We’ve all been there. The job you thought was yours slips away. The marriage you prayed for falls apart. The dream you nurtured quietly in your heart never seems to take shape. Disappointment is such a universal experience that you almost wonder why it still catches us off guard.

And yet, when it hits, it cuts deep. It leaves us wondering, Where is God in this? Why didn’t He come through the way I hoped?

If you’ve ever whispered those words through tears, take heart: you’re not alone. Scripture is filled with people who knew disappointment intimately. But it’s also filled with the faithfulness of God meeting His children in their lowest moments. Today, let’s walk through how we can bring our disappointments to Him, and how we can find the strength to rise again.

1. Disappointment Is Part of the Faith Journey

Sometimes, when life doesn’t go as planned, we’re quick to blame ourselves. We wonder, Did I miss God’s will? Did I pray wrong? Am I not good enough? I found myself asking these very questions after my divorce.
But disappointment is not foreign to God’s people.

David longed to build a temple for God, but God said no. Moses led faithfully for decades, only to be barred from entering the Promised Land. Paul begged for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, and God responded not with deliverance, but with grace. Even Jesus faced disappointment – His closest friends fell asleep while He prayed in Gethsemane, and the crowds who once adored Him later cried out for His crucifixion.

Their stories remind us: disappointment doesn’t mean we are out of God’s favour. It simply means we are human, living in a broken world, walking a road where even the most faithful saints have stumbled.

2. Be Honest With God

One of the most healing steps we can take is to name our disappointment before God. Too often we plaster on a smile, convincing ourselves that “good Christians” shouldn’t feel let down. But denial isn’t faith; it’s avoidance.

The psalmists show us a better way. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1 ESV. Or this cry: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3 ESV).
God isn’t threatened by our honesty. In fact, He invites it. When we pour out our disappointment to Him – our confusion, our grief, even our anger – we open the door for His comfort to enter.

Maybe today you need to write your own psalm. Tell God exactly what you hoped for, how it hurts to let it go, and where you feel lost. That kind of raw honesty is not weakness; it’s worship.

3. Remember Who He Is

Here’s the tricky thing about disappointment: it doesn’t just bruise our hearts; it clouds our view of God. The enemy whispers, He’s not really good. He doesn’t care. You can’t trust Him with your future.

But disappointment must drive us deeper into God’s character, not away from it. When feelings scream otherwise, we anchor ourselves in truth:

•  God is faithful. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” Lamentations 3:22 ESV
• God is wise. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” Isaiah 55:9 ESV
• God is good. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble” Nahum 1:7 ESV

We may not see the full picture, but we can trust the One who does.

4. Let God Reframe the Story

Sometimes what feels like the end is really God’s redirection. Joseph knew what it was to be disappointed: betrayed, imprisoned, forgotten. And yet, years later, he could look his brothers in the eye and say, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 ESV).

Could it be that your disappointment is not wasted either? That delay may be preparation. That closed door may be protection. That broken dream may be the soil for something even better to grow.

It doesn’t make the pain disappear, but it shifts our perspective from despair to expectation.

5. Lift Your Eyes to Eternal Hope

At its core, disappointment reminds us that this world will never fully satisfy. If every prayer was answered exactly as we wanted, if every dream came true, we might forget that we are pilgrims passing through.

Hebrews 11 speaks of those who “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (v. 13 NIV). Their unmet expectations kept their eyes fixed on a better country – a heavenly one.

Your hope is not tied to this moment, this job, this relationship, or this dream. Your hope is tied to Jesus – the One who bore ultimate disappointment on the cross so you could inherit eternal joy.

6. Picking Yourself Up: Practical Steps

So, what do you do when disappointment lingers like a heavy shadow? Here are some simple, biblical practices:

1.  Pray honestly. Pour out your heart to God (see Psalm 62:8).
2. Cling to Scripture. Let His Word anchor you when emotions shift (see Psalm 119:105).
3. Lean on community. Don’t walk alone; allow others to carry your burdens (see Galatians 6:2).
4. Choose worship. Praise doesn’t erase the pain, but it lifts your eyes to God’s power (see Acts 16:25).
5. Look for redemption. Ask God how He might use even this disappointment for His glory (see Romans 8:28).

Rising after disappointment doesn’t mean pretending you’re fine. It means holding God’s hand as He leads you step by step toward healing and hope.

