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People often begin to lose faith in God as a result of their life experiences. Some face things that seem cruel or unbearable. Others are confronted with information presented from a secular viewpoint that rejects God.
Through experiences like these, people start questioning whether the God of the Bible truly has the answers to life’s problems. As they begin to doubt God, their faith begins to waver and weaken. As a result of their doubts, they may stop worshipping and communicating with God, which in turn, makes it even easier for their faith to diminish and eventually die.
God wants us to reach out to Him in faith, even when our faith feels very small. He wants us to trust Him even when it seems there is not much reason to do so. Several millennia ago, a man named Job experienced huge financial losses, deep grief in losing his children, and severe physical illness. At a time like this, Job would have seemingly had many reasons to doubt God and lose his faith. His wife even suggested that he curse God and die.
Job, however, rebuked her for her foolishness. Although he, too, at times questioned why these things were happening to him, he always returned to God in faith. His statement of faith in God is applicable for everyone who finds their faith wavering as a result of life experiences: “Though he [God] slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15).
If you feel that you are losing faith in God or have already lost your faith, reach out to God anyway. Muster the small amount of faith you have to tell Him exactly how you feel and to seek His Word for answers to your life. Surround yourself with strong Christian people who will support you though your times of doubt. Not only will you experience the blessing of walking in relationship with a powerful God through the ups and downs of life, you can also anticipate a time when you will be received by Him and ushered into everlasting glory.
People lose faith in God for various reasons. On the following pages are two short accounts of people who lost their faith.
I have been struggling with doubt about God for a long time. I have been going through something for close to thirty years and I just recently found the name for it and it is called scrupulosity. All these years I have prayed and prayed crying my eyes out for God to help me and take this away from me and I never had any results. Having scrupulously is a living hell and no one hardly knows about it. No one I talk to can help and I even been on meds but nothing changes. I have sever OCD and scrupulosity is one of them and I’m depressed and and lonely and just don’t want to be here anymore. I’m very tired. Since 2011 my Momma has been going through cancer. God healed her the first time of cancer or so I thought cause about two years later it had come back and had spread everywhere. Momma found out December 24,2013 the cancer was back throughout her body. Momma fought cancer from then to March 5,2018 when she passed away. We all prayed for her all the time and our church did too even standing in front of church with people laying hands on her praying for healing but it didn’t happen. So I have had doubts about God being real and everything I have been taught over the years but now it’s like I don’t believe in God at all. He had never healed me from my daily torment with scrupulosity and he didn’t heal my Momma from cancer. I never feel him and never see any changes in my life except for losing all my faith. I needed my Momma here with me cause she was the only one I could talk to and tell about all the terrible thoughts and everything going on with me. Momma was there for me for anything. I’m 44 and I feel like a 5 year old that lost his Momma. When I try to talk to someone about how I feel that I don’t think I believe in God anymore they say, so you think your Momma was lying all these years she live for the Lord and that makes me angry cause my Mom did not ever lie. My Mom promised me two things in her life that God was real and she loved me with all her heart. It’s hard for me to believe God is real anymore because I never see prayers answered and I never feel his presence. So even though she promised me God is real it’s still hard for me to believe that now. There’s so many things in this world people believe in so how do you know who’s right or if anybody is. I may be rambling to much but I really don’t know what to do. If I’m wrong and die then there will be my eternity in hell which I do not want to happen but how can I believe in God again if I do not EVER feel him or see proof. You have to believe in God with all your heart to be saved right,so let’s say I might believe 2% that he may be real that’s not going save me. What gets me is how scared and terrified I have always been that I would not make it to heaven from something I had done or said especially with the scrupulosity and now since Mom is gone I just don’t think all of this is really true. I don’t pray or anything anymore. Please anyone help if you can to get me to see if God is real.
@Michael, I am not an expert in OCD or its various forms. But I do believe like your Mother apparently did that God is real and that God loves you. However, God makes His own choices and we cannot manipulate Him or put Him on a guilt trip to force Him to do what we want Him to do. When Job faced these questions (see book of Job in the Old Testament), he finally realized that God is so great that he (Job) couldn’t judge God for what He did, even though he didn’t understand why God did them or allowed them. That is why the New Testament teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done. Even Jesus faced this. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was staring death in the face, and He begged God to take it away. In Matthew 26:39 He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” We always need to give God the right to say “no” to our prayers, because God understands our situation much better than we do. You may need to seek professional help for your condition, but I would also encourage you to seek out Christian friends to help you. Read the Gospels in the New Testament as well. This will help you to understand Jesus and the love He has for you. Also feel free to call our toll-free number. Someone will be glad to share with you and pray for you. 1-855-367-8788. God bless you today.
For a while I have been on the verge of giving up. I used to be the first to say God use me as your vessel and spread your word of love and comfort but lately trying times and sorrow have led me to understanding that God does not care about anything that we have put on ourselves.
