I came back to Islam but life keeps getting tougher. Any tips?
Assalamu alaikum everyone. I’m struggling to make sense of things. I pray, I fast, and I give what little I can in charity, yet my situation just worsens. I was born into a Muslim family, but when I hit 18 I strayed far from the deen. I fell into drugs, drinking, and even became an atheist-and I wasn’t quiet about my disrespect toward Islam either. Then around 2024, I began really rethinking my life and faith. Alhamdulillah, I found my way back to Islam. I renewed my shahada and since then I’ve tried to make sincere tawbah. I ask Allah for forgiveness and truly want to be a better Muslim husband. But the thing is, life just keeps piling on hardships. These last few years have been one hit after another. Just in the past year, I’ve had three car accidents-the latest was so bad my car was totaled and I got a concussion. I’ve also had ongoing problems with where I live, my job… I can’t go into everything without sharing private details. People tell me to be grateful, but it’s tough to feel thankful when absolutely nothing seems to go your way. After every trial, I remind myself it’s a test. I recite Surah Ad-Duha and Surah Ash-Sharh, and I try to hold onto trust in Allah’s plan. But honestly, I’m finding it harder to see any light at the end of the tunnel. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a particular dua, act of worship, or advice from the Qur’an or Sunnah that got you through a time when the hardships just wouldn’t stop? Or is this just me facing the consequences of my past mistakes? I’m not asking because my faith is shaking-if this is a punishment, then I probably deserve it. I’m asking because I’m fighting hard to stay strong, and right now I’m just exhausted. JazakAllahu khair for any advice.