An Invitation to Hope

Friend, if you’re reading this through the lens of fresh disappointment, I want you to know this: you are not forgotten. God has not overlooked you. He has not abandoned your story.

Take a moment today to write down your disappointment. Name it clearly. Then, beside it, write one unshakable truth about God’s character. Let that truth become the banner over your pain. Because while disappointment may have the loudest voice right now, God has the final word.

A Prayer for the Disappointed Heart

Lord, I bring my disappointment before You today. You know the places where my heart feels heavy, where dreams have slipped away, where prayers seem unanswered. I confess that sometimes I struggle to trust You in the waiting. But today, I choose to believe You are still good, still faithful, still writing my story. Wrap me in Your comfort. Teach me to rest in Your presence. Heal what is broken, and use even this disappointment to draw me closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Encouragement

Disappointment doesn’t get the last say. Jesus does. And in Him, your story is still unfolding with purpose, hope, and glory. One day, every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). Until then, let disappointment lead you closer to the only One who never fails.

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post When Disappointment Strikes: Finding Hope in God’s Word appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Interview with Author Sister K: “Blessed with Laughter: Journey to Seeing Her Eyes” appeared first on Cup of Faith.

There’s a kind of inner split that few Christians talk about openly, but many of us feel at some point in our walk with God. I’ve come to call it the great schism. It’s that deep, often painful disconnect between what we know is true about God – because the Bible tells us so – and what our current reality is screaming back at us.

You know the tension. You’ve probably felt it too.

We say with conviction that God is good. We proclaim that He is our provider. Our healer. Faithful. Present. Yet there are seasons in life when those truths feel painfully hollow. Not because they aren’t true, but because they don’t seem to be true for us – right now.

I lived in that space for quite a while.

When the Mind Knows but the Heart Breaks

A few years ago, I was walking through the quiet, aching valley of infertility. Month after month of hope followed by heartbreak. I prayed. I fasted. I believed. I declared. I did all the “right” things. But the silence from heaven grew louder, more deafening, more disorienting. My theology said God is good. My heart whispered, “But is He good to me?”

That’s the kind of question that feels scandalous to admit out loud in Christian circles. But it’s the one that kept me up at night. I knew the verses. I could quote James 1:17 in my sleep: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” I believed in the goodness of God like I believed in gravity. But in the middle of my pain, those truths started to feel distant, even cruel. What kind of good God withholds something so good?

That’s when I realised I was in a spiritual tug-of-war between what I believed and what I experienced.

The Tension is Biblical

If you’re there right now, I want you to know that you’re not alone and you’re not faithless. In fact, you’re standing in a long tradition of believers who have wrestled with the same kind of dissonance.

Think of Job. A man who lived blamelessly, who honoured God in every way, yet lost everything – his children, his wealth, even his health. His friends were convinced his suffering was because of hidden sin. But Job knew differently. He just didn’t understand why a good God would allow so much pain. At one point, Job said, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15 ESV). That’s faith in the face of profound confusion.

Or take David. In the Psalms, he pours out his frustration, saying things like “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 ESV). These aren’t neat, Sunday-school prayers. They’re raw cries from a man wrestling with the seeming gap between God’s character and God’s actions.

Even Jesus, in His humanity, cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV). If the Son of God could feel abandoned, could feel the tension between truth and experience, then surely our doubts don’t disqualify us.

Faith Is Not Denial

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that faith means always having the right answers or always feeling hopeful. But biblical faith isn’t about denial; it’s about holding onto God even when everything in us wants to let go.

It’s choosing to say, “God, I don’t understand what You’re doing. I don’t like how this feels. But I still believe You are who You say You are.”

That’s not weak faith. That’s deep faith.

It’s faith that has been tested in the fire of disappointment and has chosen, again and again, to trust, even with a limp, even with tears, even with clenched fists.

So How Do We Reconcile the Gap?

This is the question I wrestled with the most. How do we reconcile what we know about God with what we experience when the two seem worlds apart?

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but here’s what I’ve learned – and what I’m still learning:

1. Acknowledge the Gap Honestly

Pretending everything’s fine doesn’t help. God isn’t threatened by our honesty. In fact, He invites it. The Psalms are full of brutal transparency, and yet God called David “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). Lament is a biblical language. It makes space for grief and faith to coexist.

