Faith After the Fireworks (When the Honeymoon is Over)

You know that feeling when you start a new relationship, and it’s all fireworks, butterflies, and texting each other until 2 AM like you don’t have responsibilities? Yeah, following Jesus can feel like that at first too. You’re on fire, ready to charge hell with a water pistol, and every worship song makes you cry. But then… reality hits.

One day, you wake up, and—poof!—the spiritual warm fuzzies are gone. Suddenly, you’re not feeling it anymore. Prayer feels like talking to an empty room. Reading the Bible? Harder than staying awake in a 3-hour meeting. And worst of all, doubts start creeping in like a raccoon digging through your trash at midnight.

So, what gives? Did you lose your faith? Did God ghost you? Are you broken? No, no, and no. What’s happening is that your faith is maturing—and that’s actually a really good thing. Let’s talk about it.

Faith Isn’t a Disney Movie—It’s a Commitment

Here’s the thing: emotions are great, but they are about as stable as a toddler hopped up on gummy bears. If your faith is built solely on how you feel, then you’ll be riding a spiritual rollercoaster that leaves you exhausted and dizzy. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow Me, and you’ll always get goosebumps.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NIV). That’s less romantic comedy and more gladiator battle montage. It’s exciting, but not always pretty. Sorry, Christopher Nolan.

Doubt Isn’t a Sign of Weakness—It’s a Sign You’re Thinking

Somewhere along the way, we got this weird idea that if you have questions about your faith, you’re failing. But let’s be real—who just blindly follows something without ever asking questions? (Besides toddlers who believe in Santa and eat too many gummy bears even wise up eventually.)

John the Baptist, the guy who literally baptized Jesus, had doubts (Matthew 11:3). Thomas needed to see the scars before he believed (John 20:25). If questioning was good enough for them, it’s good enough for you. The key is to take those doubts to God instead of using them as an excuse to drop it all at the first, second, or third sign of doubt or wonder. It’s natural. I can’t encourage you to question enough! We learn and grow in the questions. It’s the manner in which we approach God with our questions that makes all the difference.

Discipline is the Adult Version of Passion

Remember when you were a kid, and you thought adults just did whatever they wanted? Then you grew up and realized it’s mostly bills, emails, and making yourself eat vegetables? Turns out, the same principle applies to faith.

That early excitement in your walk with Jesus was great, but real faith isn’t built on hype—it’s built on habits. Prayer, reading the Bible, showing up when you don’t feel like it—those are the things that keep your faith strong when the spiritual fireworks fade. Don’t get me wrong when I talk about the “fade” either. Know that your relationship with God is, like every other relationship you will ever have, in motion. It doesn’t stay put.

Paul puts it this way: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV). Running a race isn’t always exhilarating—it’s sweaty, hard work. But it’s what gets you to the finish line.

Your Faith is Not Broken—It’s Growing Up

If you’re feeling like your relationship with Jesus isn’t as exciting as it once was, congratulations—you’re moving from spiritual puppy love to a faith that can actually stand the test of time. The honeymoon phase may be over, but what comes next is deeper, stronger, and way more rewarding.

So, don’t panic. Keep going. Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere, and He’s just as real in the quiet as He was in the excitement. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll look back and realize that the deep, steady faith you have now is better than all the butterflies in the world.

☕ A little faith, a little courage, and a whole lot of stubborn joy. – Tonya

Want to talk more about what it looks like to mature in the faith? Drop a comment or message me. Let’s figure this out together.

© 2025 All posts written by Tonya E. Lee