Faith is defined as a strong belief in something or someone. It is often associated with trust in God, the Universe, or a Higher Power. Faith means believing in the existence and presence of a higher power in our lives, even though we cannot physically see them.
However, there are times when people lose their faith. This can happen due to major life changes, trauma, or new information that contradicts previously held beliefs. It can be a devastating feeling that undermines one's confidence, convictions, and well-being.
To cope with a loss of faith, one can acknowledge and accept their emotions, try meditation or prayer, practice gratitude, seek social support, engage in acts of kindness, attend a place of worship, reflect on their beliefs, or seek professional help.
It is important to remember that faith is very important for one's spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Losing faith can be an opportunity to grow, build self-awareness, and cultivate new beliefs that are more closely aligned with one's values, goals, and needs.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Loss of faith is caused by | Major life changes, new information, or reevaluation of beliefs |
Loss of faith can be addressed by | Acknowledging and accepting your feelings, trying meditation or prayer, counting your blessings, reaching out to loved ones, spending time with loved ones, seeking therapy, engaging in acts of kindness, attending a place of worship, taking time to reflect |
What You'll Learn
God's will is to move us to Point B
God's will is to transform our will
Christian discipleship aims to transform our will. That’s what happens when believers are made new in Christ. “As followers of Jesus, our lives are subsumed in his life, and our ways are totally surrendered to his will.” To be “in Christ” means that we no longer live for ourselves “but for him who for our sake died and was raised.”
God's will is to know him deeply
His ultimate concern is not to get you or me from point A to point B along the quickest, easiest, smoothest, clearest route possible. Instead, his ultimate concern is that you and I would know him deeply as we trust him more completely.
God's will is to walk with Jesus
The point is to walk with Jesus. And if we walk with him, if our lives are swallowed up into his own, we’ll go the right way.
God's will is to trust him
God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
God's will is to do his good pleasure
God is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.
Strong Faith, Glory to God
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God's strength wins out
In the Bible, Job says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). Job lost his children, wealth, health, and reputation, yet he still praised God.
We can learn from Job and Joseph, who both went through seasons of loss but ended up in a better place. Joseph was his father's favourite son and was given a richly ornamented robe. God spoke to Joseph in dreams not once but twice! But then, Joseph lost it all. He was sold as a slave in Egypt. Yet, God raised him up, and Joseph became the governor of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
We can also look at Moses, who was adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter and lived a life of luxury for the first 40 years of his life. Then, he had to flee for his life and lived as a lowly shepherd for the next 40 years. But God had a plan for Moses, and he became the shepherd of Israel, leading them out of Egyptian bondage to freedom.
When we feel we are losing faith, it is important to remember that God has a plan for us. He is moving us to Point B, and even though we may feel a sense of loss, we will end up in a better place.
Faith in God: Trusting the Divine Plan
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God moves us to something bigger and better
In the book of Job, Satan challenged God, saying that Job only loved Him because of the blessings he had bestowed upon him. God allowed Satan to take away Job's children, wealth, and health, to which Job responded, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). Despite his loss, Job continued to praise God and did not sin or curse Him.
Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus tells his disciples to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). This often involves leaving behind what is comfortable and familiar, such as homes, jobs, or relationships, to follow God's plan.
God may remove us from situations we love and are comfortable in to push us towards something bigger and better. This can be a challenging and confusing time, but it is important to trust in God's plan and know that He is working for our good.
The Bible teaches that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6) and that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). When God corrects us, He also directs us towards something better. He may be pushing us to change our jobs, relationships, or situations for our benefit and protection.
God desires for us to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him and to know Christ better. Through Christ's sufferings, we can share in His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:5). By going through trials and hardships, our perspective changes, and we learn to be content and trust in God's plan.
In the song "Speak to the Mountains" by Chris McClarney, the singer declares his faith in God, who is bigger, better, stronger, and greater than any troubles or giants we may face. The song encourages us to speak to the mountains in our lives and tell them to move because our God is greater than any obstacle or challenge we may encounter.
God is faithful and His promises are true. He moves us towards something bigger and better, even when we may not understand it at the time.
Confessing Faith in God: A Necessary Act?
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God takes away for our joy
Sometimes God allows us to go through seasons of loss to move us towards greater gains. He may remove us from situations that we love, such as jobs, relationships, or comfortable routines, because if we remain attached to them, they will prevent us from moving forward to the better things He has planned for us. This can be a challenging and confusing time, but we need to trust that God has something bigger and better in store for us.
When we feel like we are losing our faith, it is important to acknowledge and accept our emotions without judgment. We can also try meditation or prayer to reconnect with our spirituality. Counting our blessings and practicing gratitude can help us to refocus on the positive aspects of our lives. Spending time with loved ones and seeking support from a faith-based therapist or spiritual counselor can also be helpful. Remember, God wants us to have faith and trust in Him, even when we don't understand what He is doing.
The Question of God's Faith in Humanity
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God gives and takes away
The Bible says that God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). So, if God gives us something good, we can be sure that He will not take it away. His gifts and call are under full warranty – never canceled, never rescinded (Romans 11:29).
When we suffer loss, it is not God who takes away our blessings, but the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). This thief is Satan, who has been trying to steal and ruin everything that God has given us since the beginning of human history.
God gave us authority over the planet, but we lost it to the devil. God gave us freedom, but we chose slavery instead. God gave us eternal life, health, and glory, but we lost it all. However, thanks to Jesus, we can take back what the devil stole. Jesus came to reveal God the Father and to destroy the work of the thief (1 John 3:8). He came so that we may have life to the full, not just half (John 10:10).
When we suffer loss, it is important to remember that God is not behind our suffering. He is a good God who wants us to prosper and be in good health (3 John 1:2). He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So, when we face trials and tribulations, let us not blame God but instead put our trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
In conclusion, while it is true that God gives us many blessings, it is not true that He takes them away. He is a giver, not a taker. When we suffer loss, it is not God who takes away our blessings but the thief, Satan. Let us put our trust in God and remember that He is always with us, even in our darkest moments.
Faith in God: Does It Work?
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Frequently asked questions
No, God does not take away faith. God is a giver, not a taker.
God gives us good gifts, such as eternal life, health, and glory.
God takes away sin, shame, sickness, worry, and fear.
God gives because He is a generous Father.
God takes away the things that harm us and replaces them with good things that bless us.