2. Anchor Yourself in the Bigger Story

When we focus only on our present pain, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But Scripture reminds us that we’re part of an eternal story – a story where suffering isn’t meaningless and where God *will* make all things new.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Notice it doesn’t say all things are good. Infertility is not good. Suffering is not good. But somehow, mysteriously, God works through it all to bring about a greater good we may not fully see on this side of eternity.

3. Let Your Questions Lead You Closer

For a while, I feared that questioning God would create distance. But I found that my most honest questions became a bridge to deeper intimacy with Him. When I stopped pretending and started praying prayers like, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24), I found a God who didn’t rebuke me but instead met me with tenderness.

He doesn’t always give us explanations. But He always gives us Himself.

4. Remember That Jesus Entered Our Pain

One of the most comforting truths for me has been this: Jesus knows. He’s not a distant deity watching us suffer from afar. He entered into our broken world. He wept. He grieved. He felt abandoned. He suffered.

Hebrews 4:15 says we have a High Priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses.” Jesus is not only our Saviour – He is our companion in suffering.

5. Choose to Worship Anyway

This one was the hardest for me. Worship felt hypocritical when I was full of doubt. I remember walking out of a service once during worship because I simply couldn’t do it. But slowly, I learned that worship isn’t just a response to good news – it’s a declaration of trust. It’s saying, “God, even in the dark, I choose to believe You’re still worthy.”

There’s a kind of worship that only comes from the valley. A song that only rises from broken places. And I believe that kind of worship is precious to God.

Walking With a Limp

I didn’t get the answer I prayed for in the way I expected. My story didn’t unfold the way I hoped. But I can say now, years later, that something beautiful happened in the brokenness.

My faith grew deeper. Not neater but deeper.

I still believe God is good. But now, that belief isn’t rooted in what He gives or doesn’t give. It’s rooted in *who He is*. And that’s a shift that suffering often brings.

The great schism between what we know and what we experience may never close entirely this side of heaven. It hasn’t for me. But God is not asking us to resolve the tension. He’s inviting us to trust Him within it.

Even when the prayers go unanswered. Even when the healing doesn’t come. Even when the silence lingers.
God is still good. And somehow, in ways we can’t always see, He is working all things together – not just to fix our story, but to redeem it.

Friend, you don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to tie a bow on your pain or resolve all your doubts to stay in God’s presence.

He welcomes you as you are. Confused. Tired. Hopeful. Hurting. Faithful. Doubting.

And He walks with you in the in-between.

The great schism doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It means your faith is being forged.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your story. Have you ever walked through a season where God’s goodness felt out of reach? How did you navigate the tension between what you know and what you experienced?

Let’s create a space where honesty and faith can coexist.

Because they can.

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post The Great Schism: When What We Believe About God Doesn’t Match What We Experience appeared first on Cup of Faith.

It took my husband and I months and maybe years to get this right. Finances are a mammoth adult responsibility. The Bible addresses the stewardship of wealth directly and indirectly across the Old and New Testaments. It’s a topic that I’ve prayed over continually. But there was one key scripture that really unlocked the rest of the game for us.

Proverbs 27:23-27:

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

    give careful attention to your herds;

24 for riches do not endure forever,

    and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears

    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,

    and the goats with the price of a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

    and to nourish your female servants.

It took hearing this advice from multiple people in both secular and Christian settings for it to eventually sink in.

For anything to change we have to know what we’re dealing with.

We have to know our numbers.

Specifically, we have to pay attention to what is currently happening.

Not daydreaming about how much money it would be nice to have to buy the ultimate family home. Not regretting the past use of credit resulting in debt payments. Not messing around on ChatGPT to figure out a killer investment plan. What’s happening right now?

There’s a principle to this proverb. The right steps towards success start with paying attention. It’s as simple as that. God needs us to be honest with the current situation and listen to the story our money is telling us right now.

For us, knowing “the condition of your flocks” meant careful financial tracking of our expenditure. This is one habit that has drastically changed the game. We’ve tweaked it over time and we don’t get it perfect every month but most months it looks like this:

Stage 1: Forecasting

1. Identifying upcoming expenses
2. Planning for unknown expenses
3. Identifying income for the month (as a freelance earner, I have my income ready a month ahead of time so that I have the month to collect my invoices and send it over to the household bank account by the 1st)

Stage 2: Budgeting

1. Putting these all into a spreadsheet before the first pay day. Together. Some items in the budget are completely fixed: debit orders. The rest are moderately fixed: miscellaneous, groceries, travel. We also have a small no judgement fun spend we allocate to each other as pocket money. It turns out it’s smarter to have as few categories as possible.
2. We withdraw cash for groceries. This has honestly revolutionised my spending. This wouldn’t be a groundbreaking strategy for everyone. Some people find physical cash a hassle. Some people are really good at digital tracking. But using the ‘envelope system’ for just this one spending category has helped us tremendously. I split the withdrawals into 3: Day 1 – 10 gets about 45% of the grocery budget to include pantry items for the month. Day 11 – 20 gets 30% and Day 21 – 30 gets 25% as there are usually leftovers in the fridge and freezer.