I am at the point that I’m asking what is next? Who is next? And yet I still hear his voice asking me to put my trust in him. Pray for me
@Marie Trying times and sorrow are part of being a human living in a broken world. Sin has taken a perfect world and turned it into what it is. God will often allow sin to take its natural course. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care for us. He will walk with us and give us strength. Remember Job? He said, even thought He [God] slay me, I will trust him. That’s my encouragement to you. Trust God.
I was the strong believer, saw God move in my and others peoples life. Married a man who i belived loved the Lord too. However that man was a narcissist and after i didn’t stroke his ego or fit his idea of perfection anymore, he emotionally abused for years and had me convinced that i was the horrible one. He constantly threatened to leave me and that my actions were the reasons he didn’t love me anymore. The whole time the abuse was going on I prayed to the Lord to save our marriage. Also, since my now ex-husband had stopped believing in god and was involved with spiritualism and communing with ghosts and energy, I prayed that God would send someone other than me to calm him out and bring him back to God, if not for me but for my two children. Once the ex finally decided he was ready to divorce me ( after i supported him through college and drained our savings for his whims) because i was mentally broken and suicidal and he didn’t want to deal with taking care of me, he convinced me to give up my rights to my children until i was better. He promised to give me joint custody once i was better which has never happened. All this time i prayed and trusted God, i tithed, i was involved in church, I prayed, i tried to do the best i could to be a true believer. But one financial issues after another, being without my kids for 9.5 months of the year ( i get them for summer and christmas breaks) and watching the ex who doesn’t believe in God, be able to buy a house, get a massive inheritance (while i still pay off debt from the divorce), cracks started to erode my faith. And now i have an amazing boyfriend who cares for me in a way i didn’t know was possible, who is way more “Christ-like” than my ex was, but who is an athiest. I know the bible says you are suppose to be equally yoked, and that i should end the relationship, but i don’t understand how a loving God could constantly want me to give up the good in my life for him and that who constantly lets trouble to come into my life and lets things happen to me when i’ve begged, pleaded, cried out for deliverance. Told him i could handle anymore tests of my faith and that i need some blessings. Good didn’t come to me until i stopped being a “faithful one”
@Anna: I think the key phrase in your comment is “I don’t understand…” This is often the case. As a human being, my perspective is different from God’s perspective. But if we can trust God enough to say, “I don’t understand, but I still trust you…” it will make a difference. It might not change our circumstances, but it will change how we handle them. –LB
I’m done!!!!!!!!
I’ve served God with all my heart for years!!!!’
All I’ve had in my life has been disappointments.
I was a missionary, I’m a great mom, granny. But trials keep coming.
I keep praying!
Believing, hoping. To no avail. What car n I do ? Why is God forsaken me?
I love him. But Now I wonder, is this is all a lie! ????????
@Lillian… When Jesus hung dying on the cross, He cried out in His humanity, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Sometimes in our humanity, we do the same. I think God understands that. I can’t explain why God puts us through trying times, but I do know that what God allows in our lives will always make us better people if we let it. The devil, of course, tries to tell us that these “bad” things mean that God doesn’t care, that He doesn’t love us, and that He’s only taking advantage of us. We don’t have to listen to Satan’s insinuations, but too often we do. Don’t let Satan win the battle for your soul. Read the book of Job, especially the last five or six chapters, when God finally breaks His silence and talks to Job. Note Job’s reaction. We serve the same God Job served. Like Job we can say, “Even if he slays me, I will trust Him.” I answered you on our chat line as well. You can email me by replying to that email. Or call our toll free number at 1-855-367-8788 [855 FOR TRUTH].
Donna,
Thanks for your post it makes me feel better/ less bad about myself because I’m selfish/ self-centered and it’s always about me!
I’m curious, do you have anything good in your life?
