When God Is Silent: How to Find Hope
When God Is Silent: How to Find Hope When You’re Burned Out, Broke, and Barely Holding On
By Dr. D Ivan Young, MCC, NBC-HWC
Why Faith Feels Fragile in Financial Crisis
Have you ever found yourself lying awake at 3:00 AM, heart racing, staring at the ceiling, wondering how you’re going to pay the bills? You’ve prayed. You’ve fasted. You’ve done everything you know how to do—but nothing seems to be moving fast enough.
Which brings us to a question many of us are quietly asking:
“When God Is Silent: How to Find Hope When You’re Burned Out, Broke, and Barely Holding On?”
If you’re being honest, you’re tired—not just in your body, but in your spirit. And in your soul.
If you’re in that space, I see you.
Truth is, I am you.
It’s a hard, humbling place to be. And maybe, like me, you’re there right now—working harder than ever, only to watch your savings drain faster than you can refill them. You’re putting in the hours, grinding, showing up with everything you’ve got… but it still feels like you’re not gaining the traction you need to move forward.
And some days, the hardest part isn’t the struggle itself—
it’s the silence. You’re crying out, pouring your heart out in prayer, and all you get back is… stillness. No breakthrough. No answer. Just waiting.
Yet, even in this valley, something powerful is happening. I’m discovering a new kind of strength—resilience. And it’s coming from places I used to overlook: the friend who shows up when I need it most, or the unexpected opportunity that covers just enough to take another step, the simple breath I can still draw even when the weight of life feels crushing.
So let me be real—this message is as much for me as it is for you. It’s how I’m processing this season, and maybe, it’s how you’ll find comfort in yours too.
If you’ve been up late Googling,
“how to get an answer from God when life gets hard” or
“finding hope in hopeless times,”
let this be your sign, your confirmation: You are not alone. And you are not forsaken.
Let’s tell the truth—spiritual burnout hits hard. So does compassion fatigue, financial pressure, and emotional exhaustion.
I built a thriving coaching practice by guiding high-achievers, executives, and everyday people through life’s toughest storms. I’ve spoken on global stages. My TEDx talks reached millions. But behind the scenes, in the stillness away from the spotlight, I stand here—man, not miracle—hoping, praying, and holding on for better days.
Think about this.
You’re checking every box—handling your business, showing up for others, staying thankful. But deep down, you’re asking, “God… did You forget about me? Do You even see or hear me?”
If that sounds like you, don’t stop reading.
Because the truth is—no, He absolutely has not turned His back on you.
The Story That Still Haunts Me
Purpose Comes With a Price Tag (and It’s Not Just Financial)
Here’s the truth that rarely gets said: purpose will cost you everything.
Not just your money, but your ego.
Beyond just your time, but your comfort.
Not only your faith—but your control. So when God is silent, we need to know how to find hope!
The fact is we often glamorize success stories without acknowledging the messy, painful, confusing middle. The part where you’re too broke to breathe but too gifted to quit. Where your calling feels more like a curse than a blessing.
But here’s what I’ve come to understand:
Delay is not denial. Silence is not absence. And pain is not punishment.
God Hears But Doesn’t Answer
There’s something I haven’t shared publicly until now—because it still hurts and I’m still struggling to recover from it.
Okay, picture this: just two years ago, life felt pretty solid. Things were clicking along, you know? I felt like I was finally on stable ground. Then, this major investment opportunity came up, and honestly? I felt this incredible pull towards it. It wasn’t just a business idea; in my heart, I truly believed it was something I should do—born out of deep love for my daughter and what genuinely felt like a green light from God.
So, naturally, I went all in. Without hesitation I proceeded pouring out savings, putting my personal credibility on the line, all while dreaming about its success day and night. In my mind’s eye, I saw myself building something meaningful, something that would empower my daughter and maybe, just maybe, provide a little financial breathing room down the road. It felt big, like legacy work—weaving purpose and family together.
But here’s where the smooth sailing hit rough waters. That dream, that vision I was so sure of? It just… didn’t pan out. Instead of soaring, the business basically crashed and burned. The money I’d invested? It vanished, like smoke through my fingers. And suddenly, there I was, left holding this enormous weight.
And this… this is the part that’s nearly impossible to put into words.
I didn’t move recklessly. I moved from love. From faith. From a place of deep conviction that what I was doing was good, even godly. I believed I was answering a divine call—doing something noble, building something meaningful. But now? Those same good intentions feel like the very thing dragging me under.
They feel like the source of this constant, gnawing ache in my stomach—the kind that lingers through the night and wakes me before dawn. There’s a quiet frustration that hums beneath everything I do. And sometimes, when I look back, I wonder if I missed something… if I mistook a cleverly disguised trap for a divine assignment.
What if I was set up?
What if I was set up? What if the very thing I believed would bless me was bait from the enemy?
That thought… it breaks something inside me.
And spiritually—it’s even harder. Because just when I feel like I’m about to sink for the last time, something small shows up. A sliver of grace. An unexpected check. A kind word. A stranger’s generosity. Just enough to keep my head above water. But never enough to reach the shore. Not even enough to give me a much needed break from the stress.
So while I’m crying out—begging for full rescue, for lasting peace, for the nightmare to finally be over—I keep receiving these breadcrumbs of hope. Little mercies. And I am grateful. But the deeper part of me aches, because those small blessings make the silence around the big prayers feel even louder.
It’s like God is keeping me from drowning… but not quite pulling me in.
