Losing Faith

Are you struggling with your faith towards God? Are you losing the fire that you once had because you either think he is not listening, he’s abandoned you or not delivering? If you answered yes, then I hope my message today might give you some comfort.

There are times in a Christians life, maybe because of hardships or disappointments that causes us to question God. We may ask God why did he allow this or that to happen. “Why God did you not help me when I needed it, or someone else needed it?” Some may lose faith so much that they allow Satan’s influence on the world to cause them to even doubt if God is really there.

We need to first look at what causes a person to start losing faith in the first place. God is the same as he has always been, so the change starts in us. The faith that we are losing starts because of something unpleasant that happened, or we expected to something to happen and it didn’t. Whatever it was that occurred, we start thinking God must not care. My life is falling apart, where is God?

For the believer, he is right there beside you, he has not left you. The Holy Spirit dwells inside you to comfort you, to help you. God loves you, he knows you may be questioning why he allows some things to take place and not others, but that is when you pick up the Bible and you will find the answers.

First, what exactly is faith? Faith is hope, hope in God that no matter what happens in your life he will always be there. God is so incredible, that we cannot possibly know what God has planned for our lives. God allows some things to happen or not happen to teach us, to better our circumstances down the road, or sometimes to get our attention.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We have faith that there is a God, there is his son who died for us, there is a heaven, and there is the promise of salvation when we accept it. Understand that faith in God should not be something we solely base on what we believe God should deliver. God is not a slot machine, where we put prayers in and hope to hit the jackpot. We have faith and hope that no matter what we believe he loves us and want’s the best for us. God sometimes may even test your faith, he certainly tested the apostles and their faith.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

When we pray, we need to pray that it’s God’s will and not our own, that is important. He knows our hearts, watched us grow from birth, and witnesses daily what goes on in our lives. God knows us and our situations better than we know ourselves. So how can we question him? When things arise in our lives that frustrates us, we ask God to help us understand, or get through it. God does things in his own time and in his own ways, and for reasons we may not always understand. Learning to let go and not trying to feel the need to control everything was a big lesson for me personally. Allow God to be first in your life and let him be in control, will allow you to have complete faith in him. Sometimes when we start questioning or doubting we have to ask ourselves, are we looking at the glass half empty or half full? Ask yourself, if God allowed this to happen in my life, what is it God is trying to say? Look to see if there are positive things that could come out of your circumstance. Is God trying to show or tell you something?

There was a time in my life where my husband was laid off from work. We were struggling financially and wondering where the rent was going to come from. I had just finished paying off my car, that I had originally purchased before we were married and quite proud that it was in excellent condition. That month times were so hard we decided it would be best to put the car up for sale. I was upset, but I knew that was the only thing we could do to help our situation, and with two children you do what you have to do. I was in church, studying God’s Word daily and felt a great relationship to God. Yet, I questioned him. Why God why? What is going to happen when the money runs out? I worked so hard to pay off that car. I was worried, wondering how to deal with everything, I was trying to figure out a way to be in control. Yet, I wasn’t in control, everything was going out of control. I wondered where was God? All this loyalty and faith daily I gave to him, so why the hardships?

Then I stopped and thought, wait a minute, God must be trying to keep me humble, or maybe he was testing my faith, maybe he had something better in mind for me. We are told that just because we become a Christian, does not mean we won’t have troubles. I didn’t want to lose faith and fail God’s test if he was testing me. So I changed in my mind and heart, how I felt about the situation. Looking at the glass half full, instead of half empty. With the car sold, I could pay rent, buy food, and maybe pay a few bills. I continued in God’s Word, and thanked him for changing my heart, and how I saw my circumstance. I thanked him, because I knew things could be worse. I gave up the control I never really had and allowed God’s spirit to pour over me and give peace to my heart.

After putting the car for sale, it sold quickly at a price better than expected. It was enough that we even had extra money to set aside. My husband was back working two weeks later. And in that time he was off, he got projects done around the house…yea. And we actually enjoyed our family time together, almost like a small vacation. He had been working so hard, we were all so busy, we hadn’t spent much family time together. A week or so after getting back to work, he met a man who had told him about an auto dealership who gave him a great deal. A few weeks later, my husband brought home a used car, that was better mileage and newer than what I had to begin with. So, allow God to control things, having faith in him that whatever comes we will all be okay, because he won’t leave you. Yes, I had to sell my car, but what came out of it? We all still had a roof over our heads even though my husband was laid off. Bills were paid, there was food in the house, we had extra money for a down payment on another car, we were able to spend quality time together as a family and my faith grew stronger in God. In that circumstance, God blessed me quickly, but that hasn’t always been the case. But since then, I have learned to let go and I have strong faith that God has a plan.

Heb 11:1-34

(1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3)  By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear. (4)  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. And by it he, being dead, yet speaks.

(5)  By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and he was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(7)  By faith Noah, having been warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (8)  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he was afterward going to receive for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he went.

(9)  By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise with him. (10)  For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

(11)  By faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him who had promised to be faithful. (12)  Because of this came into being from one, and that of one having died, even as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

(13)  These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14)  For they who say such things declare plainly that they seek a fatherland. (15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

(16)  But now they stretch forth to a better fatherland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (17)  By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, (18)  of whom it was said that in Isaac your Seed shall be called, (19)  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from where he even received him, in a figure.

(20)  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (21)  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (22)  By faith, Joseph dying remembered concerning the Exodus of the sons of Israel and gave orders concerning his bones.

(23)  By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child. And they were not afraid of the king’s commandments. (24)  Having become great, Moses by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, (25)  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, (26)  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

(27)  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. (28)  Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest He who destroyed the first-born should touch them. (29)  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.

(30)  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed seven days. (31)  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (32)  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets, (33)  who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34)  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers.