Trusting God Through Illness: How Faith Carries Us in a Child’s Health Crisis
Can I tell you something? finding God in hard times through illness is not a phrase I ever wanted to live through firsthand, especially when it came to my own child. But here we are. If you are reading this, my guess is you know what it's like when your world shifts in an instant. You get the call, or you see the look on a doctor's face, or you find yourself sitting beside a hospital bed, holding the hand of someone you love — and you can lean on Christian support in crisis.
In our recent podcast episode, I sat down with my daughter, Hadessa, to talk about what it means to trust God through waiting when life gets scary and uncertain, and how finding purpose in suffering can shape our faith. If you’re wondering how trusting God through illness can look in real life — and not just in Sunday morning sermons — you’re in the right place.
What Does Trusting God Through Illness Look Like For a Mom?
Let me tell you, I never expected to walk through so many hospital doors with my daughter. The first time we went in, I was caught off guard. She was so sick, and every minute felt unpredictable. I kept thinking, how am I supposed to be strong right now? But this is what I learned about trusting God through illness: it's not about having all the answers or feeling calm every second. It's about choosing, over and over, to say, "God, I place her in your hands when mine aren't enough."
Here's the thing that surprised me. Trusting God through illness had nothing to do with pretending everything was fine. There were nights I cried ugly tears. There were moments in between doctor updates where I just kept repeating Jesus’ name over and over. But then, in the quiet, I could almost hear Him say, “I’m right here.”
One night I sat in the plastic hospital chair, looking at my little girl hooked up to more tubes than wires behind our TV. I felt empty and even a little numb. But in that room, prayers from friends, family, people on the other side of the world — it all added up to something bigger than hope. I knew God was near, even when I was too tired to feel Him.
It’s Not About Perfection, It’s About Surrender
Have you ever felt like you have to put on a brave face for everyone but inside you’re a mess? I lived that. But God’s presence isn't waiting for us to have it all together. In fact, the moments when I let my guard drop, when I was honest about my fear or frustration, trusting God through illness became real. My daughter saw a mom who needed prayer just as much as she did. And our family walked out renewed, not perfect, but definitely changed.
How a Child’s Faith Teaches Us About God’s Nearness
I want to share something Hadessa taught me. She is the bravest, silliest, most joyful person I know. Even on her hardest days, she told jokes to anyone who entered her room (dad jokes, the goofy kind, the ones that always get a laugh). Her laughter brought more healing to our family than any medicine. Trusting God through illness for her looked like childlike faith — asking God for help when she was scared, being honest about what hurt, and choosing to look for one small good thing, every single day.
She felt God when she was distracted by fun, or when a nurse smiled, or when a friend came to visit. Those things didn’t make the needles hurt less, but they reminded her she wasn’t alone. Isn’t that what we all need when we’re struggling? Someone to sit by us, pray with us, and find the good, even if it’s just a popsicle after a hard procedure.
Small Faith Moves Mountains (And Hearts)
Jesus said, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20, CSB) I watched a mustard seed’s worth of faith do more than I could have imagined. Some days, trusting God through illness looked like just asking for one peaceful moment, or for strength to take the next step. Those prayers were enough.
Making Room For Community When Life Hurts
Here’s what I learned, friend. We were never meant to do this alone. Our community was the backbone of our healing. People showed up in ways I never realized we needed. Meals, messages, prayers – the kind words of friends, family, nurses, even strangers. Each act was a reminder of God’s love shining right through people’s hands and hearts. Trusting God through illness means letting others help you.
I remember sitting in a room surrounded by photos, pictures my girl drew with her Nana, reminders that beauty exists even within hospital walls. Kids need more than medicine. They need connection, laughter, and room to be kids. And so do we, as moms and dads. Every phone call, every smile, every card in the mail. It all mattered. It all added up.
Takeaways For Your Own Season
- Let others help you. Say yes to meals, to prayer, to practical support.
- Tell God how you really feel. Bring the worry, bring the anger, bring the trust.
- Look for little reasons to smile each day. It makes a difference for everyone.
- Be honest with your kids about your faith and doubts. Let them see your prayers.
- Practice gratitude, even for small things like ice cream or good nurses.
What Strength Actually Looks Like When Life Is Messy
Strength isn't about never breaking. It's about showing up, again and again, even if today looks different than you hoped. Trusting God through illness became a family anthem for us, not because we were strong, but because we were weak enough to ask for help. My daughter’s diagnosis (warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia) was a mouthful and scared us all. But with every hospital visit, her faith grew. And so did mine.
Have you ever wondered how you can model faith for your kids during the ugliest moments? Can I say, you don't have to give polished answers. Share the questions you ask God. Share the ways you see Him show up. Invite them to pray with you, not just for you. Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small.
The Perspective Shift That Got Us Through
What if trusting God through illness means trusting Him with the whole process – even the waiting, the setbacks, the not-yet-healed prayers? We discovered (together) that God is faithful in the hard and the happy, in laughter and in tears. Some days trusting God through illness looked like laughter in the middle of it all, or gratitude for a good meal, or simply getting a good night’s sleep.
Let me tell you, if you’re walking through something scary today and trusting God through illness feels impossible - you’re not alone. We have a God who is close to the brokenhearted, who hears every small prayer, who brings people close when you are weak. You don’t have to be perfect. You only need to come with what you have today.
Encouragement for Anyone Trusting God Through Illness Today
I wish I could hand you a cup of coffee right now and look you in the eye and say, keep going. Trusting God through illness is not about never being afraid. It’s about inviting God into every part of it. Even our mess. Even the hospital rooms. Even the late-night prayers that start with, “God, I don’t know what to say.”
And friend, God is not waiting on the other side of healing to show up. He’s present right in the middle of it all. Our family saw miracles we didn’t expect—sometimes it was a good report from a doctor, and other times, it was the peace that came when we needed it most.
Every day, we get to choose to trust Him again. Sometimes with big faith, sometimes with faith the size of a mustard seed. That’s enough. Always. If you need practical encouragement, go back and listen to our podcast episode for more of our story. Hear our laughter, our real talk, and maybe pick up a joke or two from Hadessa (she’s the real MVP when it comes to keeping spirits high).
You don’t have to walk through this alone. Lean into your community, grab hold of hope, and keep showing up for your child and yourself. Trusting God through illness might look different for each of us, but He is always faithful to meet us where we are.
If you know someone who needs to hear this message, send them this post or share the podcast. You never know how a small story of hope can lift someone’s heart.
With you and for you, always.
