Struggling with Your Faith?
I’ll never forget the stark silence as I sat on the couch waiting for Betty, my spiritual mentor at the time, to call me back. If anyone would understand and not freak out, I thought it would be her.
Throughout my high school years, I practically lived in church. Now, after graduating from a Christian university, I braced myself to tell Betty the unthinkable – I no longer believed in God. I mean, I felt like I knew God, but didn’t really believe in Him. Actually, I didn’t trust the message anymore. It was a crisis of faith.
Are you struggling with your faith? If so, congratulations! It’s part of the journey. I believe that when we struggle with our faith, we’re able to see God “in a whole new way”.
In this blog I will share some key insights that can help if you’re struggling with your faith.
1. Training is a Part of God’s Plan
Proverbs 3:11-12 declares that we’re not to despise or resent the Lord’s training because He corrects those He loves.
However, when we’re being trained, it’s easy to try and turn the tables on God. It’s easy to start to think that He failed us, dropped the ball, or can’t be trusted anymore. It’s easy to get angry. We may even leave our faith in a vain attempt to show God who’s boss.
The good news is God is in the Heart Business and you’re right where He wants you – as He wants to deal with matters of the heart “first and foremost”. It can be a messy and painful business. And it can take time. Even a long time.
God trains us for our good. He wants us to share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:10 (NIRV).
2. Sin is the Root Cause of Your Struggle
In my book (Rediscovering the Divine: Seeing God in a Whole New Way), I write about my struggle with faith which, at its root, was about having power and being in control. At one point, I was able to capture the essence of my struggle in a single, but profound question. Would it be my way or God’s way? In hindsight, I wish I would have heeded the advice from the writer of the book of Hebrews.
Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NIRV).
So, when it comes to struggling with our faith, Jesus is our example.
- He started and completed the journey of faith.
- He paid no attention to the shame of the cross.
- He endured suffering as He looked forward to joy.
- He reaped the ultimate “eternal” harvest – when He sat down at the right hand of God.
If you’re struggling with your faith, suffering amidst a setback, heartbreak, or loss, or just dealing with the chaos of this life, I want to encourage you to put your hope (and trust) in God. Remember that He knows your heart, He trains those He loves, and His training “produces a harvest of godliness”.
How do you feel when you’re being trained by the Lord?
Do you ask… why is this happening to me or what do you (God) want me to learn from this?
If you would like to learn more about struggling with faith, check out my book Rediscovering the Divine: Seeing God in a Whole New Way.
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