How to Keep the Faith When Things Aren’t Going Right
To The Weary Heart #8
Salam friends,
You’ve tried your best.
You prayed.
You planned.
You worked hard.
And yet, things are still not going your way.
You lost the job you thought was guaranteed.
Your savings are almost gone.
The person you thought would stay, left.
And you’re starting to wonder…
“Am I doing something wrong? Or is this what faith is supposed to feel like?”
Let me first say this to you:
Sometimes when things don’t work, and you don’t understand why, all that’s needed is for you to not give up. Don’t quit. If you can do that, then half the battle is won.
Eventually, the reasons will reveal themselves to you in due course. But for now, what you have to do is to keep the fortitude and the faith to keep going. Oh, and hope. Hope in a better future. That always works for me.
Anyway, I seriously think we don’t talk about it often; this struggle—the quiet, painful questioning of why life feels like it’s collapsing. It is something most of us go through. Yet not much is shared. I guess it’s because some of us are just better at hiding it.
But hiding it doesn’t make it go away. And suppressing it doesn’t mean you don’t believe. In fact, the strongest faith is often born inside the storm, not outside of it.
The Companion Who Wasn’t a Legend… But Was Loyal
Let me tell you a story of a lesser-known companion of the Prophet ﷺ — Khabbab ibn Al-Aratt (رضي الله عنه).
He wasn’t from a powerful tribe.
He wasn’t a commander of armies.
He didn’t narrate hundreds of hadiths.
But his story... his pain... it teaches us what real faith looks like.
Khabbab was a slave in Makkah.
When he embraced Islam, his master was furious. So they punished him — not with words, but with fire. They would drag his back over burning coals. Hot stones pressed against his skin until it sizzled.
And they would laugh, saying, “Let’s see if your Allah saves you now.” (have you ever been laughed at? Mocked? Belittled or made fun of?)
And yet — he never renounced his faith. He never quit.
He didn't become a public speaker. He didn't lead a movement. But he stayed. He stayed firm.
Years later, when Islam had spread and the Muslims were in power, people would notice the marks on Khabbab’s back — thick scars, melted flesh.
And he would say, “The fire of this world is easier than the fire of disbelief.”
He wasn’t asking for ease. He just wanted to remain close to Allah. So the next time you feel like you're losing your grip— Remember: even the most unknown souls were known deeply by Allah.
Faith Isn't the Absence of Struggle.
Faith is how you breathe inside the struggle.
And sometimes, all you can do is breathe.
That counts too.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You don’t have to feel inspired every day.
You don’t need to pretend everything’s okay.
But you do need to hold on.
My Own Quiet Crisis
There was a time not long ago when I felt like I was doing everything “right”—
I was showing up…every single day.
But deep down, I felt numb.
Things weren’t moving the way I had hoped.
The doors I begged to open stayed shut.
There were an array of thoughts going through my head.
Some of them used to include, “I thought good Muslims weren’t supposed to feel numb or sad.”
But here’s what I realised:
Being tested doesn't mean you're failing.
Being exhausted doesn't mean you're not staying true to your faith.
And feeling broken doesn't mean you're broken beyond repair.
In fact, those are signs of something bigger. That you are still loved by Allah. That your patience and Iman are being developed. So I kept the faith.
Husnus-Dzon: What If This Is Still Part of the Plan?
Here’s a mindset shift that some of you may need to hear today:
Sometimes the things that fall apart are the very things Allah is removing because they’re too small for the life He’s preparing you for.
That heartbreak? Maybe it was to soften your heart.
That rejection? Maybe it redirected you toward better.
That delay? Maybe it protected you from something only Allah could see.
You’re not being ignored.
You're being shaped into the person you’re destined to be.
There Are Things You Can Do
If you’re in that place right now, here are 3 things that can help you hold on:
Switch from being outcome-focused to having sheer faith and obedience.
Stop measuring how well you're doing by what you receive.
Start measuring it by how present and sincere you are with Allah.
Have one daily non-negotiable act of devotion.
Just one. It could be, one ayah, one sajdah, one whispered du’a, one set of dzikr.
Let that be your anchor—small, but consistent.
Speak to someone who won’t judge you.
Faith grows in honest conversations.
Find a person you can talk to without filters.
And a du'a for you today:
“Ya Allah, when my chest tightens and I feel far from You, bring me back gently.
Let me see my problems as paths.
Let me feel Your nearness more than the weight of this world.
And when all I can do is cry — accept it as a prayer.”
You’re not weak for struggling.
You’re not broken for asking.
You’re not lost for wondering.
You’re just human.
And Allah never turns away a human who calls out to Him with sincerity.
Stay with Him. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Stay Strong O Weary Heart,
Mizi Wahid
PS/ To my Singaporeans readers, do check out some of my upcoming events which I just launched here. Don’t miss out on the limited-time early-bird offers.