Experiencing a crisis of faith can be deeply troubling and unsettling. You may feel confused, doubtful, and far from God. Here is a 9000 word guide on how to overcome a crisis of faith according to the Bible.
Remember God’s faithfulness
When doubts arise, it’s important to remember how God has been faithful to you in the past. Reflect on the ways He has guided, provided for, and sustained you through difficult times. As Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God’s character does not change. The God who was faithful before is still faithful now.
Look back at previous challenges you have faced and how God brought you through them. Perhaps it was a time when you were ill and God healed you, lost and God guided you, worried about a loved one and God protected them. Whatever the case, reminding yourself that God has never failed you can renew your confidence in His ongoing faithfulness.
Spend time seeking God
When experiencing doubts, it’s vital to continue seeking God in prayer, worship, Bible reading, and Christian community. Don’t isolate yourself – immerse yourself in the means of grace God has given us. Pray honestly about your struggles and ask God to meet you in them. As James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Pour out your heart to God.
Keep reading the Bible, even if you feel distant from it. Ask God to speak to you through His word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Let Scripture anchor you when doubts feel overwhelming. Sing worship songs – God’s truth permeates our hearts through worship. And stay plugged into a local church. We need Christian fellowship during trials.
Cling to God’s promises
God’s word is filled with promises we can hold onto amidst doubt and despair. Take time to meditate on passages like:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Immerse your mind in the hope of God’s promises. They remind us we are not alone no matter how alone we feel. God sees you in your pain and will never forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Persevere through the wilderness
At times God may allow you to walk through a “wilderness” period of deep inner struggle. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. God may lead you into a wilderness to refine your faith and teach you greater dependence on Him.
Though it feels aimless and uncertain, know that God has purpose for this season. As God told the Israelites: “You have seen…how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went” (Deuteronomy 1:31). Though you cannot see the way, God has not abandoned you in the wilderness. Persevere in hope that He will bring you out renewed.
Wait patiently for God
Working through doubts requires patience and perseverance. We want answers and clarity immediately. But spiritual growth often happens slowly, over time. Like a tree, faith needs both sun and rain to take root. Don’t demand that God show up on your timetable.
The Psalmist cried “How long?” amidst his own doubts (Psalm 13:1), but kept trusting God. Follow his example. Bring your honest laments to God while still praising Him (Psalm 13:5-6). Let endurance strengthen your faith as you wait on the Lord. “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Examine potential barriers in your life
Sometimes our own choices and lifestyles contribute to drifting from God. Examine your life for habits or patterns that could be interfering with your relationship with God. Are you indulging in things you know displease God? Are you neglecting time with God or with other believers? Consider making needed changes.
Confess any known sin, which hardens our hearts to God’s voice (Psalm 66:18). Prune away distractions that keep you from seeking God. Just as a clogged heart artery slows blood flow, unconfessed sin hinders our connection to God. Examine your life and make space for God’s peace to enter in.
Explore resources that strengthen faith
During spiritual droughts, tap into resources that can rejuvenate your soul. Read books by respected Christian authors that address doubt and provide perspective. Listen to podcasts from anointed teachers who delve into struggles of faith. Seek out mentors with wisdom. Their experience and counsel can be invaluable.
Consider attending Christian conferences or retreats where you can get away from routine and immerse yourself in spiritual nourishment. God often uses times set apart to refresh us. Be proactive about putting yourself in places where your faith can be revived.
Help others struggling with doubt
Sometimes the best remedy for our own doubts is serving others who are also struggling spiritually. We often receive the most strength when we reach out to lift another’s burden. Their questions may resonate with our own, and we are reminded we are not alone. God uses even our faltering faith to encourage someone else in the Body of Christ.
Offer empathy, prayer, and spiritual guidance to a fellow doubter. God will use you in their life. And by God’s grace, their persevering faith may inspire you in return. Serving others grappling with uncertainty can end up strengthening your own soul.
Trust God’s timing and process
Walking through doubt is a process that unfolds gradually, not all at once. We want to vault from unbelief to rock-solid faith overnight. But God works patiently over time to refine us. We must yield to His timing and methods.
Consider the disciples. Though they walked with Jesus, they often doubted who He was. Their faith progressed slowly through continual encounters with His power and teaching. And even after seeing the risen Christ, some still doubted! (Matthew 28:17). Let God develop your faith in His way and time.
