rocking back and forth, my mind felt fuzzy.
"How did I get here?" I asked myself.
"Why did the emotions build up?" My heart thudded.
"Is God still here, even here?" a still voice from within me asked.
When our faith feels shaken, especially in moments of spiritual disappointment, we can feel frustrated, confused, isolated, and alone. The questions I asked myself that evening of the panic attack felt like a personal attack on my character.
I should've been stronger.
I should've been better at taking care of myself.
I should've held it together.
I should've asked for help long before my breaking point.
The "I should have" statements only grew.
Can you relate?
The reality is, in these moments when our spiritual disappointments hit close to home, we must remember two things:
1. God is God, and we're not.
2. It's okay to need help and not be okay.
These two statements sound simplistic, but let me explain.
When we start to beat ourselves up over our faults, we've forgotten the point of the Gospel. The entire reason Jesus needed to come was that we couldn't save ourselves. He came for the sick and needy. Those who knew they needed someone beyond themselves. Not those who didn't understand their need. God is God, and we're not. Therefore, don't expect yourself to be perfect or never have faults.
Likewise, it's okay to need help and not be OK. When we believe the lie that we can do this life on our own, life becomes miserable. Why? Because we're attempting to operate out of our strength and flesh instead of His Spirit within us.
At the end of Hebrews 12, we learn that no matter what we face on this earth, we can look forward to an eternally steady place. We may be shaken here on earth with struggles and trials of all kinds, but in the end, what cannot be shaken will remain. And while we wait for that day, we can rest in a God who remains steady no matter where we are. We can learn to trust God beyond even our worst human failures and flaws.
If you struggle to give yourself grace today, please reflect honestly using these questions. Feel free to talk to God about them, journal them, or take them on a prayer walk where you can commune with the Lord:
• What has shaken my faith recently?
• Am I trusting in God or my own stability?
• What things will remain unshaken in the end?
• How can I cling to the hope of Jesus today?
• Do I beat myself up when I fail or struggle?
• What does Jesus actually say about my weaknesses?
Once you've reflected on these questions, try meditating on Hebrews 12. You can even read the whole chapter for full context, but the purpose of this guided exercise is to focus on God's eternal steadiness when life feels rocky.
After 5-10 minutes of silence, write down what the Lord has shown you. Perhaps it's the strength of His Spirit within you, or the confidence that one day, we have an eternal kingdom promised to us that cannot be shaken. No matter our fears or circumstances, that faith will not be taken away from us.
Dear Jesus, when our faith feels shaken, please remind us that you are steady, faithful, and accurate every day. When spiritual disappointment hits close to Him, encourage and sustain us. Remind us that we don't have to do this alone, and that your Spirit within us gives us the strength we need to carry on. Help us to trust you beyond our own human failures, and to reflect on your steadfast love. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: Getty Images/Inside Creative House
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
