In the periods of my life when I've had least contact with the
In the periods of my life when I've had least contact with the Church, I've always assumed a belief in God is a solid thing, but clearly it's a relationship; it has good days and bad days.
When Tom Hollander reflects, “In the periods of my life when I’ve had least contact with the Church, I’ve always assumed a belief in God is a solid thing, but clearly it’s a relationship; it has good days and bad days,” he speaks with the humility of one who has wrestled with faith. His words remind us that belief is not a fixed stone, unmoved by time, but a living bond between the soul and the divine. Like all relationships, it is subject to seasons of nearness and distance, of light and of shadow.
The origin of this wisdom lies in Hollander’s personal journey through doubt and devotion. He perceived that many imagine faith as something unchanging, as if belief in God were simply a possession to be carried. Yet his experience taught otherwise: that the soul’s connection to the divine ebbs and flows like the tide. Just as in human bonds, there are moments of warmth and moments of strain, so too does the relationship with God move through the rhythm of life.
To name belief a relationship is to lift it from the realm of mere doctrine into the realm of the heart. A creed may be memorized, but a bond must be lived. In this living, there will be days of joy when the presence of God feels near, and days of sorrow when silence seems to reign. Hollander acknowledges both, teaching us that struggle does not weaken faith, but proves it alive.
His words also carry a lesson in honesty. Many fear to admit that their faith has “bad days,” believing it a sign of weakness. Yet the ancients knew that even prophets and saints cried out in doubt. To confess such frailty is not failure, but truth, and truth is the soil in which deeper faith may grow. The Church may offer guidance, but the essence of belief lies in the lived experience of each soul with its Creator.
Let the generations remember: faith is not a static jewel but a living relationship, with trials as well as triumphs. Tom Hollander’s words endure as a gentle reminder that to walk with God is to walk a path with both valleys and peaks, and that in this very imperfection lies the authenticity of the soul’s devotion.
Llebaoquyen
I appreciate how Tom Hollander frames faith as a relationship with its ups and downs. It's a reminder that spiritual growth doesn’t come from a perfect, unchanging belief, but from grappling with doubts and challenges. Do you think people are afraid to acknowledge the ‘bad days’ in their faith? How can we create more open, honest conversations about spiritual struggles without feeling ashamed?
CTtran nguyen cat tuong
This quote from Tom Hollander really made me reflect on my own spiritual journey. It’s so easy to think of faith as something fixed, but life’s challenges make us question and rethink our beliefs. Have you ever experienced periods where your faith was tested, and how did you navigate those moments? Do you think it’s possible to build a deeper relationship with God by embracing the fluctuating nature of faith?
TTNguyen Khoa Thien Thanh
Tom Hollander’s comparison of faith to a relationship is an interesting way to view spirituality. He acknowledges that belief isn’t always a constant, but rather something that fluctuates. Do you think this perspective makes faith more accessible to people, especially those struggling with their own belief? Can we view our relationship with God in the same way we would a friendship—one that requires effort, time, and understanding through the good and bad?
GL12A7-20-Le Gia Linh
Hollander’s take on faith as a relationship is thought-provoking. It’s something we might take for granted—the idea that belief in God is unshakable. But this view challenges that and brings a more human element to it. Do you think it’s easier to have faith when everything is going well? How do you stay connected to your faith during tough times, when it feels like a ‘bad day’?
BKbo khong
This quote makes me think about how faith, like any relationship, goes through phases. The comparison of belief in God to a relationship with good and bad days is powerful. How often do we view our spiritual journey as something that requires effort and patience, rather than expecting it to be constant and easy? Is it okay to have doubts or ‘bad days’ in our faith without feeling guilty about it?