The Struggle That Deepens You

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word." – Psalm 119:67

Nobody asks for the struggle, but sometimes it is the very thing that drives your roots deep. Struggle has a way of stripping away the surface level and pulling you into places of reflection, dependence, and connection with God that you never would have reached otherwise. It teaches you how to go beneath the noise and into the depths.

You can believe all the right things and say all the right words, but until the storm hits, you often don’t realize how shallow your faith has been. The struggle exposes the foundation. It makes you ask harder questions. It takes you to the end of yourself. And when that happens, it’s not the end of your story, it’s the beginning of going deeper.

When life is easy, it is tempting to stay comfortable on the surface. But the surface doesn’t hold when the pressure comes. That’s why God sometimes allows seasons of struggle, not to harm you, but to grow you. Not to push you away, but to pull you closer. Deep faith is not grown in shallow waters.

Think about how deep roots form in nature. It is not in perfect conditions. Trees that survive harsh winds or unpredictable storms develop stronger, deeper root systems. They become harder to shake because what they’ve been through forces them to grow beneath the surface. The same is true for your faith. The deeper your roots go, the stronger your trust becomes.

Struggle also deepens your compassion. It makes you softer toward others who are hurting. It shapes how you pray. It teaches you how to hear God in the silence. It matures your ability to see what really matters. And in time, it forms a depth in you that can’t be faked and won’t be forgotten.

So if you are in a season that feels heavy, do not lose heart. You may not feel like you are thriving on the outside, but something deeper is happening within you. God is developing a faith that can withstand pressure. He is creating roots that will hold firm. And what He is doing in you will last far beyond this struggle. Let it deepen you. And let it draw you closer to Him.