A woman kneeling while praying. (Photo by by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels)Life throws us curveballs that can shake our faith. One minute, you’re solid in what you believe; the next, you’re filled with doubt and questions. “What do I do when my faith is shaken?” you might ask yourself.
It’s a tough spot but also a chance to grow closer to God and understand your beliefs better. Whether you’re dealing with hard times, unanswered prayers, or feeling a gap where your faith used to be, you’re not alone.
This blog is here to help. I’ll give you honest, simple steps to find your faith again, even when things seem hopeless.
What shakes our faith?
Cross pendant on an open page Bible. (Photo by George Becker from Pexels)Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, its challenges can deeply shake our faith. It’s common to find ourselves questioning beliefs we’ve held for years, leading us into a spiral of doubt and spiritual uncertainty.
So, what exactly triggers these periods where our faith seems to wobble?
Firstly, personal trials can be huge faith-shakers. The loss of a loved one, a severe illness, or financial hardship often makes us question the presence or goodness of a higher power. We wonder, “Why is this happening to me? Where is God in all of this?”
Moreover, unanswered prayers also contribute to shaky faith. When our pleas seem to go unnoticed, it’s easy to feel abandoned and question the efficacy of prayer itself. “Is anyone listening?” becomes a haunting question.
Similarly, exposure to new perspectives can create doubt. Further information can unsettle established beliefs, whether it’s a thought-provoking book, a challenging college course, or conversations with people from different backgrounds.
Last but not least, societal turmoil can also be destabilizing. When we witness injustice, division, or suffering on a grand scale, it can cause us to reevaluate the state of goodness in the world and, by extension, the nature of God.
Recognizing what shakes our faith is the first step in rebuilding it. While these periods of doubt are uncomfortable, they offer an opportunity for deeper understanding and spiritual growth.
What to do when faith is shaken
A woman running. (Photo by Pixabay from Pexels)When you find yourself doubting the beliefs that have long anchored you, it can feel disorienting and frightening.
Here are some actionable steps to help you weather this spiritual storm and rebuild your faith.
Step 1: Acknowledge the doubt
The first thing you need to do is admit that you’re struggling. It might be challenging, but you cannot fix a problem you would not admit you have.
Write down what’s bothering you, or talk it out with someone. It helps you determine precisely what you feel and start dealing with it. Your marriage, financial situations, and work-related issues may cause it.
Step 2: Reach out for support
You don’t have to go through this alone. Talk to family and friends you trust, or maybe even someone from your church. They can share their own stories or just listen to yours. Sometimes, just knowing someone else has been where you are can make things a little easier.
God uses people to comfort us and make us feel like we are not alone, especially when our faith is shaken. Our emotions are deceitful enough to hold on to, so do not be afraid to seek help.
Step 3: Engage in self-reflection
Take some time just to think. Turn off the TV, put down your phone, and just be with your thoughts. Ask yourself what made you believe in the first place and what’s changed.
Understanding the ‘why’ behind your doubt can help you know what to do next. We have to take time to realize our shortcomings. Maybe we have not talked to God for a long time and just relied on ourselves, so our faith is under trial.
More so, self-reflection is a way for us to humble ourselves before the Lord, knowing that we cannot do anything without Him.
Step 4: Consult the Bible
When we pray, we talk to God and utter our requests and thanksgiving, but when we open our Bible, God reveals Himself and gives us wisdom.
Whenever we have nowhere to go and do not know what to do, consult our Creator, our Heavenly Father, who will enlighten and empower us. When our faith is shaken, God’s words are the best reliable source of strength and wisdom to overcome our struggles.
Step 5: Pray or meditate
Prayer allows you to open your heart to God; He wants that. He is pleased to hear what’s inside your heart and mind. Whenever our faith is shaken, God reminds us that we are stronger when closer to Him.
Thus, you have nothing to be ashamed of when you pour out your heart and cry out loud to God. He is more than willing to listen and wipe your tears. Then, as we meditate on His words, He will give us rest and His own peace.
Step 6: Take action
Start doing things that tie back to your faith. Volunteer at a community center, attend church, or help a neighbor out. Doing good deeds can remind you why you believed in the first place and make you feel part of a community again.
Faith without action is dead. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
We must live our faith, no matter how difficult our situation is. We still need to serve and obey God in every way.
Step 7: Be patient
Solutions to our problems sometimes do not happen overnight. And that’s okay. God is working on your life and through your life as you wait for answers, endure hardships, and just trust in the Lord.
God has His own way and, most of the time, is different from our ways, but remember that His ways and thoughts are higher. He knows what’s best for us. He is more concerned about our hearts and attitudes amidst our waiting.
Step 8: Seek Professional Guidance
If you’re struggling, it might be helpful to talk to an expert. It could be a pastor or a counselor who knows about faith issues. They can give you more specific advice tailored to you, helping you figure out what to do next.
A sheep needs a shepherd to guide him, and God gives pastors after His own heart to shepherd us while we are here on earth.
Prayer when our faith is shaken
A person reaching the water. (Photo by Lukas from Pexels)Dear Heavenly Father,
In the quiet solitude of this moment, I come before You with a heart burdened by doubt. Lord, You who know my innermost thoughts see the crisis of faith I am experiencing. It feels as though the very foundation I’ve built my life upon is quivering beneath me, and I’m afraid.
Father, I am reminded of Peter when he stepped out onto the water towards You. For a brief moment, he walked above the waves, but when he focused on the storm around him, he began to sink. Lord, I, too feel like I am sinking in the tempest of my own uncertainty.
Your Word says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). I am weary, Lord. My faith feels frail and my spirit is tired.
In this vulnerable state, I desperately seek Your rest. I need Your guidance to navigate this storm and find my way back to firm ground.
When doubt clouds my vision, God reminds me of Your eternal truths. Illuminate the path before me with the light of Your wisdom and love. Allow me the clarity to see Your hand in my life, to recognize the multitude of ways You have been my refuge and strength.
Father, I ask that You renew my faith, not just in my mind but also in my heart. I yearn to feel Your presence in a profound way, to truly know that You are with me, even when I’m adrift in a sea of doubt.
Lord, in these moments of uncertainty, I also seek the strength to extend grace to myself. May I remember that even the apostles who walked alongside Your Son had moments of doubt and despair. It helped me realize that faith is not a steady climb toward perfection but a journey with peaks and valleys.
May Your grace be the gentle breeze that steadies me, and Your love be the anchor that grounds me. Replace my shaky faith with the assurance that can only come from knowing You.
For in You, Lord, I find my comfort, strength, and unshakable faith.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about What to do when faith is shaken.