Stage 3: Live Tracking

1. I track three times a month and let my husband know what we have remaining in the ‘unfixed’ spending categories (travel, groceries, miscellaneous). This has helped us to stay on the same page, encourage each other, and keep our spending habits conscious rather than be at the mercy of our whims.
2. We have an agreed cut off amount for big purchases. If the purchase is over a certain number, and it’s not expected, we discuss it with each other prior to purchasing.

There are other things we do too of course, in the vein of long term financial planning and risk management. But the wisdom of God is that a long-term vision goes hand in hand with today’s work. 

Has God ever given you a big breakthrough in the way you handle your personal finances? Share it in the comments below!

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post One scripture completely changed our personal finances appeared first on Cup of Faith.

This month Cup of Faith hosted our first ever fiction writing workshop! As a blog that aims to encourage inspired and excellent writing, this workshop aligned perfectly with our calling. When I first met Joan Campbell through a prayer meeting, I was delighted by her passion for the use of fiction in sharing Christian ideas. She has written six books, including a Christian fantasy series. As someone who loves reading novels, I often dream of learning to write fiction. If I wanted to expand my writing skills, there were surely more people in our Cup of Faith community who shared this desire.

Here are some of the reasons people signed up to join the workshop:

“I am hoping to use my testimonies to write a book, to encourage other women. I want people who have similar experiences or are experiencing fears to know the power of God in our lives. I just have no idea how to practically share my story.” Wow!

“[To gain] an increased ease and confidence in my writing, and to experience a nearness and revelation of Christ through writing.” How beautiful is this?

“To refresh my motivation to write.” That’s a biggie!

The workshop had been in the pipeline for over a year. After discussing the content, Joan and I settled on the theme of ‘weaving the threads of a story together’ and titled the workshop ‘Story Threads’. There are many elements of writing a story that, when combined, create a beautiful, rich tapestry. During this beginner level workshop we looked at plot, character and setting. Joan taught us about the element, then explained our writing exercise which we did immediately. Being in a room with others who were hungry to write, itching for that wave of inspiration, was like experiencing electricity in the air. I know I don’t give my creative mind nearly enough time to just play with ideas. When praying for the workshop, I earnestly asked the Holy Spirit that He would bring us fresh waves of inspiration – a prayer I saw answered. I was amazed at how easily my ideas rolled out of my mind and onto the page. In particular, I had fun with Joan’s ‘character voice’ exercise. I felt like I had ‘met’ someone in my imagination and that as I wrote I was getting to know her. 

Joan summarised the feedback she got in a Facebook post: “…it appears the workshop imparted not only skills, but encouragement and confidence too. One of the attendees said that she had been creatively blocked for a few years and the workshop had sparked her creativity again. Another said she was surprised at how easily the writing ideas flowed on the day.”

I truly hope this workshop is just the first of many that we will run! If you’d like to be informed directly about future events, please leave a comment.

Do you enjoy reading Christian fiction? If so, who is your favourite Christian fiction author? Let us know in the comments below!

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Story Threads: Christian Fiction Writers’ Workshop appeared first on Cup of Faith.

At the beginning of this year, I prayed for God to show me His heart for Cup of Faith in 2025. A verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount seemed like it was jumping out at me from the page as I read:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

Dear friends, this scripture meets me at a time when I feel the wind is blowing and beating, the rain is pummeling and the water level is rising at an alarming rate. In both my inner life and my outer circumstances, I feel I am surviving rather than thriving. It’s true that no one will make it through this life without facing difficulties. Not even Jesus had a carefree human life! And God knows this about us. But here’s His promise: If we prepare ourselves wisely, our entire lives can stand firm.

