Abigail Conway
About the Author

Abi lives in the beautiful state of Iowa with her husband. Since she could hold a pencil, Abi has been passionate about storytelling. She hopes that her words, wherever they are shared, encourage others to be open and honest about their walk with Christ.

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things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Abigail,
    Your story reminds me once again that God is patient with our childlike emotions, actions, and reactions. He’s big enough to handle our doubts and even our anger. We’re promised that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. I love how your father prays. I’ve been learning to pray “upside-down” if you will. I’m learning to thank God in advance for what He is about to perform. I’m reminded that He can still perform miracles and that’s worthy of thanks in advance. I may adopt your dad’s wording – love it. I also know that God answers in His timing, not mine and I’ve even come to grips with the fact that some prayers may not be answered until eternity. That’s tough news for this “I-want-to-have-an answer-now” gal. But once again, I have to trust that God is good and He knows what is best. Wonderful post and may God continue to bless you for seeking Him…even in your unbelief.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Thank you for your kind words, Bev. God is so good to us as we walk with him one day at a time.

  2. Oh, Abi, I’m right there beside you, echoing the prayer of that desperate father and learning to trust God’s good answers– even though they may not look like what I had envisioned. What a gift that you have the good memory of your dad’s faith-filled prayers.

    • Michele, I’m so thankful for the body of believers! I’m thankful that we can relate and encourage each other along this walk!

  3. Yes I’m low on faith right now my daughters don’t care about me they have their own lives they tell me i just lost my beloved pet who was my buddy i ask the lord how much more? Surrender -acceptance for GOD’S will is hard to do.please pray for me. Maria

    • Praying for you Maria that God brings you comfort and that your heart sees all the miracles around you every day that are a sign that God is here with you and that he’s waiting with open arms for you.
      Amen

    • Sweet Maria,

      Praying for you now. May you feel God’s love surrounding you & giving you a big hug. I pray you see God’s miracles & that He sends hope to your wounded heart. May you sense His peace & joy coming into your soul. IN God’s Name I pray. AMEN.

      ((((((Hugs))))))

      • I pray that Christ will wrap his wonderful arms around you as you go through these trials.

  4. Abigail, I have trusted God for 50 years Of my life, but lately my faith has been very weak. I’ve asked some of the same questions that you asked in your writing. Begging God to show me himself.
    During the night I prayed for hours for him to strengthen my faith. I woke up and found this article. Thank you for being humble so that God can strengthen others and me. I write this through tears over God‘s great love for us. Thank you.

    • Your comment brings tears to my eyes also. I’m so thankful that God uses dark moments in our lives to encourage others. He has a wonderful way of creating so much good out of hurt. I pray that God will continue to strengthen your faith as the days go by.

  5. Abi, This spoke to my heart so deeply this morning. I feel the same way right now. I have gone through so much in the last 8 months that I keep asking God what am I to do now. I almost left my husband and my daughter who has epilepsy because I had convinced myself that it was I needed to do. I am starting to think that the devil got ahold of me and was ruining my life. I re-dedicated my life to God since then, but I am still struggling with how to pray and the waiting on Him to answer so many questions I have. I feel like I’m still under attack because things at work, with my friends and at home are still going all crazy. I keep feeling like my friends can’t stand me and are just putting up with me because of what happened when I convinced myself to leave my husband about a month ago. They helped me by giving me money for gas to get me to my mom’s and the had the police come check on me because they thought that I was not being allowed to leave. But when I ended up staying and I returned the money to them and took back my resignation for work, they have been acting a little weird I guess you could say. They don’t talk to me very much and I feel left out of everything. This is kinda where all my problems started with the attacks and the things I was going through at home too. I am still struggling with how to pray about things and learning to listen for his voice and answers. I know now through reading this that I just need to thank Him and wait.

    • Gina, my heart breaks for you. I don’t know details or answers for you. But know this: God knows and He cares. Don’t let Satan’s lies get a foothold. Because of your friends’ reactions, I need to ask if this is an abuse situation? Praying it is not. They may not know how to react. Praying you will find a friend who will listen to your heart. Maybe you could even look for someone you can encourage. Don’t give up. Immerse yourself in scripture. Pray for God’s wisdom. I’m praying for you right now.

    • Praying for you and for you to feel God’s presence each and every moment of the day and night.

    • As I read this, I thought you might benefit from talking with an unbiased person. Maybe a counselor to whom you could pour out your heart? Maybe a friend you could walk and talk with? We all need someone who will listen and not judge…

    • I am praying that God will send you the encouragement and strength that you need. Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” I know the days seem dark now, but joy will come, and you will look back on these days and be so thankful that you clung to him.

  6. Wow, this is powerful. Thank you for sharing this story. The way you phrased faith and expectant waiting captures so much of what’s hard but necessary.

    • Thank you, Jolene. Faith is still such a hard concept for me, but I go back to that moment often and remember what the Lord has taught me. I’m thankful for the opportunity to share it.