I still believe in creator God because the wonder of His magnificent earth is undeniable. But I no longer believe in a God who loves me. In fact all evidence points out He hates me more than He hates the devil. I don’t even know if the devil and God are separate anymore. I think maybe Satin is on God’s payroll so He can have a scapegoat for all the evil and neglect He enjoys. I have served God devoutly all my life and He has denied me 100% of my simple dreams and given me 100% of my nightmares. It is point by point extremely personal ti my specific soul on things I have never even spoken out loud to anybody. I have nothing and no one and about to lose my home as I just lost my 4th job of the year (through no fault of my own; it is always preventable injustice). God is always on my enemies side and never on mine. I always lose no matter how earnest and how long I pray. No matter how good I am or how hard I work and obey, or how evil the injustice. I am invisible to any and all kindness or humanity. I believed all my life that if I ever really needed God He would show up for me. He won’t. And I can’t even type the worst of it. He has lied to me all my life. He is not on my side, not ever. He doesn’t care one bit what happens to me. He delights in my terror and suffering. I was always taught He cares – He wants to heal our wounds – He is a deliverer. Nothing could be further from the truth. I feel like the church is nothing more than a lying machine to rope hurting children in to promise them a bunch of empty lies that were never true. I still believe in heaven but I can’t say why I do. He has fully lied about every other promise written down in the bible. He doesn’t defend, protect, or help His children or His supposed values. As far as I can tell the whole thing is a scam just to suck up praise (and money) from stupid people who trusted Him. I might as well worship one of those false Gods. It’s the same difference. And it’s not just me. This is the experience of the vast majority of faithful Christians. We are nothing more than chattel to Him. Lives to play with just like that Star Trek episode with the Greek gods. I can no longer pray or go to church because I am SICK of the grinning liars who think lying to people is glorifying God. It is not. I don’t think I will ever respect Him again. He’s just one more liar and betrayer Who stands for nothing He says He does. Do as I say not as I do. Funny how I thought I had hatred of liars in common with God but no. That’s just another lie.
Thanks for sharing your feelings, Donna. I’m sorry you feel that way about God. Did you know that Job shared many of your feelings about life? But he also said, about God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” [See Job 13:15] In spite of your feelings, God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you.
He sent His Son to die for all humanity. And although I am very grateful, it wasn’t personal. To answer my prayers about my specific needs that would be personal only for me alone.
I truly don’t know where to start. Even thou I believe God is real, I see that my faith in him is hanging by a thread. I see that my prayers doesn’t matter to Him. God does say to pray without ceasing but what He also should said is – That He will answer if He feel like it. In Job it says God let Satan destroy Job’s life. This was to test his faith? What loving father permit someone to harm they child? As much as I don’t want to believe that God can be cruel, my trust in Him is starting to be slim to none. And I truly believe that God blesses who he want to bless and He lets all the rest suffer. Why? That’s truly not LOVE! Romans 9: 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Hi Sondra, and thanks for sharing. I’m sorry for the struggles you are going through. I view both of these illustrations a little differently than you do, though I understand where you are coming from. In a sense, perhaps, God was testing Job’s faith by allowing Satan to test Job. But it seems to me that God had so much confidence in Job that he allowed this to happen. We don’t understand God’s ways, but the whole point of the book of Job is that God is so great that we can trust him even if we don’t understand. As far as Romans 9 goes, note that Paul used Pharaoh as an illustration of what he was speaking of. God doesn’t harden people’s hearts unless they have hardened themselves in outright rebellion against Him. Even in such a situation God often shows an amazing amount of long-suffering.
I believe there is a Christian God, but I know longer believe we are all saved. I personally do not see a place in heaven for myself and fully do not expect one. I hurt the woman God gave me. I did not have a physical affair but had an emotional one which I have cometo learn is just as bad. I can list the excuses to as why but I in a moment of feeling lonily and depressed I decided to turn to my own desires rather than turn to God. See my marriage had no issues prior to this occuring we wrre happy. In fact trying to have another child just a few months before. I did everything God expected of me when my wife found out, I took accountability I dropped to my knees in prayer and I begged for forgiveness. I tried everything in my power to work things out with her with no avail. A short 6 months after the issue began I found my self in court the day after my 7th wedding anniversary crying hysterically as a judge ordered me to sign the divorce decree. A few months later another woman came into my life, she know manythings about me most do not. Everything my from issues as a child to even my mistakes in my marriage. She has accepted me for who and I am and what i want to be. And likewise she has shared alot with me as well. While I feel strongly connected to her and that God did put her in my life. I am unable to overcome the extreme guilt and shame of failing in my marriage. I admit my wife was not perfect and was not willing to admit thise imperfections she put it all on me and while she also had an emotional affair a few years ago herself, i still feel as spiritual leader of the household my duty as seen by God I failed temendously. I truely believe in my heart I do not deserve entry to through the gates. I know people have done far worst than me is the arguement many will present. But I feel it in my heart that I am unsavable. I know people will say thats not what the teachings say that we are all sinfull. But the more and more I have prayed and try to understand this all the more I realize I am not savable. My wife who brought me to god and to the church who has string faith could not even find the stregnth to forgive me. I know people think I am just hurting right now saying this, but it has something I have been praying about and discussing with spirtual leaders for months now and I truely believe this is where I am at and going to remain.
Ryan, my heart goes out to you. You are going through a very hard time in life. But I don’t feel that you are unsaveable. The grief in your heart is evidence that God is still calling you to Him. Don’t turn your back on Him.
I am a Catholic female and I had a strong belief in God our father but over time I have begun to lose my faith in human nature and in God. I don’t understand why I feel like this. I do still believe in God but I do not feel him in my heart or in my life. I feel very lonely and I don’t know what to do about it. I want to feel better about my life and the way I feel about myself and God. Can anyone give or offer any help or advice. I feel desperate at times and very sad about my life.