Birthing Ishmaels

But godly wisdom doesn’t come naturally. Jesus knows we are prone to doing things our way. It’s difficult to be patient when we are waiting on God. No one knew this better than Abraham and Sarah. They struggled with the reality of their infertility which seemed to blatantly contradict God’s promise. The waiting was too long, too tedious, too painful. Ishmael was a product of the ‘we’ll make a plan and show it to God’ way of navigating the tension. It was the easier route but it had devastating consequences for all involved parties.

Building our lives on the sand will have devastating consequences. The opportunity cost is too high. What could be used for the Kingdom will be washed away in an instant because we did it without the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The Holy Spirit is so gentle with us. He is easily grieved. He won’t nag us to wait for God. But His quiet conviction is sure. We can lean into it in faith. 

The Rock

“…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

When Jesus says ‘these words of mine’, He’s referencing the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7) as well as the rest of scripture. But the Sermon on the Mount certainly has a lot of practical wisdom to start with. Things that are countercultural, that we don’t see many examples of, and are thus easy to forget. Things like

• Blessed are the poor in spirit
• Turn the other cheek
• Tag the log out of your own eye

Jesus is telling us that wise living means investing into our character first. Character before possessions, character before being right, character rather than transient passions… Personally, I’ve had to re-learn what it means to take the log out of my own eye. This was something He first spoke to me about in my early years as a Christian in reference to my relationship with my brother. You can imagine how easy that was! But sibling relationships are a great testing ground for the rest of our relationships. Just last night, as my husband and I attended an Alpha Marriage course at our church, this verse was referenced as a key concept for healthy conflict. When we are hurt, all we want to do is to point out to the other party why they are wrong but we are right. In reality, Jesus is saying, we are more so at fault for such a hypocritical and judgemental attitude! When we are healed we can better minister with humility and grace to others.

Employing such a ‘Lord, me first’ attitude in my marriage has been immensely healing. It’s relieved me from the role I placed myself in as my husband’s chief fault-finder. Jesus’ wisdom is truly a rock for us to build our lives on.

What about you?

Why not take some time this week to read through the Sermon on the Mount. Allow the Holy Spirit to highlight a passage to you. Perhaps it won’t even be immediately obvious as to its relevance in your life. But trust that as you allow Him to lead you in His wisdom, you are secure against the coming storms.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock appeared first on Cup of Faith.

by Marthe Badibanga

Life can be overwhelming, even for those of us who try to keep everything together. At some point, we all face moments when the weight of our responsibilities, emotions, or circumstances becomes too much to carry on our own. Whether it’s the daily grind that wears us down or significant life events like the breakdown of a marriage or a serious illness, it can feel like there’s no end in sight. During these times, finding refreshment feels impossible. Yet, as believers, we have a constant source of rest and peace in Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.

Jesus, Our Rest in the Storm

When Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” (ESV) He’s telling us something deeply profound. He is the One who protects us, guides us, and nurtures us—often in ways we don’t even recognize until we’re out of the storm. Unlike any worldly source of comfort or temporary escape, Jesus knows exactly what our hearts need, and He offers lasting refreshment that goes beyond just physical rest.

This truth became more real to me than ever during one of the most difficult seasons of my life: a combination of divorce and a serious illness, which left me unable to keep my employment. For years, I had prided myself on being able to handle anything life threw at me. But when my marriage unravelled quite dramatically and I was diagnosed with a debilitating illness at the same time, I felt crushed. The emotional pain of a failing relationship, coupled with the physical toll of the illness, left me feeling like I was drowning in chaos.

The Shepherd Leads Us to Still Waters

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and loved passages in the Bible, and for good reason. It speaks to the way Jesus, our Shepherd, leads us through the darkest valleys and brings us to places of peace and refreshment. Psalm 23:1-2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” (ESV)

This picture of the Shepherd leading us to green pastures and still waters isn’t just poetic imagery—it’s a promise. During that difficult season, I felt anything but rested. It seemed like my mind was constantly racing, my heart was heavy with grief, and my body was weary from the strain of illness. But Jesus kept reminding me to come to Him for rest. He would gently pull me back to His Word, where I found verses like Ps 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (ESV). Or Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (ESV)

Even when I couldn’t see a way out of the storm, I knew that I was in the hands of the Good Shepherd. Jesus didn’t promise to take away the pain instantly or cure the illness overnight, but He did promise to walk with me through it. And in those moments when I was intentional about spending time in prayer and in His Word, I experienced a kind of peace that surpassed all understanding (Philippians 4:7). He was the still waters in my storm.

Finding Peace in Chaos

Going through a divorce is like watching the foundation of your life crumble. Everything you thought was stable and permanent suddenly feels fragile and uncertain. When you add an illness into the mix, it’s easy to feel like you’re trapped in an inescapable storm. During those long nights when the pain—both emotional and physical—kept me awake, I found myself crying out to God in desperation. It was hard to believe that peace was possible, but in those darkest moments, I began to see Jesus as my Shepherd in a new way.

Instead of trying to control the uncontrollable, I began to learn how to surrender. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

This verse took on new meaning as I realized that Jesus wasn’t asking me to pretend I was okay or to push through in my own strength. He was inviting me to let Him carry the burden with me, to rest in His care, and to find refreshment in His presence. It didn’t happen all at once, but slowly, as I gave my pain, my fears, and my uncertainties over to Him, I started to feel lighter.

There were still tough days—moments when the divorce felt too painful to bear and the illness too draining to fight—but I began to lean on Jesus in those times instead of trying to power through on my own. The more I trusted Him as my Shepherd, the more I experienced His peace. I came to understand that real refreshment isn’t about escaping our circumstances, but about finding rest in the middle of them, knowing we are safe in His care.

Finding Daily Refreshment in Jesus

The refreshment that Jesus offers isn’t a one-time fix. Just like sheep need constant care from their shepherd, we need to continually come back to Jesus for daily renewal. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of life and forget to rest in His presence, but Jesus is always inviting us to come to Him.

One way I’ve learned to do this is by ending my day with quiet time in God’s Word and in prayer. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, I simply sit in silence, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart. Other times, I pour out my worries and fears to God and ask for His peace. Every time, I’m reminded of Jesus’ promise in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (ESV)

Even in the midst of life’s storms, we can find true refreshment in Jesus. He doesn’t promise a life without hardship, but He does promise to walk with us, guide us, and bring us to places of peace. When we trust Him as our Shepherd, we find rest for our souls that the world cannot offer. As we navigate these tumultuous waters together—leaning on Scripture and each other—let us remember that we are never alone. Our Shepherd walks beside us every step of the way, leading us toward still waters where our souls can be restored.

The Shepherd’s Refreshment Is Always Available

If you’re feeling weary today—whether from the daily stresses of life or from a more significant storm like I faced—know that Jesus, your Shepherd, is ready to lead you to still waters. His invitation stands: Come to Him, find rest in His presence, and let Him refresh your soul. When we place our burdens in His hands, we discover that He is more than enough to carry us through, bringing us peace even in the most chaotic seasons of life.

_________

I have a love for writing, dedicated to sharing inspiring words to uplift others and I have a drive to make a difference. I long to see fellow Christians become all that God wants them to be. – Marthe Badibanga

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post Finding Refreshment in Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ appeared first on Cup of Faith.

by Lara Silverman

Matt Silverman once said to me “Babe, God always writes the best stories.” Let me tell you one now. You see, I started praying for an Armenian Christian husband at age sixteen. But I was always fascinated with God’s chosen people. So what did God do? On January 1, 2022, while in the throngs of my own serious illness, God gave me both of my heart’s desires by sending me a five foot ten (1.8m) half-Armenian, half-Jewish package named Matt Silverman. God’s hand in orchestrating our love story was so evident that you could say Matt was signed, sealed and delivered from God to me. A few years earlier when we were both healthy. We had driven to Christian camp alone by chance, discovering our chemistry even as friends.

Fast forward five years and Matt, amidst his own cancer, rang my doorbell and sat across my bed to give me spiritual support on how to persevere in suffering. He sat there patiently until eleven pm with his warm smile, tenderly answering all my questions and accusations against God. At the end of the night, I thanked him for coming and he responded with a surprising answer that flooded my heart with butterflies: he said verbatim “There’s no place I’d rather be.” After about six visits we literally just realized we were falling in love, hard. As Matt said, “We never dated did we? We just fell in love.” I had finally found my unicorn, a quirky musical nerd just like me.

