Are you struggling to believe God isn’t disappointed with you because you aren’t “strong enough” to face the ongoing crisis you woke up to today? Do you feel like a failure because you’re caught up in the same battering storm, and no matter how hard you try to swim to safety, you’re far from peaceful shores? 

I’ve been there, friend. And even though I knew that God didn’t expect me to white-knuckle my way through chronic physical anxiety symptoms—and wouldn’t be disappointed in me if I needed medical help—it was a daily challenge to combat the lies of the enemy that said otherwise. I felt responsible, as though I should be strong enough to make my nervous system fall in line with the truths I’d grown up believing—truths that should keep me on firm footing.

Maybe these accusations are taunting you, too:
If your faith was strong enough, you wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.
Even if you couldn’t prevent this crisis, you should have enough faith to cancel out the fear that it won’t get better.

But God doesn’t say that to you:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” –Psalms 46:1-2 NKJV

Although we think we should be strong enough to weather life’s storms, especially if we’ve had a good track record in the past or others expect us to be strong, God’s word tells us only He can provide that stability.

Here’s the Transforming Truth: 

God is our refuge and strength. In Hebrew, “refuge” (maḥăsê) means shelter from rain, storm, or danger; “strength” (ʿōz) means a stronghold for defense. God provides exactly what we need to endure destructive storms: shelter and defense. And even if the crisis is ongoing—even if circumstances haven’t changed—we don’t have to be afraid because He is actively protecting us. 

For reasons only God knows, He may not calm the storm you’re in just yet. But you can rest assured that He’s standing with you in it and defending you against its devastation. You are not disappointing Him because you’re not strong enough—He is your strength. He will provide all you need to survive the storm.

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