Hi Joyce. Thanks for sharing your struggles. This happens sometimes because we get our eyes off God and onto men (or women). Humans will always fail us sooner or later and if we are dependent on them, we will crash with them. Have you read the Gospels? Reading them will help you to get your eyes back on Jesus. Find some Christian friends that you can share with and pray with. If you would like, please call our toll free number and share with our phone team. Someone will be happy to pray with you and help you to find Christian fellowship. The number is 855-367-8788.
Married for 16 years to what I thought was the most perfect husband. We are now getting divorced due to his indisgressions. I am 50 years old and have nothing. I have no where to go. I have no hope and have no faith anymore. I am lost and have nothing. I don’t know how to get back. I prayed and prayed for this not to happen. Please don’t tell me to pray to a God that doesn’t hear me.
Hi Cathy. Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry that you have faced these sorrows in your life. Sin so often harms innocent people. But remember that these things are the result of sin, not because God doesn’t hear you. Do you have a Christian friend you could share with? If not, feel free to call our phone team at 855-367-8788. The number is toll free and they will be glad to pray with you and help you to find a way forward. Have you read the Gospels? Try reading them and see what Jesus is really like. And remember, no matter how tough life seems to get, God still loves you.
Hi I’m 26 years old female and I used to have such a close relationship with god and it’s like for over a year now I lost it I still believe in god it’s just that like I don’t talk to him no more nor do I want to pray like I question is he really here with me? I been through so much hell in these two years I can’t bear it anymore I lost the man I love my ex husband I lost all my family friends nobody talks to me or wants anything to do with me my father died when I was a little girl and now it’s like just as good as my mother is gone to Bcuz she don’t have nothing to do with me doesn’t want to help me or have any part of me I am homeless I have no home to go to I have no money I’m having a baby n all these bad chain of events keep happening in my life and won’t end Where is god why am I suffering when will this end when will I believe in him the way I used to I don’t know what to do I cry to god and Jesus to take me to heaven I can’t Do life anymore with this hurt sorrow and pain but god won’t take me I just continue to suffer why????????????????????
Hi, and thanks for sharing you hurt with us. God often doesn’t share with us “why” he does things or why he allows them. In the book of Job you see this illustrated. Job asked why, why, why over and over again. God’s answer seems to have been, I am so great that you can trust me even if you don’t know why. That isn’t an easy answer when you are going through the valley, I know. But sometimes all we can do is trust. Do you have any Christian friends to share your struggles with? If not, try calling our toll free number and sharing with one of our phone team members? They might be able to help you find someone who could stand with you during your time of trial. The number is 855-367-8788
I have come to a point in my life that as I look back at all my struggling things keep getting worst no matter how hard I try and pray I look at life in a blank state of being and from a child until now I wonder when will my living stop being in vain.
Hi Leo and thanks for sharing. Have you tried reading the Gospels to get a glimpse of who Jesus really is? Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30)
See this link to our inspiration blog.
James Baer’s inspiration for the week sheds some light on this subject that you might find helpful. –LB
I have addiction with gambling and this has lead me into huge dept and now depression,and in my attempt to solve this issue I tried becoming a committed Christian but day in day out the people I owe chase after me and I am in a serious depression. I have lost faith in God. Because my issue are still there.
God doesn’t promise that he will bail us out of our problems. Rather he helps us to live with our problems. This is especially true if our problems are the result of our sin or bad decisions. But if we commit our lives to him, our past mistakes don’t need to drive us away from him. Could you get some financial counselling to help you to budget paying back your debts? Or get a consolidation loan, to satisfy your debtors?
I have been going through a lot lately and it feels like it has been one thing after another. What do you do when you feel like God isn’t listening.
Have you lost track of God somehow? Sometimes we need to go back and face the issue that seemed to be the start of the problem. There are times that God waits a while to answer, but He always hears us. So if you don’t know of any reason God might be trying to get your attention by his silence, maybe wait a little to find out what he has in mind. Blessings to you, today.
If only Job had Jesus!
The old testament is all Job had and God called Job “blameless and upright” & “no one on earth like him”. WoW! He saw destruction like no other patriarch.
Jesus said “Enter through the narrow gate.”
That narrow gate is the New Testament (narrower in size than Old Testament).
Awesome creator!
Interesting thoughts. Job is often thought to be the oldest book of the Old Testament, so it is quite possible that he didn’t have access to any of the written words of God.