Recognize that doubt can strengthen faith
As counterintuitive as it seems, doubt can actually strengthen our faith as we walk through it. Why? Because wrestling with doubts requires us to examine the foundations of our faith. When we work through these uncertainties, we develop convictions based on sound reasoning rather than taking faith for granted.
A faith that has been tested can become purer and more steadfast, like gold refined in fire (1 Peter 1:7). Pray for God to use your doubts to take you deeper. Keep seeking until you can declare as Job did, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5).
Rely on the Holy Spirit’s help
We are not alone in our struggle with doubts. The Holy Spirit is the Helper and Counselor who comes alongside us (John 14:16). His ministry is to guide us into all truth and remind us of God’s realities when we forget (John 14:26, 16:13).
Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see God anew. Plead with Him to revive childlike trust within you. Wait on the Spirit to ignite faith’s flickering flame once more. He knows your weaknesses and will empower you to believe if you ask in surrender. Our Advocate’s help is indispensable.
Take thoughts of disbelief captive
Doubts often begin as thoughts that germinate in our minds. If we water and nurture those thoughts, they can take root and grow. But 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
When doubts arise, reject those thoughts in Jesus’ name. Replace them with truth from God’s word. Ask Him to expose the lies so you can counter them with Scripture. Capture each speculation before it blossoms. And choose to dwell on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Refocus on Jesus, not your struggles
When floundering in faith, it’s easy to fixate on yourself – your insecurities, feelings, and inability to overcome doubt. But this self-focus only breeds more turmoil. The answer is to shift your gaze to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Immerse yourself in the Gospels – Jesus’ compassion, authority, and sovereignty jump off the page. Listen to worship music that exalts Christ’s greatness. Spend time in nature reflecting on His creativity and care. Pour out your heart to Him and let His presence consume you. Jesus is bigger than all your doubts.
Trust God’s heart of love
Our doubts often reveal places where we have an incomplete or skewed view of God’s character. We start questioning His goodness, care or understanding. But Scripture reassures us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and “Lord, your mercy endures forever” (Psalm 119:64).
Ask God to show you any misconceptions driving your doubts. How does He want to expand your understanding of His love? Release distorted ideas of Him. Trust that no matter how He seems, His heart toward you remains affectionate, nurturing and unwavering. Rest confidently in His perfect fatherly care.
Rely on your baptism’s promise
If you have been baptized into Christ, cling to this tangible marker when assailed by doubts. Baptism signifies that you have been buried and resurrected with Jesus (Romans 6:4). It represents God washing away your sin and declaring you righteousness in His sight.
Remember, you belong to Him! Let your baptism’s promise resound louder than the lies. God has signed and sealed you as His beloved child, and nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Your baptism proves He will never leave or forsake you, doubts notwithstanding.
Trust God to complete His work in you
Ultimately, we must rely on God’s faithfulness to complete the work He’s begun in us. Even when we are unfaithful, Scripture says God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). He who started a good work in you will carry it through to completion (Philippians 1:6).
When you feel like giving up, believe God is able to keep you from stumbling and make you stand without blemish before Him (Jude 1:24). Despite every doubt, setback, and struggle, He promises to fulfill His purposes. Entrust yourself to the One who guards you till the end.
Know you are not alone
Every genuine follower of Christ has faced doubts at some point. From biblical heroes like John the Baptist to missionaries like Mother Teresa, seasons of questioning strike every heart. You are part of the communion of imperfect saints!
Do not compare your faltering faith to someone else’s apparent confidence. They may be wrestling silently too. Take courage that you travel a path well-trodden by fellow pilgrims through the centuries. And keep walking, with God’s help, one step at a time.
Embrace mystery
At times, God does not provide the full clarity or resolution we desire. We must embrace the mysterious, unsettled nature of faith. As 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror.” Some doubts linger because absolute certainty about God remains elusive in this life.
Yet Scripture calls us to keep following the light we’re given. Jesus told Thomas who doubted, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe” (John 20:27). God meets us in the doubts, then calls us onward. Will we follow?
Conclusion
Experiencing doubts about God can be deeply painful. But seeing it as an invitation from God to know Him more intimately changes everything. With His grace, you can emerge stronger. Setbacks prepare you for His new work. You can say as David did, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Allow this season to make God sweeter.
Keep pursuing Him. Let endurance finish its work. The One who began a good work in you remains faithful to complete it. He will lift you up and restore your soul. You will someday look back in awe at His sustaining hand through it all.