Matt’s calm demeanor absorbed my energetic disposition. Right before visits, I would perk up, get out of my pit of self-pity, and start preparing love songs to sing to him as he lay down. My dad would roll his eyes jealously, “Oh, Matt must be coming again.” To which I said, “Dad listen, this guy is the crème de la crème, a handsome evangelizing engineering PhD who likes politics and theology like me. Get with the program.” When I told Matt once his eyes were like beautiful chocolate almonds, he teased, “I didn’t know my eyes were edible.” I would mail him bright pink Victorian love letters doused in glitter addressed to “Trouble Silverman” to embarrass him in front of his roommates. I don’t know if it worked but he proposed a few months later. Then, when we took engagement photos at the Pulgas Water Temple, the verse on the temple was Isaiah 43:20, which was also my devotional verse that very morning in my Bible app. The more we thought about it we decided: this must be our wedding theme. Thus, God even orchestrated our wedding verse to teach how he gives believers streams of refreshing water in their desert times. This is our love story.

Matt was cut from a different cloth. He gave all his money to charity, fasted when praying for others, taught children, preached internationally, and his eyes told the story of great perseverance in suffering. Because of his past sufferings, Matt also instinctively displayed great compassion for others. When I moved in, I found an old notebook where he had meticulously scribbled people’s names, their specific needs, and the day of the week to pray. My heart melted. As for me, he made me feel extremely understood. He was constant and patient with me in my outbursts against God as to why we’re suffering, answering my theological questions until two am. He never once judged me for my bitterness, which is very easy to do when both spouses are struggling. Instead, he gave me grace time and time again and gently said, “God wants us to have joy in our suffering, right babe? Let’s try.”

Second, Matt was incredibly humble and servant-hearted, laser-focused on church, family, and his students. I watched him give lectures in sharp pain lying down in bed, putting his students’ needs over his own. And despite his literal brilliance, at bottom he was a simple man, giving no importance to pomp and circumstance. When I told him once he is the perfect Christian, he got flustered and said “Lara stop. I’m not perfect just like any sinner. Don’t idolize me.” So even in compliments, he stayed rooted in the gospel.

Another example: I once surprised Matt with a fancy new wardrobe and he started tearing up and said: “I always felt guilty spending money on myself but I’m so happy my wife is taking care of me now.” It just never occurred to him to think of himself. Matt also fostered my passions, saying once: “Lara, you’re my Maria from Sound of Music. I was suffering and then you came into my life bringing music and joy.” For a musical lover like me, such a profound compliment flew me to the moon and back.

Third, Matt was supernaturally courageous, teaching me how to be fearless. Chemo after chemo, surgery, CAT scan, you name it, he came back, laid down, smiled and said the same thing every single time: “There’s my girl.” No bitterness. No fear. Some frustration? Yes. But not more. And in hospice, Matt went through an excruciating phase of not eating a crumb for nine weeks and watching his body deteriorate, without a SINGLE complaint about pain or dying young. It was shocking. And despite facing cancer twice, Matt praised God privately to me until his last breath — without a trace of bitterness — and only had immense peace and excitement about meeting his God. This is Matt Silverman. A model of Christlike submission to God’s will; a living testimony of what he preached. His courageous outlook bears powerful witness to the reality that for the Christian, death is nothing but a doorway into Christ’s presence forever. For this reason, I proclaim: MY HUSBAND IS ALIVE! See John 11:25 (“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’”). THIS is the power of the gospel.

______

Lara Silverman is an Armenian American lawyer, jazz singer, comedic actress, violinist, and songwriter. She holds a JD from Stanford Law School and a BA from UC Berkeley, where she double-majored in Economics and Political Science.

Guest Author

From time to time, Cup of Faith receives guest posts from people who would prefer to contribute to the blog once-off. These authors may choose to stay anonymous or may have their name featured in the post itself.

The post My Story: Suffering in Love appeared first on Cup of Faith.

In desiring to wait in faith for a baby to be added to our family, my husband and I have drafted a scripture based petitioning prayer to pray together. We know that God is on our side – family is His design, after all. Our scripture-based prayers are not designed to ‘convince’ Him of our case. Instead, we long for our hearts to be united and hopeful during our in-between time.

This prayer devotional is based on that prayer.

If you’re currently hoping for an adoption, natural conception, or fertility treatment, this devotional is just for you. Find solace in allowing God to infuse your heart with hope, patience, and faith as you keep your focus on Him. I highly recommend taking this devotional journey alongside your spouse.

Find your free, downloadable copy of the Faith for Fertility prayer devotional here (no sign up required). You can also read it on YouVersion.

Please share this page with couples who may be experiencing something similar!

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Faith for Fertility appeared first on Cup of Faith.

For the month of February we have been covering the different phases of relationships and chatting about nurturing, respecting and embracing your relationship, whether you’re navigating singledom, dating or marriage. Before we wrap up the end of relationship month, I thought I’d share some of the relationship-focused books that we recommend from our partner, Struik Christian Media.

