All of us can have our faith shaken. Whether it’s from a significant loss, a life-changing event, or seeing constant negativity in the world around us, many can experience a loss of faith or times of spiritual weakness. After all, spirituality has its ups and downs, just like the rest of life.
At Pathfinders Pastoral Care Ministries, we know life is confusing; it can seem unfair and not make sense. And we know these moments can lead to an individual feeling lost – in their personal lives and in their faith. “When this happens, we feel we have been let down by our belief system, that it has failed to prevent something bad happening to us or those we love. It’s sometimes hard to reconcile a belief in an all-powerful, loving God with the unfairness and injustice in the world (psychcentral.com).”
We want to be your guiding light and help you manage these feelings, so we’re sharing ways to overcome a loss of faith and reconnect with your belief system.
What Can Trigger a Loss of Faith?
People can go through experiences and events that lead them to question their faith. For example, losing a loved one – suddenly, tragically, or at a young age – is hard. We may feel like God has let us down, but the problem is that, as Christians, we can fall into the false idea that God owes us something.
It is tempting to think that if we pray and are faithful to our beliefs, we won’t face struggles in our lives. But there is no ticket to a life free from struggle.
“Why did God let this happen?” is a fair question to ask of God because we can start to see that God is very much present in these events, just not in the ways we might think. It’s important to remember that faith is not the absence of doubts; it’s trusting in God even in the presence of doubt.
Coping with a Loss of Faith
While your faith is shaken, the most important thing is to be kind to yourself. Avoid trying to fill the void by “rebounding” towards an alternative belief system. Instead, give yourself time to re-evaluate your needs – spiritual, emotional, physical.
You are not alone in your struggle. Many Christians feel or have felt the same way as you. Experiencing periods of doubt is healthy and acknowledging them is better than avoiding the issue.
Christian counseling can create a safe place for you to share your feelings with someone who is compassionate, trustworthy, and will understand your doubts without judgment.
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” - 1 John 3:19-24 ESV
As a Christian, working through our doubts is key to a lifelong relationship with God that is constantly growing. Pathfinders Pastoral Care Ministries is here to help you work through these issues. We encourage you to contact us to learn more.
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