What do you build on when nothing feels solid anymore?
There are seasons in life when everything feels unsteady at once. Your energy is gone, your plans unravel, your faith feels quiet. And suddenly, the foundation you thought you were standing on doesn’t feel as firm as it once did.
For me, that season came in August and stretched into the beginning of December. It was dark in a way I hadn’t experienced before. Emotionally. Spiritually. Creatively. It honestly felt like Satan had won a round.
Not the war — but a round.
I didn’t lose my faith during that time, but I did lose my footing. And for a while, that distinction was hard to see.
Everything Changes (And That’s Not a Failure)
When life feels heavy for long enough, discouragement has a way of convincing us that God is distant — or worse, absent. I reached a point where I couldn’t see God beside me anymore, and eventually, I stopped looking.
That’s a humbling thing to admit.
I didn’t intentionally walk away from my faith, but I grew discouraged. I gave up emotionally, and I felt unsteady, unsure, and disconnected. And in my mind, that translated into believing I had somehow fallen out of God’s good graces, even though I know, deep down, that His grace doesn’t work that way.
What changed the trajectory of that season wasn’t a dramatic breakthrough. It was a slow re-entry.
I began dipping back into God’s Word through Bible studies on YouVersion. Slowly. Gently. Without pressure. Writing the From the Trenches series became part of that process, too. And through that writing, God showed me something I hadn’t been able to see before:
He had never left my side — even when I was convinced He had.
The One Thing That Never Changes
Even when life feels unsteady, God is still there, quietly stabilizing the foundation beneath you.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
What stood out wasn’t a call to be strong; it was the promise that God would do the holding.
The darkness didn’t disappear overnight.
John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Darkness can feel overwhelming, but it never has the final word. Even when we stop looking for God, He does not stop being present.
Legacy Is Built in Weakness, Not Mastery
One of the hardest things I had to accept was that I couldn’t muscle my way through that season. I couldn’t out-discipline it, and I couldn’t pretend my way back into spiritual strength.
I had to stop pretending I was strong and start trusting that God still was.
James 4:6 says, “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
and
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
That realization changed everything.
I had to accept that Satan may have won a round, but he didn’t get my identity. Returning slowly still counted. Opening my Bible for a few minutes still mattered. Writing honestly still honored God. Weakness didn’t disqualify me; it positioned me to receive grace.
Foundation Determines What Survives the Storm
When we look back on hard seasons, we often see God’s hand more clearly in hindsight than we could in the moment.
Scripture reminds us again and again that God is present, trustworthy, and faithful, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. He walks with us through the valley. He guides us when we don’t understand. He goes before us and never abandons us.
A foundation built on God doesn’t prevent storms, but it does carry us through them.
A Gentle Reframe
Legacy isn’t built by strong moms.
It’s built by rooted ones.
Not being able to get everything done in a day can feel devastating — not just as a mom, but as a human. We assign ourselves impossible standards and then feel defeated when we fall short.
But God does not withdraw His grace when we reach our limits. He meets us there.
Accepting that we aren’t superwoman isn’t failure — it’s honesty. And honesty is often where healing and growth begin.
An Invitation to Rebuild — Not Restart
If you’re in a season where you feel like you’ve messed up, fallen behind, or drifted further than you meant to, hear this clearly:
Rebuilding is holy work.
You are allowed to return to the foundation again and again. You are not disqualified by discouragement. God’s love is not fragile, and His presence is not conditional on your performance.
You haven’t ruined your legacy by losing your footing for a while. You’re still standing on the same foundation — even if you need to steady yourself again.
Reflection Questions
- When life feels unsteady, what do I tend to build on instead of God? (My own strength, productivity, control, approval, or expectations?)
- Where have I mistaken losing my footing for losing my faith?
- How might God have still been present in that season, even if I couldn’t see Him?
- What would slow re-entry into God’s presence look like for me right now?
- What is one gentle, realistic step I can take without pressure or guilt?
- How might God be inviting me to rebuild — not restart — the foundation of my life and legacy in this season?
Closing Prayer
God, when everything around me feels uncertain, remind me that You have never moved. When my footing feels unsteady, and my faith feels quiet, help me remember that You are still holding me — even when I stop looking for You. Forgive me for the moments I’ve believed the lie that my weakness disqualifies me, or that my discouragement has somehow pushed me out of Your grace.
Thank You for meeting me not with disappointment, but with patience, mercy, and steady love. Teach me to stop striving to be strong and instead to trust that You already are. Help me release the pressure to have it all together and rest in the truth that You are still building something good — even in the messy, unfinished places.
When I fall behind, when I grow weary, when I lose my footing, gently guide me back to the foundation that does not change. Remind me that rebuilding is holy work, that returning is always allowed, and that my legacy is not defined by perfection but by where my roots are planted. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. I place my life, my family, and the legacy I am building into Your hands — trusting that You will hold us steady through every season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Free 5-Day Legacy Builder Challenge
Want a simple starting point? Download the free 5-Day Legacy Builder Challenge (PDF) to get clarity and take practical next steps with your finances, values, and family traditions.
Want support and accountability as you build your legacy? Join us inside the group.