When the Ground Feels Unsteady, Trust the One Who Holds You — Carol McLeod Ministries
There are seasons in life when the ground under our feet seems to give way. Maybe it's a door you expected to open that remains shut. Maybe it’s a dream delayed. Or a promise only partially fulfilled. The emotional terrain is unfamiliar: fear, doubt, frustration, even despair. But in that uncertain soil, God is still at work—planting seeds of faith, stretching our trust, teaching us to lean in.
1. Wrestle With the Question, Without Leaving the Presence
I remember a season when my husband and I sensed God was calling us to something new—something beautiful—but all around us the evidence pointed the other direction. Doors we’d counted on stayed closed. Resources were elusive. The way forward seemed invisible.
It would have been tempting to pack up our faith and retreat. But instead, I learned that one of the most spiritual things we can do in such times is stay in His presence, even when the questions are loud. To pour out our heart, to admit our fear, to whisper our doubts—all of that is not unfaithful. It is honest faith.
Psalm 77:11–12 says, “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work, And muse on Your deeds.”
“…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7
2. Faith Isn’t Passive Waiting — It’s Active Trust
Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. Faith in unseen seasons means planting, even when harvest isn’t visible; sowing seeds of love, kindness, obedience, even when you don’t yet see the fruit. It’s choosing small steps of obedience instead of large leaps of certainty.
Joseph was betrayed, forgotten, imprisoned—but in that hidden season, God was preparing him. In Genesis 41:39 we read that because Pharaoh saw God’s presence in Joseph, he appointed him over all the land. God was working, even though Joseph could not see the map.
“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” — Isaiah 40:31
3. Let God’s Character Be Your Anchor
When circumstances shift and our feelings spin, what remains? His character. God is faithful. God is good. God is Sovereign. These aren’t just truths for sunny days; they are the bedrock when the storms roll in.
I often remind myself: If God promised, He is able. If He spoke, He is able to do more than I can imagine. If He sees, He cares. If He holds all in His hand, He will also carry me.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
4. Share the Journey; Don’t Walk Alone
Unseen seasons isolate. We tend to close our doors, shrink back, doubt that anyone else could understand.
But God designed us for community—to speak truth into each other’s lives, to hold up one another’s arms when they grow weary. Tell someone your fears. Confess where trust is breaking. Invite prayers. Sometimes hearing someone else say, “I believe God’s promise for you” is exactly what we need when we can’t believe it for ourselves.
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
A Prayer for You
Jesus, You are unseen, yet we know You are with us. When the path is shrouded, help us trust the One who sees the end from the beginning. Strengthen our faith in the waiting. Remind us of the promises we have forgotten. Anchor our hearts in Your truth, even when our feelings waver. Use the unseen for Your glory, and our growth. Amen.
Want to Go Deeper?
If this message resonates with you, I want to personally invite you to join me for my upcoming Unshakeable Online Bible Study, beginning January 13 and running through February 17. We’ll meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Central / 8:00 pm Eastern via Zoom. Whether you join us live or catch the replay, this six-week journey will help you root your life in God’s unchanging promises.
Together, we’ll explore:
The difference between your soul and your spirit—and why it matters
How to develop a deep and consistent prayer life
What it means to truly trust God in every season
How to read the Bible theologically, historically, and personally for deeper understanding
The role of the Holy Spirit in strengthening your faith
Practical steps to build a life anchored in God’s unshakable truth
If you long for a faith that weathers every storm and grows stronger through life’s challenges, this study will equip and encourage you.
Click here to register for Unshakeable
Even when the ground feels unsteady, we do not walk alone. God is holding you. He’s writing every detail, weaving every delay, every “not yet,” every longing into something that will display His faithfulness. May you, in this season of waiting, discover joy in the unseen work of His hand.
Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart, but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is.