  7. Amen, oh how I need this message. Thank you God for it. I didn’t understand why I keep getting into these unhealthy relationships and making same mistakes over again. I know God and he is patient, loving and faithful.

    • God is so good to us!! I’m so thankful that it encouraged your heart. <3

  8. Hello Abigail,
    What you wrote is beautiful. This gives me hope. I have a daughter, an only who was raised in the church and attended Christian schools all her life, even college. At one time she had a beautiful faith. She now claims not to believe in God at all. It breaks both my husband’s and my hearts. Your sincere words give me hope. They way you describe your journey to developing your own faith as you walk your own path in life, helps me realize that God sees all and knows all. He loved you in your struggling to make sense of your life and find Him in the midst. It is in the surrendering that we find who God is and allow Him to work on our hearts.
    May God continue to bless your faith and draw you even closer to himself each day.

    • Terese. Have you suggested any of the apologetic (meaning the defense of faith– not “apologizing” for it) websites for your daughter? All give factual, scientific & logic/reason-based EVIDENCE for faith. Here are a few: crossexamined.org, RIZM.com, Reasons.org, oldcasechristianity.com. You can find YouTube videos & debates against atheists with outstanding minds like professor of math Dr John Lennox, astrophysicist Dr Hugh Ross, as well as discover multitudes of other wonderful, supportive resources to help your daughter overcome her doubts & help anyone else out there understand our faith is MORE reasonable than all the arguments against it. Praying for you & yours!!

    • Terese, I can’t imagine how burdened your heart is for your daughter. All I can say is how important my mother’s love was during that test. My mom’s unwavering support pointed me to Christ. I will pray for you as you continue to show Christ’s love to your daughter.

      • Thank you Abigail for your insight. This helps me not lose hope. I feel that God is teaching me to show my daughter the grace of God. The world does not know what the word means. I believe we cannot show grace without Christ in our lives. I think that is sounds like your Mom too, showed you grace and love during your time of wavering faith. Thank you for your response and words of encouragement to my post. May God continue to bless you in your ministry.

        Terese

  9. I love this post. A reminder that God is in control and I need to trust Him.
    I love that your father’s prayers were heard by your heart

  10. Abigail,

    First of all, hello from my corner of Iowa. I love seeing a fellow Iowan in this fabulous space. Second of all, I can hardly believe how closely my story mirrors yours. Those same verses — help me with my unbelief — were instrumental in my own faith walk. And last, I absolutely love how your dad prays. I think I’m going to borrow that phrase!

    I’m a book author and love sharing great and meaningful content with my readers. I’ll be featuring this on my author page today!

    Thank you for such a great word for us all!

    ~ Jennifer

  11. Thank you so much for sharing this story. It touched my heart in a big way. I taste God’s goodness every day and thank Him for it. I pray my unbelieving son and his wife will too. All in God’s timing, I know, but I’m so impatient!

  12. For the last few months I have been struggling with doubt in a way that I have never experienced in my life, and it was terrifying me. I am walking through a difficult season of life for many reasons and I think Satan took the opportunity to attack while I was weak. But just a few days ago I finally opened up to a few trusted individuals that I was faltering in my faith and feel like God has been so gracious in reaching out to me to remind that He is here with me even when I don’t quite feel him. The doubts have not disappeared, but I am starting to feel His peace again and the comfort of prayer. Thank you for this post, which the Lord clearly knew I needed to read this week.

  13. “Faith was bringing my requests before God with the complete confidence that I would be thanking Him for His answer, no matter what it might be” . . . it’s the ‘no matter what’ that opens the hands. The beauty of your words leaves me gratefully pondering. Tell your dad thanks for me.

    ~ J.

  14. Abi, What a profound example your dad set for you. And we will thank You for it. Letting that sink in. So glad to host your words here on (in)courage. xx

  15. I can so relate to your story. I too struggled with needing to see or hear the answer so my faith would be justified until I learned that that isn’t faith at all. Faith is knowing that God has the answer and trusting that that answer is for good and His glory whether we can see it or not. After a lifetime of struggle I have learned to trust Him and depend on His word. (Thank you Andre Crouch)

  16. Abi,

    Christians today are apt to say things like “have more faith” or “pray more”. That isn’t always easy in the midst of trials. What people need is someone to sit &listen to them. Then perhaps pray for them right there. Jesus understands our emotions. It is alright to come tell Him how we feel. I have trials where all I could say is Jesus help me I don’t understand or know what to do. He truly gets us & works miracles in & for us. This world doesn’t make it easy for us to keep our faith. Everyone says where is the God you believe in? Why hasn’t he answered your prayers? Some think He must not be a loving God to take His time to answer. We must realize that God answers Yes, no, & wait. He may have something better in store for us or He may want us to change into His likeness more. Kudos to your dad for thanking God for answers not received. That shows true & powerful faith. I’m going to start praying that way now.

    Blessings 🙂