faith
... In the novel, the people who lived during the dust bowl suffered a spiritual crisis in which they questioned, lost, and eventually sought restoration of their faith. ... These God-fearing people began to question their faith: If God truly cared for them, why did He just let their years of hard work be ruined. ... ” Steinbeck probably means another crop, but the ‘something’ was hope, to have faith that a new day will come were the skies would part bringing rain, new crops, and life. Perhaps the most dire example of the questioning of faith, is the reverend Jim Casy’s complete loss of faith. ... Jim Casy finds that the hope and faith he used to bring to the people is no more. That he cannot help people through these dark times, and because of it Jim has lost faith. ... Even during these dark times, the people tried to find some hope to restore their faith.