Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10: 17(NIV)
Are you struggling with your faith? Wondering whether the promises of God are true? Do you feel like you are fighting hard to hold onto God’s promises?
Well, you are not alone. All of us go through difficult seasons that cause us to struggle with our faith.
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The challenges that we face at such times cause us to wonder if God exists. Even though God has done great and awesome things, we find ourselves struggling to trust Him.
Maybe that is what you’re going through right now.
You feel like God has not been there for you the way he should. You thought that he could have come through by now. But he’s quiet and feels distant. Your mind is gripped with negative thoughts, and you feel trapped.
What do you do when you are struggling with your faith?
When does it feel like your Christian life is about to crash?
Focus on the Love of God, not the Problem
Easier said than done, right? It’s hard to focus on God’s love when it seems like all hell has broken loose on you. The last thing you feel like doing is praying and reading the word of God. You would rather just look for help or solutions elsewhere.
But do you know what? The best time to focus on the love of God is when you don’t feel like doing it. No matter how hard it is, you need to believe that God loves you unconditionally.
Yes, things are so bad, nothing seems to be working, and the problem is getting worse. You don’t think God loves you at this point, but he does.
Turn to the word and see what it says about God’s love for man. See, the word of God says faith works by love (Galatians 5:6).
To stir your heart and believe that you’re the beloved child of God, you need to focus on God’s love and not the problem. Believe that God loves you so much, and he will help you in every situation.
Think about the alternative to Christianity
The enemy is busy trying to convince you that the word of God is not true. Maybe you’ve started entertaining all those wrong thoughts and are beginning to wonder if the Bible is true.
Some believers will tell you to brush off those evil thoughts or just cover them with the word of God.
But how about taking the time and looking at the alternatives to your faith? Take a moment and think. Imagine what will happen if you are to walk away from Christianity. If you’re doubting God’s healing power go ahead and look at the alternative of not believing that.
Would walking away from your faith be worth it? Will it leave you feeling fulfilled and content? Do you feel peaceful when you think about abandoning Christianity and living life on your own terms?
Thinking about all this will help you to reflect on life. And come up with the right answers that will enable you to be stronger in faith.
Yes, some people have done this and walked away from Christianity. But remember, just because they were with us does not mean they belonged to us (1John 2:19).
If you’re truly grounded in the word of God, you will see that the alternative is not worth it. That God is your all in all. And even if you don’t get answers to your prayers, he still remains to be God.
Also Related: 12 Great Ways To Live By Faith Every Day.
Feed yourself the word of God
Yes, you have been spending a lot of time studying the word of God, but nothing seems to be working. You’ve followed different bible study methods with the hope of seeing a manifestation. But it seems like everything has been in vain.
Please do not be discouraged from reading the word of God. See, the word of God is like a seed. It needs to be planted, watered, and fertilized. Even though you are struggling with your faith, things are changing on the inside of you. It may not look like it but be patient.
Download an audio bible app. That way, you can listen to the word of God as you go about your daily tasks. If you have some free time, go to a quiet place and spend time in the word of God. You may not feel like opening your Bible, but the best thing to do is force yourself.
Listen to the book of Psalms. It will help you see that you are not the only one who has gone through difficult times. It will also cause your hurt and disappointment to lift off because your mind will be renewed. (Romans 12:2)
Pray
You have probably been told that you should never lament to God. That it is not the right thing to do because God cannot be questioned. But David, a man after God’s own heart, wasn’t afraid to pour his heart out to God.
David told God how he felt in the given situation, and God listened to him. (Psalm 109)
In those times when you’re struggling with faith, go boldly before God’s throne and pour out your heart to him. Tell God exactly how you feel and what is going on in your life.
See, God already knows what’s going on in your life. But he also wants you to open up. God can handle anything that you tell him. You shouldn’t be afraid to share your fears and doubts with your heavenly Father.
Open up to him and let him know what you’re going through. Don’t fear to tell him that you don’t know how to deal with everything that is happening in your life.
If anyone has disappointed you and is making you question your faith. Or if a loved one has hurt you so badly and you’re so bitter about it, don’t hesitate to tell him.
Talk to a spiritual person or friend
Today many people only think of themselves and are becoming lovers of themselves. It’s becoming hard to find people we can trust with our problems. You may be hesitant about sharing what you’re going through with another person, and rightly so.
Maybe you are a church leader, and you’re scared of telling someone that you are struggling with your faith. You don’t want to seem like a hypocrite.
But here’s the thing at times, the best way to deal with something is to find someone you can talk to. Find someone that is spiritually mature and secretive to help you.
You can talk to a spiritual friend and ask them to stand with you in prayer. You can also talk to a spiritual leader in your church that is trustworthy. Better still go to a Christian counselor.
At times we need to look at life from a different perspective. Doing so will enable you to stand firm and do things the right way. Talking to other people about faith will help you to see spiritual matters from a different angle. (James 5:16)
Evaluate your unmet expectations
We all have different expectations in life. But the truth is just because we expect some things to happen in our lives does not mean that they will happen. That you expect God to meet certain expectations in your life does not mean that he will. Why?
Sometimes our expectations are not in alignment with God’s word. Other times they are, but it may not be the right time for God to meet what you’re praying for.
You need to evaluate all the things that you’re expecting and praying for. And see whether you’re coming from the point of faith or you just want to have your way. (James 4:2-3)
Are you struggling with your faith because God is not doing things the way you want? Or are you trusting God no matter what and how he answers your prayers?
Measure your expectations against the word of God and find out if they are in alignment. Putting your expectations into perspective will help you to look at things differently.
It will also cause you to trust God more because you’ll realize that it is not about you. It is about Him.
To sum it up
If you are struggling with your faith right now and beating yourself about it, know that you’re not alone.
As long as you’re living in this fallen world, you will struggle with your faith at some point. There’ll be times when you will question the existence of God. But all this does not mean that God will condemn you or is not happy with you.
There will be times when your faith will be strong. But there will also be times when you will find it hard to stand firm in the word of God.
No matter what you’re going through, remember that God is with you till the end. Remember that you have the same faith that Jesus had, for we have been given a measure of faith. No matter how bleak things may look right now, know that you’ll come out stronger than before.