Swipe Right by Levi Lusko

In Swipe Right, Pastor Levi Lusko offers compelling reasons to make wise choices in matters of the heart—relationships, sex, dating, and marriage. He encourages readers to live each day knowing their present choices will immediately become part of their pasts, and that their pasts will inevitably come back to visit them in the future.

With equal parts prevention and cure, the book is not just a list of rules to live by but something to live for: God’s powerful plan for our lives. To get there we must learn how to swipe right—to live up in a left, right world—because what we do with sex and romance is truly an issue of life and death importance.

Why we love it:

Levi’s writing is raw, relatable and very honest. I love how he balances serious topics with light humour. (Read my full review here – by far my favourite book, this month!)

Get your copy here!

Lovestruck by Sharon Jaynes

Have you ever felt that the man you thought was your soulmate has turned into more of a roommate? If so, then Lovestruck will help you see your marriage from a fresh perspective and reignite the passion that was there in the beginning. While the extent of the church’s message has traditionally been, “If you’re not married, don’t do it,” and “If you are married, don’t talk about it, ” it’s time to see what God has to say sexual intimacy.

Why we love it:

Sharon reminds and challenges us to be more intentional, with our relationships from beginning attractions and dating through marriages. She breaks down the Book of Solomon, in the most interesting way, by highlighting imagery and significant points and messaging to explain the scripture and what Solomon and His Bride’s courting and marriage looked like.

Get your copy here!

Hope For Your Marriage by Clayton & Ashlee Hurst

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to have the marriage you dreamed of? Interestingly, this is the question Clayton and Ashlee ask young couples before they get married and married couples in crisis. If they answer yes, then there is hope for the couple. If they are willing to commit to the hard work ahead, they have a very good shot.

Hope for Your Marriage is a book designed for couples who desire to have the best marriage possible. Every marriage has the potential to be incredible when God is at the center.

In Hope for Your Marriage, Clayton and Ashlee share personal stories on overcoming fairy-tale pitfalls; keeping Jesus at the center of your marriage; practicing healthy communication on sex, conflict, and forgiveness; declaring life over your marriage; and leaving a God-honoring legacy.

Why we love it:

This is the perfect read for newlyweds and in fact, any married couple. The book is refreshingly candid and shares stories that you can relate to, with practical advice that speaks straight to the heart.

Get your copy here!

Story Of Marriage by John & Lisa Bevere

Once upon a time… Marriage was forever. It was a covenant that knit one man and one woman together. This weaving made both stronger, nobler, and more vibrant expressions of who they were created to be. They were better together than either had been on their own. The wedding ceremony was but a beginning. It was the gateway to build their happily ever after. Each choice and action was designed to construct the life their union-represented. Husband and wife walked into the great unknown with hearts, hands, and voices intertwined to express the love of their Creator. How did we lose touch with this profound love story? In The Story of Marriage, John and Lisa Bevere invite you to rediscover God’s original plan. Whether you’re married, single, or engaged, your story is a part of His.

Why we love it:

This book reminds us that marriages aren’t perfect and it takes a lot of work. The study-style makes it great for couples to work through together, or on their own to discuss later. I love that both John and Lisa were very frank about the struggles they have endured, and found that openness encouraging.

Get your copy here!

Our Best Life Together by Joel & Victoria Osteen

In Our Best Life Together, Joel and Victoria Osteen want to encourage you in your marriage and remind you that God brought you together to help each other succeed and to become all He created you to be. There’s no better way to experience the fulfilling marriage God intends for you than to set aside a devotional time together each day and set your minds in the right direction for a positive, happy, faith-filled marriage. When you live together in unity, you honor God and open the door for His blessings to flow into every area of your life. If you will do your part, God will do His part, and you can live in love!

Why we love it:

What’s not to love about Joel and Victoria? This devotional is a superb addition to any bedside table and reminds us to put God at the centre of our relationship. You can read our full review here, but trust me, this makes a fantastic gift for upcoming weddings and anniversaries as it’s such a great book for all couples of faith.

Get your copy here!

Don’t forget, we’ll be reviewing and featuring a handful of these books right here on our platform so be sure to keep an eye out for those posts too!

Megan Kelly Botha

I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.

literaryinspired.com/

The post Relationship Books we LOVE! appeared first on Cup of Faith.