Redemption amid Ruin

When Faith Feels Lonely

Elijah had just witnessed fire fall from heaven. On Mount Carmel, he had boldly confronted the prophets of Baal, declaring God’s power before a watching nation. It was a moment of triumph, a high that could sustain anyone’s faith. And yet, only a chapter later, we find him alone in the wilderness, weary, hiding under a broom tree, whispering, “I’ve had enough, Lord.”

The prophet who had tasted victory was now exhausted by fear and discouragement. God did not rebuke him. He did not demand courage or strength. Instead, He sent sustenance, food, and rest, and, most importantly, His presence. God met Elijah not in dramatic wind, fire, or earthquake, but in a gentle whisper, a reminder that when faith feels lonely, God draws near.

We, too, encounter seasons like this, not always in public trials, but in quiet, internal tests of faithfulness. Moments arrive when life around us seems to move forward while we linger in the shadows, when prayers feel unanswered and efforts go unnoticed. Yet it is in these still, ordinary moments that faith grows. A verse that leaps from the page, the soft rustle of leaves in the morning wind, a bird’s song as sunlight filters through branches, or the gentle curve of a rainbow after rain, these are reminders that God is near.

I faced a similar season of hesitation when God called me to lead a Bible study group. Leaders were expected to give two evenings a week, and I wondered if I could manage. For years, friends had recommended the study, active in many cities around the world, but I had never been near a convenient one until we moved to Vietnam.

I joined, trusting God’s promise that He would provide a job soon. Within a month, a new role opened exactly as He had said. Months later, the leaders invited me into a leadership role. I was weary from work and carrying the weight of relational challenges after grief. Leading women from different cultures and languages felt daunting. Could I connect meaningfully? Could I communicate God’s heart across barriers I did not fully understand?

Yet I took the step, believing that the God who called me would equip me. I showed up week after week, not because I had all the answers, but because I trusted His presence. Over the past 8 years, God has done something extraordinary. We have studied the Bible with eight groups of women, leading seven of them, and formed friendships across the world. We have laughed together, walked through illness and hardship, and witnessed God transform lives.

Each session, discussion, and prayer has become a lesson in trust, obedience, and God’s faithfulness. Leadership is not about perfection, but about showing up faithfully, trusting God to bring the content, courage, and connection.

Like Elijah, we do not remain in the wilderness forever. God meets us in quiet, ordinary moments, providing for our needs and renewing our strength. When He calls us to step forward, even into fear, He equips us to serve, teach, lead, and love in ways we never imagined. Faith is not always dramatic, but it is always faithful. Step by step, He walks beside us, transforming hesitancy into courage, ordinary moments into enduring impact.

Reflection Question:

When have you felt alone in your faith? How has God reminded you of His nearness?

Prayer:

God, in moments when I feel unseen or overwhelmed, draw near to me. Whisper truth to my soul. Remind me that I’m not forgotten, and that even in silence, You are always with me. Amen.