Maybe you’re losing faith in God because of the circumstances in your life. Or maybe you’re losing faith in God because you just don’t feel His presence anymore. We all have seasons of doubt, and if that’s you right now, know that you are not alone. This excerpt from A Better Way Bible Plan is for you.
Do you ever feel like you’re doing all the right things but experiencing all the wrong outcomes? Or maybe you’re wrestling with tough questions, like: Is Christianity even working? Does God care? Is He even listening?
Maybe you’re reading your Bible, spending time in prayer, and serving others, but you still feel distant from God. Or maybe you’re being obedient to God, but your life feels like it’s falling apart. Does that tension leave you feeling anxious, frustrated, or resentful?
At some point, we’ve all been there. Your spiritual intimacy becomes a distant memory, and you’re not sure what to do or where to turn.
What do you do when the work you’re trying to do for God is destroying the work He’s trying to do in you?
Did that question hit too close to home? You’re not alone, but there’s hope for a better way.
There’s no shame in losing faith.
First, acknowledge that your feelings are valid. It’s okay to feel frustrated when your life isn’t going the way you planned. It’s even okay to be angry at God when you feel like He isn’t listening.
Often, the path to intimacy is paved with honesty, so if you’re losing faith in God, start by telling Him about it. He won’t shame you or condemn you. He’ll meet you right where you are—in your doubt, your resentment, and in all your feelings.
He is a good Father, and He cares about your concerns. So be honest. He can handle it.
Faith is a relationship, not a checklist.
Secondly, remember that your faith isn’t supposed to be a spiritual checklist, earning you God points for a job well done. It’s easy to confuse work for Jesus with the way of Jesus, but there’s a big distinction we need to remember.
You are not God’s employee. You are His child, and He is a loving God. As His kid, He wants your full heart more than your full hands. And Christianity isn’t a belief system, it’s a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
So if you’re feeling lost, tired, or empty, there’s good news for you. Jesus came not only to fulfill God’s will, but also to show us the Way.
Early Jesus followers referred to Christianity as “The Way,” because to know Jesus is to know how to live and where to go. Just look at what Jesus says about Himself:
… “I am the way, the truth, and the life …” John 14:6 NLT
And the writer of Hebrews described it this way:
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. … Hebrews 10:20-22 NLT (emphasis added)
Jesus is our better way. In His life, death, and resurrection, He paved a path forward for us—one where we don’t have to strive for God’s approval or attention. Instead, He gave us full access to the Father—access that brings peace, freedom, and rest.
God is present as you work out your faith.
If you’re feeling distant from God, know that He is not absent from you. His presence is available, and He is nearer than you think. If you’re losing faith in God, call out to Him. Bring Him your pain, your frustration, and your unmet expectations, knowing that He cares, He sees, and He will show you the way.
Share your doubts about God
Also, you don’t have to carry this burden on your own. If you’re losing faith in God, tell trusted friends about it. Share your doubts with your LifeGroup, your mentor, or a close friend. Shame grows best in the dark, so the more we hide, the worse we feel. But when you bring those concerns out into the light, you’ll find that other people have been there before, too.
Look at the story in Mark 2:1-12. A group of friends carries one of their own to Jesus because he couldn’t make it there alone. Jesus sees the faith of the man’s friends, and that’s when the healing begins.
So if you’re losing faith in God, find some friends to carry it for you. Sometimes, we need to go to God together, trusting that the strength of our friends can get us to Jesus when our own faith is failing.
If you’re losing faith in God, here’s a prayer for you:
God, I’ve been feeling far from You lately. But I know that You’re with me, and You care for me. Today, I bring You all of my frustration, my doubt, my pain, and my resentment, and I ask that You would fill me with more of Your presence, Your peace, Your purpose, and Your passion. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Here’s something to practice this week:
Be honest with God. When you feel angry, empty, or resentful, tell Him about it. Write it down. He can handle your hurt, and He’d rather You be honest with Him than walk away from Him.
