Have you ever asked yourself why faith seems strong in one season, yet weak in another? What’s the key that determines the outcome?

As I prepare to travel once again to the nation of Brazil, I am so thankful for the opportunity to continue sharing the Word and the spirit of faith with the churches and communities there. With each visit, I witness more of the impact of faith in God that they’ve embraced. It is transforming lives, strengthening families, and influencing the very future of the nation.

But there’s something even deeper that undergirds all of this. For faith to flourish—for it to stand strong in every heart—it must be rooted deep in the soil of God’s love. Galatians 5:6 tells us plainly, “faith works by love.” While walking in love toward others applies to this truth, there is more to this verse than that.

When you know God loves you, faith flows easily. You don’t struggle to believe He wants to heal you, provide for you, or fulfill His promises. But when you’re unsure of His love—when you wonder if He’s disappointed in you or holding something against you—faith becomes difficult. That’s why Paul prayed in Ephesians 3 that we would be “rooted and grounded in love… and know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I’ll never forget a picture the Lord gave me of this truth. In Alabama, where I live, storms are a way of life. One day after a big storm, I drove past a massive oak tree that had stood for generations. But this time, it was lying on its side, uprooted in someone’s front yard. The branches weren’t broken, and the trunk wasn’t split. The problem wasn’t the tree—it was the soil. The ground underneath had given way, and it couldn’t hold the tree against the pressure of the wind.

That’s exactly what Jesus was talking about when He prayed for Peter: “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). God’s Word never fails. But if our hearts, the soil where faith is planted, aren’t firmly established in His love, then when storms come, our faith can be shaken.

That’s why the Apostle John described himself again and again as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He leaned on Jesus at the Last Supper. He stood at the cross when Jesus entrusted him with His mother. He recognized the risen Lord on the seashore. John had a revelation: I am the one Jesus loves. And that revelation gave him confidence that nothing could take him out before his time.

The same is true for you, too. You can boldly say, “I am the disciple Jesus loves.” When you know that deep in your heart, your faith will stand firm no matter what comes.

And think of Peter. The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times. He failed miserably, yet Jesus didn’t discard him. After the resurrection, He restored him, giving him three opportunities to affirm his love and sending him back into ministry. Peter’s failure didn’t cancel God’s plan because love never fails.

Friend, your faith doesn’t rest on formulas or steps. It rests on knowing the Father loves you. That’s what makes it easy to believe for healing, provision, or breakthrough. That’s what holds you steady when storms come.

Maybe right now you feel pressure. Maybe finances are tight, or a relationship is strained, or the enemy is whispering that you’re not worthy of God’s blessing. Don’t believe that lie. The truth is, God loves you. Not in some abstract, general way—He loves you personally. He knows your name, your needs, and your heart. You are the disciple whom Jesus loves.

When that truth takes root, your faith won’t be uprooted. The soil of your heart will be strong, rich, and immovable. And the fruit of your life will show the goodness of God.

So why does some faith fail while other faith seems to stand strong? Here’s the answer: faith fails when it is planted in shallow soil—when it’s built on circumstances, emotions, or formulas. But faith stands strong when it is rooted in the revelation of God’s unchanging love for you. That love is the soil that holds your faith steady through every storm.

Friend, this is the key. If you’ve ever wondered why faith seems weak at times and powerful at others, this is it: faith works by love. When you know deep in your heart that God loves you—that He is for you, not against you—you will never lose confidence in His promises.

I’m standing in faith with you—that the same God who sustained Peter and the same God who kept John, is keeping you today.

I encourage you to let the truth of this Word sink deep within you. Meditate on it regularly, and anytime opposition arises or attacks manifest, remember why you’ll stand…you’re rooted deep in His love for you, and your faith will not fail!