Stronger Through The Struggle

Sometimes it’s the struggles we wish we could erase that God uses to build the strongest, most beautiful parts of our story.

I created this week’s meditation just for this truth:
"Stronger Through the Struggle – A Christian Meditation for Resilience and Faith." If you’re facing challenges right now or carrying scars from battles you've already fought, this session is for you.

Anchor of the Week

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." – Psalm 34:18

No matter how dark the night looks, no matter how heavy the burden feels, God is near to those who cry out to Him. You are never walking through the struggle alone.

Gratitude Corner: Thanking God for Strength We Didn’t Know We Had

This week, I’m so incredibly thankful for:

• The many battles that have taught me resilience and strength.

• The still, small voice of God that has never given up on me.

• The ability to look back, zoom out, and see that even amid life's messes, God was building something beautiful all along, behind the scenes.

Take a moment today and thank Him for how far He has brought you, especially through the struggles and the messes of life that you thought would break you.

Faith Goals for This Week

If you’re in a season of struggle right now, here are some small but very powerful steps to lean into God’s strength:

1. Pray boldly: “God, give me the strength to keep going.”

2. Write down one past struggle where God showed up, and reread it when you feel weak.

3. Encourage someone else fighting a battle. Lifting another soul has a way of lifting our own.

4. Rest in the truth that you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be willing. God will do the rest.

Stronger Through the Struggle: This month’s inspiring story of faith

Life is bizarre... but God, it’s beautiful.

My name is Sierra, and just a little over two years ago, I was “living” in someone’s weathered barn out in the middle of the desert, surviving on whatever food I could scavenge from a convenience store (Circle K) dumpster. It was Christmas, of all days, when desperation got the better of me. Starving and hopeless, I went inside the store to steal fresh food. I was caught and arrested, handcuffed and hungry, on what was supposed to be a day of celebration.

In the back of the cop car, I sat, fearful of being locked behind bars, when something caught my attention. I noticed the officer driving wore a necklace with a gold cross at the end, which was glimmering from the light outside. As I was focusing on it, he abruptly turned, looked back at me, and asked, “What the hell are you doing!?” 

I told him the truth, we were hungry. I was coming down hard off methamphetamine and hadn’t eaten for days.

At that point, I’d been homeless for four years. Sometimes I crashed at my drug friends’ places, if they had one. Most nights, I slept outside, drifting from town to town, stealing food, surviving alongside my abusive, thieving boyfriend, with whom I was caught with on Christmas. Life had no direction; it was just pure survival day in and day out.

After trying to explain my way out of this mess and avoid going to jail, the officer cleared his throat and said, “Y’all need Jesus.” Then he looked at me through the rearview mirror and added, “You especially.”
I laughed half-heartedly, somewhat irritated by that comment, and said, “Jesus doesn’t come out to where I live.”
He then said something I’ll never forget…

“He’s already there. Especially there. You just don’t see Him yet.”

At the time, I didn’t believe him.
But those words stuck with me.

Little by little, bit by bit, the pieces of something greater started to come together. God began to show up in ways I couldn’t deny. He met me in the literal desert, in the middle of my brokenness and addiction.
He met me in the silence, in the pain, in the withdrawal, and in the train wreck I had going on. And slowly, with His help, I crawled out of the darkness.

I started to believe He was, in fact, there.

God gave me the strength to overcome my addiction (I’ll be 26 and 2 years clean and sober next month, YAY!) He helped me let go of the shame. The guilt. The pain. And He helped me lose the 170lb anchor I’d been tied to. The abusive relationship ended, and that 170lbs went to prison.
God made me feel human and loved again, something I so desperately needed.

Fast-forward to today…..

I work at a nonprofit, helping homeless and low-income families in need, and helping the very people I once stood alongside.
And just this week, I was promoted to Program Manager, which totally blows my mind!

Today, I feel something I have never experienced before, something no amount of drugs could ever take the place of….

God’s love.

I never imagined back then that my life could be what it is today. I now have a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and a feeling of being truly needed. My relationship with my family is restored and better than ever, and I just adopted a cat named Beans, whom I absolutely adore.

By the grace of God, I’m still here. But this time I’m much stronger, so grateful, and redeemed.

So, yes, life is bizarre and hard... but God, it’s also incredibly beautiful.

Thank you for reading my story. God bless!

Book Recommendations: Growing Stronger Through Faith

If you need encouragement for your journey, here are a few faith-filled books to uplift you:

📖 “Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word” – Christine Caine
Daily inspiration to stand strong no matter what storms you face.

📖 “Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power” – Levi Lusko
A powerful book about how pain doesn’t have to destroy you; it can empower you.

📖 “The Hard Good: Showing Up for God to Work in You When You Want to Shut Down” – Lisa Whittle
For when life feels too heavy to bear, this book helps you move toward growth.

📖 “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” – Lysa TerKeurst
Hope for when life’s disappointments don’t make sense and encouragement that God is still in control.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for supporting Anchored in Faith!

Share Your Story

Did Sierra’s story inspire you? Have you seen God make you stronger through a tough season as well?
Your testimony can encourage someone else walking through darkness.

If you feel led to share, or if you have a prayer or meditation request, I’d love to hear from you. Simply reply to this email and send it in.

So whatever you're facing today, know this: it’s not wasted.
All struggles can feel overwhelming, but God is building something unshakable within you. Stay anchored in faith, because He’s making you stronger through the struggle.

With strength and hope,
Amber @
Anchored in Faith
Listen to This Week’s Meditation ➡️Here