Faith In God: Tough Times, Strong Beliefs

Faith in God can be difficult to maintain during challenging times. However, it is important to remember that God has promised us hardships in this world and that we will face trials and tribulations. We can find peace in God's presence and take comfort in His promise of victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Pray and ask God for help: Even if it is difficult, start by praying and asking God to remove any spiritual oppression you may be feeling. Ask Him to increase your faith and trust in Him. Be honest with God about your emotions, including your anger or sadness.

2. Ask others for prayer: Do not hesitate to reach out to your trusted friends and ask them to pray for you and your specific circumstances. It is important to lean on your community for support during challenging times.

3. Read, memorize, and meditate on Scripture: Focus on the truth of God's Word to increase your faith. Read the Bible, especially passages that speak to your situation, and meditate on God's promises. His Word sheds light and helps us see our circumstances more clearly.

4. Remember God's faithfulness in the past: Reflect on times when you felt God's presence and peace, or when you saw answers to your prayers. This will help you trust that He is with you and will provide for you during this difficult season as well.

5. Praise God: Even in the midst of your struggles, choose to praise and worship God. Remind yourself and God of His attributes, such as His sovereignty, omnipresence, and love. This will help you recognize His goodness and strengthen your trust in Him.

6. Deepen your roots in God: Spend time getting to know God and His Word so that your faith is rooted firmly in Him. This will help you to trust Him and His plans for you, even when you cannot see the way forward.

Remember, you are not alone in your struggles. Many others have walked similar paths and found comfort and strength in their faith. You, too, can keep your faith strong by turning to God and leaning on your community for support.

Pray and ask God for help

Prayer is a powerful tool to connect with God and seek his help and guidance during tough times. Here are some principles and practices to keep in mind when praying and asking God for help:

Praying Unto God:

The first step is to consciously and intentionally direct your prayers to God. Recognise and remember who you are speaking to—the Almighty Creator of the universe. Before praying, take a moment to ponder God's attributes by reading a Psalm or reflecting on his power and presence. This helps to focus your mind and heart on Him.

Earnest Prayer:

Pray with sincerity, passion, and purpose. Come to God humbly, earnestly, and honestly, pouring out your heart with all your soul, mind, and strength. It's important to be specific in your prayers, sharing your desires, needs, and struggles. God wants you to bring your requests to Him and not hold back.

Corporate Prayer:

Gathering with other believers to pray together can be powerful. The early followers of Christ believed that some of the most powerful movements of God were a result of unified corporate prayer. Praying with others can provide encouragement, support, and a shared sense of God's presence.

Overcoming Roadblocks:

Sin can be a roadblock to prayer, but confessing your sins and believing in God's forgiveness through Christ removes this barrier. Don't let embarrassment or shame over your struggles keep you from coming to God. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Practical Prayers for Help:

• "I pray over my circumstances right now. I pray you will give me peace about what I can't change and the wisdom to change the things I can. I'm asking you to reach into my life and do your will. Guide me and give me the discernment to hear your voice. Help me to overcome these adversities and have victory in you. I thank you for the plans you have for me and give you the praise and glory, even in this current storm. In your name, I pray. Amen."
• "Father God, my strength is gone. I am unable, but your Word says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Give me Your strength, not physical strength but the power to move mountains that flows from faith in Jesus. Help me to depend on You to do what I think I cannot do. Let your strength alone sustain me."
• "I love You, Jesus. Help."

Read, memorise and meditate on Scripture

Scripture can be a source of strength and hope in difficult times. Reading, memorising and meditating on Scripture can help us to find peace in God's presence and to recognise His works.

Reading Scripture

When reading Scripture, it is important to not only read individual verses but also the surrounding verses, to understand the verse or phrase in its context.

Memorising Scripture

Memorising Scripture helps us to meditate on God's word, think deeply about God, and grow in discernment. It is a way to obey God's command to meditate on His word. It can be done in small, doable, daily bites, and can be practised in Bible study groups, local church settings, or with children and friends.

Meditating on Scripture

Meditation on Scripture can be done by slowly contemplating a verse word by word, thinking about what each word conveys about God, His plan, and His work in your life. For example, meditating on Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing", can reveal to us that God is the only Lord and ruler over all, and that He cares for us, guides us, and watches over us with concern for our well-being.

Meditating on a longer passage of Scripture, such as Philippians 2:1-11, can be done by reading the passage slowly two or three times, then pondering it verse by verse, reflecting on how each verse speaks to your life and how it calls you to respond.

Scriptures to Meditate On

• "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
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
• "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1
• "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" - Psalm 46:10
• "Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea”, and it will be done.'" - Matthew 21:21

Remember God's past faithfulness

Remembering God's past faithfulness can help us to choose faith over worry during challenging times. One way to do this is to study the Bible, which serves as a reminder that God is able to take care of us. For example, in 1 Samuel 17:37, David says:

> "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

David is expressing his faith that God, who protected him from lions and bears, will also protect him from Goliath.