Hi… I don’t really know where do I have to start. Ya I lose my faith. In my life I face a lot of challenges but I feel God’s presence in all circumstances & He (God) always be my strength. But now I can’t things are get more difficult & become worst. Of course I was categorized under gentel Christian. My life is mess up. I don’t only ask God to figure out things firstly I ask Him ‘dont ever hid your face from me & don’t let me down.’ However now I’m just give up because God let me. My be he also give up on me or….. I don’t know. As far as I can I was depart from world to obey His law. My I deserve this? During all this gap I fail & I did same misteks. Dear God please help me cos you are the only who can safe me(same part my heat have this pray). I can’t pray, worships, read Bible… I miss Him also!
God is always there for us, if we are willing to take His way in life. He will not turn His back on us. Try to find some good Christian friends who can help you to find your way back to Him.
let god speak for himself. Never mind all the defensive quotes about what he is interested in doing. These quotes mean nothing when you pray and see nothing happen. A personal relationship with god should have god responding to questions asked to him.
God will speak for himself if you let him. Have you spent time listening for his voice? A lot times he will speak through the Bible, especially the New Testament. Maybe try reading the Gospel of Matthew and see what Jesus is all about.
I have been a believer in God all my life. Im not a religious prayer but I do know in my heart that I believe in God and I pray to Him whenever there are things happening in my life that I have no control of and If there are things that happened that I should be thankful for.Until many unfortunate things suddenly happened in my life all at the same time, I’ve been married for 4 years and prayed several times for a miracle baby. I have been diagnosed with PCOS( Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome). He didn’t answer my prayers, I said to my self, maybe He has better plans for me. Then my husband had to work overseas, I sacrificed my job and followed him. Now I ended up hiding in a room in his shared accommodation because we don’t have enough money to rent a place. I am unemployed, no money of my own, sick, depressed and questioning why God did this to me, have I been a terrible person? Do I deserve this?
I ask Him why do I see the people who have hurt me succeeding in their lives and me who they hurt is here feeling worthless and alone. Is God really fair?
I always say to my friends who are in need of advice that God is good and God is fair. He sees us all equally, but now, Im no longer sure.
I stopped praying to Him but there was still a small bit of faith in my heart hoping that after my tearful and sleepless nights, things will be better . But again, His answer is NO. It’s like every week, He gives me more reason to question my faith and to feel like I am carrying a big rock that I can no longer carry.
If God is really good, why does He allow meto suffer like this? Why does He let my faith be shaken to the point of no longer believing? I feel like He makes me believe in Him through the words in the bible and then He destroys that faith with circumstances just when I have all the faith I thought we have.
I still hope for things to be better, and if it gets better, I think it’s just meant to be better not because God has answered my prayers.
I feel for your hurt, my friend. But remember that God didn’t promise to give us an easy life. He did promise, however, that He would be with us and give us grace and strength so that we could survive the hard times. He invites us to share our struggles with him and he will give us rest. That is a tremendous miracle. People have found that rest in dungeons and while facing execution. The evil circumstances of life are caused by the sinfulness of mankind, not by God. The devil would have us blame God for it, but God wants to help us through these times. –LB
i have lost my faith. i tried to read the bible and pray. i am getting no were. i meet Jesus on my 20’s and i loved him so much. I was a teacher for over 14 years. Jesus sent me my wife when i was going to college. She was a ministers daughter. We had 4 beautiful daughters. together. i was in an auto accident I was out of work for 2 years. during that time i went back to college and finish my degree in teaching. on new years eve, i walked in on my wife having a affair with my brother-in-law. on the living room floor. i tried to work it out for 4 years. but, trust was gone. the marriage end. i went to church and prayed for 3 days and 3 nights. God did not answer. my daughters would come over on the weekends, summer, some holidays. one night my oldest daughter did not want to go home. i called my ex-wife and told her what was going on and ask if i can keep her for a few more days so i could talk to her and find out what was going on. my ex-wife told me, No. when i dropped off my daughters my daughters was screaming. my ex-wife called her father (minister) and told him that my oldest daughter was processed with a demon and she needs to be delivered. The next time my daughters came over. They went to the neighbors to play. about a 1 hour later. the neighbor came over and told me what my daughters to told her. My 4 daughter was being raped and molested by my ex-wife boyfriend and it been going on for over a 1 year. I called CPS. they came and took my daughters for an interview. They brought back the next day. i got into my car and i was heading over to kill this man. but a friend stop me. CPS told my ex-wife what happen and why the children are staying with me. My ex-wife did not believe them. I keep my daughters for over 1 and half years. The courts let them go back with their mother. The man who raped and molested my daughters got only 8 years in jail. it came out my daughters were not the only ones he molested it came up 16 counts of molesting with other children. 1 year after my daughters went back to with their mother. my ex-wife packed up and moved 900 miles away. i went to court to stop her. but the judge told her she could because she is moving down close to her dad. my ex-wife called me told me that i put an innocent man in jail. she still did not believe he molested our daughters and my ex-wife started telling my daughters it was my fault that all this happen to the point my 3 youngest daughters will not talk to me. i have not seen my 3 youngest daughters in 10 years not knowing if they were safe or if they are being hurt again. The only way i found out any news about my youngest daughter was from my oldest daughter. she had contact with them. i started having nightmares of my daughters being raped and i am trapped in the chair. i can’t break free to save them. I watch my daughters being raped and killed in front of me. I went to the Doctor They told me i had PTSD and gave me medication. it helps some. But, feeling of failing my daughters and not being able to protect them. i gave up. and overdosage on medication. I lost faith in Jesus. why didn’t he protect them? why did he let my marriage end, what have i done so bad? that he turned his back on me. i beg him for help. I have not been in church for over 14 years. i am trying to get my faith back. I don’t know how. The only daughter i have contact with is my oldest.
