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January 2, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n For the Days When Faith Feels Fragile<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.\u201d Psalm 23:4 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n Have you ever deeply doubted God? I want you to know: I have<\/em>.<\/p>\n In fact, at one time, my doubts ran so deep that I nearly lost my faith entirely.<\/p>\n For me, those doubts began early. As a teen, I couldn\u2019t intellectually reconcile the stories of the Bible with logic and reason. Let\u2019s be real: We believe some wild things happened, like seas parting, prophets calling down fire, Jesus \u201cwrecking\u201d people\u2019s funerals with resurrections \u2014 including His own.<\/p>\n Those days of unbelief were dark for me. When you\u2019re unsure if God is real, life looks bleak. And death? Even bleaker.<\/p>\n My journey back to faith wasn\u2019t tidy. It wasn\u2019t a mountaintop moment or a single altar call. It was slow, tear-stained, and riddled with questions. It felt like I was following a flicker of light at the end of a long, dark hallway. Step by trembling step, I kept going until the light grew strong enough to see clearly again. That light? God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n These days, the light is bright. My belief is strong. But I still have moments when questions rise up. And in those moments, I remind myself faith doesn\u2019t mean faking a smile or stuffing my doubts deep down. Faith means trusting that God is still good in the valley \u2014 even when the valley makes no sense.<\/p>\n A psalmist once said it like this: \u201cEven though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me\u201d<\/em> (Psalm 23:4).<\/p>\n We all have what I call \u201cvalley questions,\u201d like: I\u2019ve learned faith isn\u2019t pretending everything\u2019s fine. It\u2019s trusting that when everything isn\u2019t<\/em> fine, God is still with you.<\/p>\n Can I confess something to you? Sometimes I\u2019m afraid to admit my valley questions. Because \u201cgood Christians\u201d don\u2019t question, right? We\u2019re supposed to \u201cjust have faith.\u201d<\/p>\n But following Jesus doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have questions. It just means you know where to take them.<\/p>\n Paul reminds us in Romans 3:3-4, \u201cWhat if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God\u2019s faithfulness? Not at all!\u201d<\/em> (NIV). It comforts me to know that even when our faith feels paper-thin, God is so very faithful.<\/p>\n Your doubts may be real, but God\u2019s faithfulness is more real still<\/em>. Even when you walk through the darkest valley of questions, your Shepherd is with you.<\/p>\n Lord, You know my doubts, fears, and questions. Thank You that Your faithfulness never wavers, even when mine does. Help me to trust You in the valley and to follow the flicker of Your light when the way feels dark. Remind me that You are not only at the end of the hallway but right here with me. Strengthen my faith and steady my steps. In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n What if this year isn\u2019t about doing more \u2014 but about building something that lasts? At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we believe lasting impact starts with God\u2019s Word. Every devotion, podcast, study, and story exists to help women know the Truth and live the Truth \u2014 right where they are. That\u2019s why we\u2019re inviting you to start 2026 with 40 Days Through the New Testament: Knowing the Savior Who Steadies Our Uncertainty.<\/em> It\u2019s more than a study; it\u2019s a daily invitation to know Jesus more deeply and walk in the hope He offers. When you give today<\/strong>, you\u2019re helping multiply that impact \u2014 reaching thousands of women who need biblical encouragement in their own uncertain seasons. And as our thank-you, you\u2019ll receive 40 Days Through the New Testament<\/em> to strengthen your own faith as well. Together, let\u2019s build a firm foundation of faith for this new year.<\/p>\n Download Jennifer\u2019s free set of Scripture cards, accessed through her Freebies page, to help you combat doubt and anxiety every morning. Jennifer would also love to connect with you on Instagram.<\/p>\n Mark 9:24, \u201cImmediately the boy\u2019s father exclaimed, \u2018I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!\u2019\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n In Mark 9:24, a desperate father cried out to Jesus to heal his son. If you prayed those same words today, what part of your life would you place before God?<\/p>\n We\u2019d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 by Jennifer Dukes Lee. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
JENNIFER DUKES LEE<\/span><\/p>\n
God, where are You in this struggle?<\/em>
Why is this taking so long?<\/em>
Why does it feel like my prayers aren\u2019t being answered?<\/em>
How will I make it through this?
\u00a0Why does healing feel so far away?<\/em><\/p>\nOUR FAVORITE THINGS<\/h4>\n
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Matthews, NC 28106
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