Another example is found in Philippians 4:6-7, where Paul says:

> "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Paul encourages us to remain in contact with God by praying and meditating on God's Word. This can help us to focus on God's unchanging truth and find peace in God's presence, rather than worrying about uncertainties.

In addition to studying the Bible, we can also remember God's past faithfulness by reflecting on our own personal experiences of God's provision, kindness, and steadfastness. For instance, we can recall specific moments in our lives when God intervened and delivered us from difficult situations.

By remembering God's past faithfulness, we can be reminded of His power and trust in His continued faithfulness in the present and future.

Praise God

Praise is a way to secure your attention on God and who He is, bringing your heart into a place of worship. Praising God will change your life and help you develop a deeper relationship with God. It will also foster joy and provide refreshment for your spirit.

• Praise Him with others. You can start a social media campaign or message thread with friends and family, where each person lists one reason they are praising God.
• Praise the Lord by singing. God created you just as you are, so lift your voice in song!
• Use music to praise. If you don't enjoy singing, you can listen to praise music and let the Holy Spirit speak to you through a song.
• Dance before the Lord. Loosen up and dance before the Lord to truly experience His power and might!
• Lift your hands in praise. Let God pick you up!
• Praise God with words. You can praise God by writing a poem, short story, or another form of prose.
• Pray praises in Scripture. If you aren’t sure how or what to praise, read the Bible and pray that way. The Psalms are full of examples of what to say.
• Praise God with thanksgiving. Make a list of all the things you have to be thankful for and thank God for each one.
• Praise through confession. If you have a sin weighing on your heart, praise God by confessing and thanking Him for redemption through Christ Jesus.
• Praise the Lord in silence. You can praise the Lord by being silent in His presence.
• Praise God through your giving. Everything you have is from God, so you can praise Him by giving back.
• Use gardening to praise God. After all, He is the Almighty Creator. You can praise Him by caring for His creation!
• Praise God with journaling. You can keep a record of praises to God or make a separate creative page in your journal.
• Praise by colouring. Grab a colouring page and write an attribute of God on it.
• Obedience is an act of praise. He desires your obedience because it shows Him your love.
• Go on a nature praise walk. Take a walk and stop every time something reminds you of God.
• Praise Him in the storm. The next time there is a storm, praise Him for His perfect creation and for providing the weather in the right season.
• Paint your praises. Grab a canvas and paint your praises in words or pictures.
• Praise God through volunteering. Get involved with a local charity or animal shelter.
• Praise God on your commute. Spend your commute time praising God!
• Launder your praises. When doing laundry, praise God for each family member and His provision in their lives.
• Post God throughout your house. Use colourful sticky notes to write the attributes of God and place them around your house.
• Praise God for answered prayers. Keep a journal, a prayer jar, or use an app to track your prayers and answers to them.
• Do a neighbourhood praise walk. Go for a walk and praise God for the work He is doing in your neighbourhood and in your neighbours' lives.
• Kneel in praise. Kneeling before your Creator can be a life-changing experience!
• Feast in praise. Gather your friends and family and hold a praise feast!

Remember, praise is not limited to fellowship with others. You can and should praise God on your own – all the time.

Pray for strength and guidance

Prayer is a powerful force for good. It can strengthen your faith and foster a deeper connection with the divine. It is a valuable opportunity for reflection and can offer solace from the burdens of daily stress and anxiety.

Starting your mornings with prayer can be a powerful way to connect with God and set a positive tone for the day ahead. Or try praying in the evening so you can go to God with any worries you felt during the day and go to bed with a renewed spirit.

Prayer for Strength and Guidance

Lord, I reach out to you for your guidance. Please show me which way to turn. Calm my anxious thoughts, come speak into my mind. Strengthen me as I falter and feel weary. May I feel strength rising up within my heart. Bring clarity into my visions and dreams. I trust that you are with me, no matter where I go, or what I decide to do. You journey with me always.

Prayer for Strength During Difficult Times

Father, this world sometimes bewilders me and is beyond my understanding.

I see poverty and disease, storms and earthquakes, war and killing.

Many hearts are bound by ego and fear.

Please strengthen my faith in your higher purpose and open my mind to the truth that everything is unfolding according to your divine plan.

Let compassion and love for my brothers and sisters flow from me and may we all be uplifted by your glory. AMEN.

Prayer for Strength When Grieving

Lord, at the moment nothing seems to be able to help the loss I feel. My heart is broken and my spirit mourns. All I know is that Your grace is sufficient. This day, this hour, moment by moment I choose to lean on You, for when I am at my weakest Your strength is strongest. I pour out my grief to You and praise You that on one glorious day, when all suffering is extinguished and love has conquered, we shall walk together again.

A Prayer for Inner Strength

Dear God, in my moments of weakness, grant me strength. When I feel lost, guide me. Help me face the challenges before me with confidence and faith. Amen.

Prayer for Strength to Cope with Physical Illness

Lord, you know me inside and out. You know about my pain and distress, you understand the fears of my heart. At the cross, you endured unabating agony. You have gone before me into the darkness and emerged in power and glory.

At this time I lean on You, I draw my strength from Your endless love and live in Your limitless grace, trusting in You.

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