I wish I could tell you that our faith can make all the hard times go away, but that isn’t how life works. But God has promised that He will be with us through the hard times and give us grace to face them. I’m going to copy my last comment here, because I think it applies to both of these posts. “I feel for your hurt, my friend. But remember that God didn’t promise to give us an easy life. He did promise, however, that He would be with us and give us grace and strength so that we could survive the hard times. He invites us to share our struggles with him and he will give us rest. That is a tremendous miracle. People have found that rest in dungeons and while facing execution. The evil circumstances of life are caused by the sinfulness of mankind, not by God. The devil would have us blame God for it, but God wants to help us through these times. –LB” Feel free to call our toll-free number and someone will be happy to pray for you. 1 855 367 8788
Wow. I don’t know where to start. I’ve been a Christian since I was a little girl. I had such faith, and I knew that God was always there when I needed him. But five years ago, I hit a bump in the road. My mental health took a sharp decline. I began to feel unhappy about myself and everything I did. My confidence deteriorated, and so did my emotional stability. This evolved into constant feelings of worthlessness, loneliness and even thoughts bordering suicidal. I would cry out to God when things were desperate, amidst anxiety attacks and even panic attacks where I was sure the world was falling apart around me. Even, every Sunday I would never fail to ask for prayer when the opportunity arose. I kept praying… and praying… but it just became a routine. Nothing happened. No big healing like many had described. No sudden boost in happiness that would last. I started resorting to other things. Bad coping mechanisms. The Internet has become addicting, I watch drama in people’s lives (drama channels on youtube) to fill a gap that feels like not even God can fill. I began doing things and looking at things that made me feel so dirty, but I did them anyway because it seemed to be the only thing that made me feel good about myself. At least, before I’d feel guilty about it. So here I am. Stuck in a rut. Feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. I know my faith in God is beginning to diminish, and I don’t know what to do.
Have you tried calling our toll free number? 855.367.8788 I can’t give you a lengthy answer online but I can switch the discussion to our chat system. I think you need to find someone to relate to face to face. Our phone team can help you with that and pray with you as well.
Hi. I lost my love and my life seems to make no sense now.
Feel free to call our toll free number at 855.367.8788 for more discussion or reply here if you want to continue the discussion off line by e-mail.
Hi, my name is Makena from Kenya. I’m almost losing my faith if there’s any left. I’ve trusted in God and put in so much faith in a particular issue but God didn’t fulfill my desire. I have prayed over it for over one year so i wonder, whatever happened to His ear is not dull? No words are encouraging me right now especially the ones on Rom 8:28
I’m so active in ministry and encouraging others. I don’t even feel the warmth of fellowship no more, i can’t pray.
Hi Makena, I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling like this. I don’t know the issue, but I wonder if you’ve been praying for God’s direction in this issue? Maybe He sees that answering your prayer wouldn’t be good for you? I think it is always important for us to be open to the possibility that God may say “no,” or “wait awhile,” in answer to our prayers. For an illustration of this, read 2 Corinthians 2:7 – 10. Even Paul had to take no for his answer. But that didn’t mean that God didn’t care. But God gave him grace to accept no for an answer. God bless you as you work your way through this situation. [If you want to discuss this further in private, leave a note in the comments, and I will email you.]
Hi,im so confuse and empty I have always encourage persons to put their faith in God and in all things they do put God first. I always talk to God before I make a decision I always trust and believe his words;but all that changes a week and a half ago after I encounter some disappointments.I loved to pray and now I find it difficult to pray my heart is broken I feel lost as tho God has left me. I want to feel close to God again.
Please pray for me
Thank you.
Blessings to you, and thanks for sharing. I answered you on the chat.