And that’s what makes this burden hard to carry. To feel seen—but not saved. Held just enough to keep going—but not enough to rest.
It’s like I’m clinging to a life raft in the middle of a storm, grateful not to have gone under… but desperate to touch solid ground. Desperate to feel the warmth of safety, the stability of peace, the finality of “you made it this mess is finally over.”
If you’ve ever felt like that—adrift, weary, questioning—then know this: you are not alone. I’m there with you. And somehow, even in this heartbreak, though it may not seem like it, we are still being kept.
God does not waste pain.
Meanwhile, the practical reality hits hard—every single month. No matter how much I earn, it still feels like I’m always behind. The debt payments—especially with these outrageous interest rates—pull the money right back out of my account almost as fast as it comes in.
And that kind of constant financial pressure?
It’s not just stressful—it’s gut-wrenching.
Every payment feels like a monthly reminder of the moment I took a leap that didn’t land the way I hoped. If I’m honest, sometimes I wonder… if I hadn’t made that move, maybe life would be at least manageable right now—maybe even comfortable. Constantly asking yourself “What if'” is a tormenting teacher.,
So yes—two years later, I’m still paying the price.
Not just financially…
But emotionally. Spiritually.
Because it’s not just about the money.
It’s the sleepless nights.
It’s not just unpaid bills—it’s those same prayers, over and over again, wrapped in tears.
It’s not just loss—it’s guilt, frustration, shame, and the silent burden of regret that you carry alone.
These days, more than ever, I find myself whispering the question again:
“When God Is Silent: How to Find Hope When You’re Burned Out, Broke, and Barely Holding On?”
Because when you’re the one holding the vision…
You’re also the one left to clean up the pieces when it doesn’t go as planned.
And that regret? That emotional weight?
It can bury you in self-blame.
I know what it’s like to scream into your pillow at night, asking God, “Why would You let me walk into that?”
And worse… I know the pain of realizing, “I did this to myself.”
I know the bitterness of watching everyone else move forward, smiling, thriving—
while you’re still trying to breathe through the weight of it all.
But here’s what else I know:
God does not waste pain.
God’s Silence Doesn’t Mean God’s Absence
Just because you can’t hear Him doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
Because the doors haven’t opened doesn’t mean they’re locked forever.
And just because your faith is shaking doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Put mildly, “delayed doesn’t mean denied.”
We don’t grow in the spotlight—we grow in the soil.
And when you’re underground—hidden, buried, overlooked—it doesn’t mean you’re dead.
It means you’re being planted.
So while it feels like nothing is happening, trust that everything is happening behind the scenes. God is aligning people, finances, opportunities, and protection in ways you cannot see.
The Emotional Toll of Transition
What to Do When You’ve Run Out of Strength
If you’re Googling “what to do when you’re tired of praying,” this part is for you. There’s no formula for surviving this kind of spiritual fatigue, but there are some practices that can help:
1. Surrender.
Not in defeat, but in trust. Let go of the need to control the outcome. You are not failing—you are being led.
2. Speak honestly.
Tell God how you really feel. He can handle your anger, your fear, your exhaustion. Prayer doesn’t have to be polished—it just has to be real.
3. Stay in motion.
Even if it’s just one step at a time—keep going. Faith isn’t just belief; it’s action. Water your vision, even in drought.
4. Find your people.
Whether it’s a coach, a friend, or your online tribe—don’t suffer in silence. Vulnerability creates connection. And connection saves lives.
(Need a place to start? Read my post on The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership to learn how EQ sustains you when willpower fails.)
5. Rest.
You don’t have to earn your worth by grinding. Sometimes, divine strategy is revealed in stillness.
When You Can’t Sleep—Try This
Here’s a short practice I do when I’m up at night and anxiety tries to take over:
Inhale: “I am safe.”
Exhale: “God is with me.”
Breathe deep: “I am not alone.”
Release: “Help is already on the way.
This small moment of presence is a sacred act of resistance. You’re reminding your body that it’s not in charge—your faith is.
Speak This Over Your Life Right Now
Let me speak this gently over you, just as I’ve been whispering it to my own soul in the stillness of night:
Speak these words aloud if you need to. Write them down. Post them on your mirror. Let them become the rhythm that steadies your breath and strengthens your soul.
You win—provided you don’t quit.
Let your spirit remember what your weary mind may have forgotten:
The fact that you are still in the fight is confirmation that you’ve won this battle. If you need a bit of inspiration watch this TEDx talk I did a couple of years ago.
Hope Is Not a Feeling—It’s a Choice
You’re Closer Than You Think
Though God may seem silent, He is still present.
When the money runs low, grace overflows.
In moments of emptiness, you are still enough.
Hope isn’t always loud. Honestly, it’s a merely quiet decision to continue believing—one moment, one instant, one step at a time.
I don’t know how or when, but I know this: the shift is coming. Your help is on the way. And the same God who brought you through the last storm is already waiting at the other side of this one.
When you’re tired, take a rest.
In moments of fear, say a prayer.
If pain finds you, let the tears fall.
But no matter what—don’t give up.
Not now. Not this close.
About Dr. D Ivan Young
Dr. D Ivan Young, MCC, NBC-HWC is an internationally acclaimed Master Certified Coach, author, TEDx speaker, and expert in Emotional Intelligence and human behavior. He’s helped thousands of high-achieving individuals—including executives, elected officials, and public figures—find clarity, healing, and purpose through life’s toughest transitions. Learn more about my coaching philosophy on Finding Purpose in the Midst of Pain.