Faith Crisis : Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Power in the Pause: Finding Clarity During a Mormon Faith Crisis
The first steps on a faith journey often feel terribly unpleasant and disorienting. It may show up as a knotted stomach or tightness in the chest. It may feel like sadness, confusion, anger, anxiety, or even depression. In the intensity of these moments, it can truly feel like your faith is in crisis.
Many earnest seekers, not knowing who to turn to, search the internet for answers. Google may offer temporary relief and validation—but it can also deepen the confusion. You may encounter phrases like “my shelf broke” or “the rug was pulled out from under my feet,” which can intensify the sense that everything is suddenly unstable.
If you find yourself in this moment—wondering should I stay or should I go?—when it feels like the ground has dropped out beneath you, I want to offer this: there is great power in the pause.
Still your mind.
Breathe.
Feel.
Allow yourself to experience all of it—the sadness, the anger, the grief. Let these emotions exist in your body. Don’t push them away; gently lean into them. Like an ocean wave, feelings rise, crest, and eventually recede, often leaving increased clarity and peace in their wake.
Right now, this may feel like an urgent crisis that must be solved immediately. But in truth, this is the beginning of a journey. Breathe. You do not have to make any permanent decisions today. You are allowed to take this one step, one day, one breath at a time. Let go of the outcome. Trust.
Preparing for the Journey: Caring for Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health During a Faith Crisis
If you knew you were about to embark on a strenuous physical journey, how would you prepare—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?
I invite you to take the mental and emotional energy currently being invested in faith-related ruminations and, for now, redirect it toward strengthening yourself. You can return to your questions later. For the moment, focus on becoming the strongest, healthiest version of you as you begin this journey.
Take a gentle personal inventory:
How is your mental health? Your emotional health? Your spiritual health? Your physical health?
What support do you need in each of these areas?
Below are some of the tools that have supported me along my own journey. You may resonate with some of these—or you may find your own. What matters most is building daily practices that help you feel grounded and supported.
Daily movement. Exercise has been essential for my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Meditation. Developing a regular practice has helped me access stillness and clarity.
Emotional resilience and self-awareness. Learning about healthy communication, thought patterns, and emotional regulation through books and podcasts has deeply changed me.
Personal connection with God. Finding ways that genuinely work for me to connect with God has been essential. Knowing His love and character has anchored me.
Sunshine and fresh air. Especially time in the mountains.
Nourishing my body. Healthy food and plenty of water.
Support. From therapists, coaches, and trusted friends.
Once you feel more grounded and supported—beginning your journey from a place of strength and openness—it can be helpful to gently examine your spiritual foundation.
How deep do the cracks feel?
Where do you truly feel solid?
For example:
Do you feel that God lives and loves you?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ and His atonement?
This process of “excavation” can help you discern where to begin and what direction your journey may take.
Rebuilding With Intention
As you excavate, try pulling out beliefs and patterns one at a time—Marie Kondo–style—and ask yourself: Does this still serve me? Does this draw me closer to God?
If you are uncertain about something, let it be okay to not know for now.
This kind of self-authoring invites you to listen for what truly resonates with your spirit and to take ownership of your own testimony. It can lead to greater depth, authenticity, and personal spirituality.
In a 2022 talk at the Restore Conference in Salt Lake City, Jared Halverson said:
“If you care about the spiritual life that you want to live, it’s worth pulling out and starting over if you need to… You have an opportunity to rebuild with things far better than your original construction.”
As you rebuild, look for resources and communities that can support you. I have compiled a list of resources that have been helpful to me and to others on this path.
Click here to access the list.
You are not alone. There are many walking this path.
If it feels dark right now—if your hope feels thin—you can lean on the testimony of others who can tell you that peace, meaning, and even joy are possible here. This journey will change you in ways you may not yet imagine. It won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.
You will never be the same. And though it may feel impossible to see right now, your future self may one day look back with deep gratitude that you found the courage—and the faith—to begin. If you are navigating a faith crisis and feeling unsure whether to stay, step back, or reimagine your spiritual life altogether, you don’t have to do this alone.
I work with Mormon women who love God, who are thoughtful and brave, and who are trying to stay honest with their hearts in the middle of uncertainty. Coaching is a space where you don’t have to pretend, perform, or rush your answers. It’s a place to breathe, listen inward, rebuild trust with yourself, and reconnect with God in a way that feels true and grounded.
If you feel drawn to gentle support as you walk this path, I would be honored to walk with you. You can learn more about working together here.