Thank you for these words.I feel somewhat frightened because I feel myself losing my faith.I have been through very bad trials before,I was steadfast in my faith.Lately,I’m back in other trials & I feel my faith fading.I was always the one people came to for prayer,the one who witnessed for the Lord,& now I can’t bring myself to do it.My prayer life feels empty,when I open my Bible,I see myself just looking at the pages as if they were blank.I don’t feel God’s presence anymore.Could you please pray for me.Thank you.Pat
Hi Pat. I’m sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. Can you pinpoint any time or incident in your life that might have started this? Do you spend time in fellowship with God’s people? Here are a few things you could try. 1. Memorize encouraging scriptures. 2. Start a small prayer / study / accountability group (you may have friends who feel the same way). 3. Spend some time fasting and praying. If you are in North America, you could call our toll free number [1-855-367-8788] and speak with someone on our prayer team. They would be happy to share with you and pray with you. Note that these comments are public. If you would like to contact me privately, you can click on the chat box. Even if I’m not online, you can leave a message which will switch our conversation over to email. Blessings. Remember Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(Mat 11:28-30 NKJV)
Hi pat, I need help I’m losing my faith in god. I been through a lot in life from loosing my father to loosing it all I got used by a close family member who robbed me and used me for everything I had. I moved on with my life have kids now I ended up reuniting with that family member who destroyed my life forgave him got him back in my life when he was at his lowest now he ended up coming up being successful with his life and kicked me to the curb. I am sick of being used I have two beautiful kids all I do is pray for a job at least to provide for my family nothing I do seems to go my way I been depressed for years now I am going nuts not knowing what else to do I am loosing my faith in god. I still pray every morning and night I have kneeled crying for help it’s like talking to a wall. I do not understand how my family member who has robbed used me has done horrible things to me can be living such a good life while I’m struggling when all I have done is good to others I don’t think I deserve this. I keep praying asking god why me what have I ever done to deserve this. I lost my father who was the only one who has ever had my back and now this family member who I once looked up to has destroyed me god doesn’t seem to make my days any brighter I wake up crying go to sleep crying what’s my purpose of being here. Please help me understand it’s been years of this I cannot take it any longer
Have you tried reading the book of Job? Job didn’t understand why things went wrong for him either. But he kept his faith in God in spite of that. I can’t tell you why God allows some people to suffer like this and others seem to have things go their way all through life. I don’t think this has anything to do with what you deserve or don’t deserve. However God is sovereign and has the right to plan our pathway for us. Go to https://gospelbillboards.org/free-books/ on this website and order the free book by Gary Miller, HOW CAN ANYONE SAY GOD IS GOOD? You might find it helpful.
Oooh boy seems like my life to the T. Ive found GOD throughout all this, everyone I know tells me I try harder than anyone, but yet my kids and I are sleeping on floors with roaches it’s so funny to me because I have told GOD im out of moves, I have no more lives left. I began to feel the Holy Spirit giving me hope, but it’s like my situation gets even more trying, I DONT understand how the average human is supposed to get through this when u don’t have the tools u need… My faith is literally the size of a seed
I hope things get better. I feel the exact way crying as I type
Hi Pat. I can relate to your comments. I don’t know why you are struggling the way you are. You didn’t specify how you reached that point that you find yourself in. But I can say that each of us has reasons to why we end up losing faith, questioning, doubting, etc. It sounds like you are going through what the saints of old called the Dark Night of the Soul. Many strong, Godly people have gone through that and from what I can ascertain, this often occurs with men and women of faith. Men and women who love the Lord who suddenly find themselves in a dark pit of despair. We need only to look at the Scriptures to see examples of people who lost hope and faith. The Psalms are filled with similar thoughts.
My story is long which I won’t go into now except to say that I can relate to your comments. After serving in missions, people used to come to me because they thought I was stronger in my faith (not). It looked that way but that was not true. We are all on this journey that consists of highs and lows. Sometimes those lows can seem to last for a very long time. One pastor I know of has preached on this sharing that he went through a lengthy dark time of about 7 years (?). I thought three years has been bad. Yikes. Things took a turn for me when I was forced to move out of my wonderful small mother in law apartment that I loved until the owners sold their house. I had planned to live there until the day I died. I had little choice of where I could move due to my financial limitations. I was not informed when I moved to where I am at that they had grandfathered in the smokers that lived here before they changed their smoking policy. I am allergic to tobacco and get very sick around cigarettes. My neighbor downstairs chain-smokes which filters up through the ventilation system. They said it was non-smoking but it technically isn’t. Since moving here, my health has seriously deteriorated because of someone else’s habit. I’ve tried to find other places to live but on my income of $941/month, where will I find something that will be healthy? The inner city, where violence is the norm would be my only option. An older woman (well, okay–65), I can’t defend myself if something happened. So here I sit stuck, inhaling someone else’s ugly smoking habit getting sicker by the day. If anything, this has brought out feelings of powerlessness that can lead to anger. One would hope one could turn to God at times like that to deliver them as He claims He will do in Psalm 50. But WHAT if He DOESN’T? THEN what? Meanwhile, the financial burdens keep piling up. Needless to say, it has been impossible to find a decent place to live that is safe and healthier. I have prayed & prayed asking and claiming His promises that He says He “WILL” fulfill. But what does a person do when the silence from Him becomes deafening? I reached a point where I lost hope believing that He even cares. Is He sitting on His Throne with a bowl of popcorn enjoying the life-movie? I feel like Sarah, Abraham’s wife when she laughed at hearing the news. I can just see her now: “Oh sure, yeah, right, Abe! Tell me another good one…” I imagine she must have at least wanted to say that, if she didn’t. But all that to say to you, Pat that I UNDERSTAND your feelings. While a part of me wants to give up to challenge God, another part says, I WANT to hope, I WANT to hang on, but I’m losing my grip. What then? A friend once told me the concept of cliff jumping as he referred to it. We don’t know what He can do until we let go of our hold and let Him catch us. That IS HARD.
