Four practical tips for restoring your faith when life is a mess
Life is hard. When circumstances get difficult or out of control, it's easy to think God has forgotten us or can't hear our prayers.
In those seasons, it's important to remember that the Lord is faithful, and He never changes. When facts, emotions, and other people scream you have no hope, there are things we can do to recall God's faithfulness and find hope in the chaos.
1. Read and memorize Scripture.
God speaks through His Word, and His Word never fails. It always accomplishes the task He sends it to do. The Holy Spirit helps us by focusing our attention on God's promises. Focus your mind, will, and emotions on what is true. Find a passage that addresses the season you are in right now. Read it quietly, speak it out loud, and get it in your heart. Not sure where to start?
- Psalm 27 and Isaiah 41:10 promise we have nothing to fear because God is with us.
- John 16:33 reminds us that Jesus helps us overcome even the toughest circumstances.
- Romans 8 tells how Jesus saved us when we couldn't save ourselves.
- Hebrews 12:7 encourages us to endure all hardship as discipline.
- Romans 5:3-4 challenges us to persevere because it produces good character and hope.
2. Remember how God has been faithful to your friends and family.
Are you praying for a baby? Remember the stories of those who waited and prayed for years to get pregnant. Are you believing for a family member to know Jesus? Remember the friend who saw that miracle happen in the life of their grandmother or uncle. Rehearsing God's goodness to others stirs our faith for His work in our lives. God has been faithful to them, and He will be faithful to you.
3. Worship the Lord by singing.
Stir your affections for the Lord through music. Find a favorite song that speaks to your situation, and sing it out. David encouraged himself in the Lord when he was down, knowing his God was more constant than his emotions, truer than anything he was feeling. That doesn't mean our feelings aren't important, but we need to channel them toward the Lord. Singing is a powerful tool to focus our hearts on His goodness.
4. Be faithful with what you have and pray for God to bless it.
Sometimes the hardest, but the most essential, thing to do is to get on with life. After you've prayed, reflected on Scripture, celebrated God's faithfulness, and sang your heart out, you've got to step out in faith to live every day. Trust that God is with you, and He will overcome every obstacle you face. You are not alone, and the One who holds the universe in His hand will take care of you.