A Guide to Growing Stronger in Your Faith in Times of Crisis

Winston Churchill is often credited with the quote “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

It’s believed that he said this when World War II was coming to a close, in reference to the unlikely alliance formed between himself, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Stalin. This was a precursor to the birth of the United Nations.  

What can we learn from this?

In a moment of crisis, some unlikely but life-changing relationships can be forged. We absolutely need friends to get through times of crisis. No one gets through a crisis alone.

Our relationships will determine whether we conquer or crumble in the midst of a crisis. And once we conquer, we find purpose in what we’ve come through by helping others.  

Find your Titus

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. [6] But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus …

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NIV

In moments of crisis, God sends us friends to support and strengthen us.

Paul had Titus who came to strengthen him; King David had Jonathan (1 Samuel 23:16); Jesus had Peter, James, and John (Matthew 26:36-39).

Sometimes these relationships are familiar, like our spouse or a close friend. At other times, they are relationships that may be new or surprising – like someone we have “bumped heads with” in the past or even someone with whom we seemingly have little to nothing in common.  

Pause and reflect

• Are you aware of your “Titus”? Who is God sending into your life right now to encourage you?  
• Are you resisting or embracing this/these relationship(s)?  
• Have you considered that perhaps you’re meant to be a Titus in someone else’s life?   

Remember the key relationship

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

The key relationship that we need in moments of crisis is Jesus. He is the key to our connection with God and the bridge that keeps us connected to God.

If we want to grow stronger in our faith in times of crisis, we need to embrace friendships who will help keep our focus on Jesus. These are friends who help us to see beyond the crisis.

God will put these relationships in our lives, and the only thing that will prevent us from embracing them is pride.

For Reflection:

• Who do you have in your life that refocuses you on Jesus in the midst of turmoil?  
• If you can’t think of one, how may pride be playing a part in embracing your Titus?  

Approach with confidence 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

One of the comforting facts about Jesus is his empathy with our weaknesses.

We should be bold and confident in approaching him in our time of need. Because he experienced the ups and downs of life and navigated through his own crisis, he understands and relates to us.

No matter how poorly, sinfully, or faithlessly you think you’ve been handling your crisis, you should be confident that you can approach Jesus in your time of need without judgement or disappointment.  

Pause and reflect

• Do you have complete confidence that you can approach Jesus without fear of disappointment or disapproval? 

Embrace your needs 

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. [26] Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 7:25-26 NIV

Jesus can save us completely. That means he can save us from any sin, trouble, or defeat that we are facing.

Likewise, Jesus can meet every one of our emotional and spiritual needs if we are willing to take them to him. Trusting God in crisis starts with believing he cares about what is really ailing us.

Pause and reflect

• In your time of need are you taking all of those needs to Jesus in prayer?

Pour out in prayer  

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. [8] Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

[9] In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT

Jesus wasn’t afraid to put it all out there in prayer with God. He didn’t hold back. He poured out.

Don’t shield your pain from God. When you pour it all out in prayer in times of crisis, he helps you discover passion through your pain. And in your passion, you’ll find your purpose that helps others. 

Pause and reflect

• As you learn to turn to God in a greater way as you navigate through your crisis, who could benefit from your experience?  

Conquer 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39 NIV

Jesus navigated a crisis that took him to the cross. He came through it a conqueror.

His example guides us to know how to strengthen our faith in times of crisis so that we too can come out conquerors. Through this process we can find purpose and become a Titus to others.

Take action

• Study out the book of Hebrews to strengthen your faith by learning and imitating Jesus.  
• Study out and pray through Psalm 31 (The Living Bible) to learn how to pour out your heart to God in prayer.  
• Embrace the relationships in your life that God has provided you with to help you find strength in him.  
• Find the relationships in your life for whom you are meant to be a Titus.