Lest I forget, though I am not one to blame Satan on the bad that happens but I do believe that Satan is very much alive and well and is attempting, through his minions, to attack as many Christians as possible and kill and destroy each one’s faith. The question I ask myself is, Am I going to let Him win? God tells us that the battle is not ours but HIS. Perhaps we should respectfully challenge Him. Doesn’t He also say, “prove Me, test Me…” (Though that passage refers to a different situation, the concept remains the same.) Charles Spurgeon who fought terrible depression once said ‘What earthly father doesn’t like it when his child reminds him of the promises his/her daddy made?’ As the child reminds her Father it indicates that the child has paid close attention to what her father has said. This DELIGHTS the heart of God. “Abba daddy You promised that…”
I also think of the Psalmist who said, “HOW LONG, O Lord will You forget me forever? HOW LONG will You hide Tour face from me? HOW LONG must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” (Ps 13:1-2). That echoes my heart.
Psalm 30 also says, “You hid your face; I was dismayed. To You, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “What profit is there in my death if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it tell of Your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, BE MY helper!”
Ironically, Isa 40 gives us insights into God’s heart when He said to Jacob, “Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “MY WAY IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD; MY CAUSE IS DISREGARDED BY MY GOD?” V. 27 It appears that when God asked Jacob this question, it reveals to us that what we’re suffering is not overlooked by Him. He is El Roi, the God who Sees. Therefore, the next time we are tempted to say “enough!” let’s remember truth, not manipulative lies.
In short, I wish I could say that things will “poof!” suddenly get better. But He does tell us that He will carry us. And, this is where faith must take precedence over feelings. If you’re like me, you might live by feelings which can be a dangerous thing because, as we all know, feelings are deceptive and cannot be relied upon as truth. But God’s Word can.
You are not alone. “A bruised reed, He will NOT break.” May God show you His mercy and kindness. Blessings, Pat.
Pat,
I hardly have the words….. But, I had to respond. I am, and have been, going through a dark night of the soul for many years now. I have read countless platitudes and heard more than my share of prosperity messages….enough to anger me towards my own brothers and sisters within the body of Christ….
I am beyond tired of hearing people throwing the book of Job arounf as “the answer” because they’ve nothing better to offer (despite their best intentions).
I am at the lowest place in my life that I have ever been, and the truth is that I may not outlast this visceral despair and grief. But, I wanted to let you know that your reply was one of the most sincere and beautiful that I’ve ever come across. Your faith, your knowledge of the Scriptures, and your graceful perseverance are a true testament and are so beautiful. I wept as I read your words of validation and encouragement.
You have a beautiful gift. May God bless you, my sister. <3
I understand. IAM going through this it seems like forever. Please pray for me too. I just feel sick so much.
Dear brother in Christ, I have gone through your wordings. They are so comforting. Let me share my experience. When ever I go out on some important work I always seek God’s word in the form his promise and start the work. But, I fail in that work, though I read Bible everyday. This is giving me lot of depression, because not man to trust but seek only his word to guide me. But all his promises never accomplished in my case. I am loosing hope and faith in God. I barely used to tell everyone that I am a converted Christian. But, everyone will ask what your god did to you. Believing idols we and you stand in the same position..Please help me to go back to his presence with faith.
Thanks
Sarah
Sometimes people serve God for what they can get out of it. The New Testament doesn’t support the common idea that God is required to give us lots of money and other blessings if we serve Him. Rather, our reward is in knowing that we love Him and obey Him. Blessings to you as you serve God.
What do you do when you have no where to live but with a family that treats you like a stranger but yet lets strangers in? They serve in the church but when they get home true colors come out. Why does God allow such people to to serve in the church? I know we aren’t perfect but these people are two faced and it hurts because it’s my daughter so I question God and don’t understand why?
@Kim. Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, people do not always do what God wants them to do. He will not force people to do what is right. Often in such situations, innocent people suffer because of someone else’s sin. Keep praying for your family and return good for evil. They may never change, but you will receive a blessing for it. LB