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What to Do When You’re Struggling to Believe God
What to Do When You’re Struggling to Believe God
On this page you’ll find inspiration to help with moments of doubt and a 7-day guide titled When Faith Feels Hard for people struggling to believe.
Struggling to Believe? You're Not Alone
Have you ever wanted to believe in God, but struggled to? Maybe you prayed and nothing seemed to happen. Maybe life has felt too heavy, and you wonder if God really cares. Or maybe you’re not sure if He’s real at all.
If that’s you, you’re not the only one. Even people in the Bible wrestled with doubt:
Abraham was told he would become the father of many nations, but still asked, “How can I know?” (Genesis 15:8).
Moses was called to lead his people out of slavery but argued with God, insisting he wasn’t good enough (Exodus 3:11).
Thomas followed Jesus for years, but after the crucifixion he said, “Unless I see, I won’t believe.” (John 20:25).
These aren’t people on the outside looking in. They were people who knew God, who still had questions, and who struggled to believe.
Here’s the encouraging truth: struggling doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. And if there is a God, He isn’t surprised or offended by your questions. In fact, Jesus met Thomas in his doubt. He didn’t push him away. He invited him closer.
So what do you do when believing feels hard?
Be honest. Pretending doesn’t help. If God is real, He can handle your honesty. Start with a simple prayer: “If You’re there, show me.”
Stay curious. Doubt can close us off, but it can also be the doorway to discovery. Keep asking, keep seeking, and don’t settle for easy answers.
Look for faith in community. Sometimes you need others to carry hope for you. Spend time around people of faith and watch how they live.
Jesus once said that even faith the size of a mustard seed, tiny and almost invisible, is enough to move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Maybe your step right now is not a giant belief, but a small, honest question.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. But don’t stop leaning in. Because the struggle itself may be where faith begins.
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When Faith Feels Hard
A 7-Day Guide for People Who Struggle to Believe
Day 1 – Be Honest About Your Struggle
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24
Faith doesn’t always mean feeling strong. In this verse, a desperate father admitted both belief and doubt at the same time. Jesus didn’t reject him. He responded with compassion.
Encouragement: God isn’t waiting for you to clean up your questions before coming to Him. Honesty is the first step of faith.
Prayer: God, I want to believe, but I struggle. Meet me in my doubts and help me take one step closer to You.
Day 2 – Remember God Cares for You
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Life can feel overwhelming, and sometimes we wonder if anyone truly cares. This verse reminds us that God does. He sees your worries, fears, and struggles.
Encouragement: You don’t have to carry the weight of life alone. If God cares, then nothing you bring to Him is too small or too heavy.
Prayer: God, I give You the things that worry me most today. If You care for me, show me that care in a way I can see.
Day 3 – Small Faith Still Matters
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20
Jesus used the smallest seed people knew to explain faith. Even the tiniest step counts. It’s not about how big your belief is, but about the One you are trusting in.
Encouragement: Faith doesn’t have to be huge to matter. Even a whispered prayer or a moment of hope is faith at work.
Prayer: God, take the little faith I have today and use it to draw me closer to You.
Day 4 – God Is With You in the Waiting
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24
Waiting for answers can make faith feel impossible. The Bible shows us again and again that waiting is part of the journey.
Encouragement: Waiting doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. Sometimes waiting is where He does His deepest work in us.
Prayer: God, waiting is hard. Help me to hold on and trust that You are still at work, even when I can’t see it.
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Day 5 – You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2
Faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. We need others to encourage us, pray with us, and remind us of hope when we forget.
Encouragement: You are not weak for needing help. That is how God designed us — to walk together.
Prayer: God, send people into my life who can encourage me. Give me courage to open up about my struggles.
Day 6 – God Invites You to Rest
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Jesus invites the tired, the overwhelmed, and the doubters to come close. He doesn’t ask for perfection, just honesty.
Encouragement: Faith is not about having all the answers. It’s about finding rest in the presence of God.
Prayer: Jesus, I am tired. I bring You my struggles and doubts. Please give me peace today.
Day 7 – One Small Step Forward
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” – James 4:8
Faith is a journey. Every step you take toward God is met by a step He takes toward you.
Encouragement: You don’t have to leap into belief. A small step of honesty, prayer, or curiosity is enough for today.
Prayer: God, I don’t have all the answers, but today I choose to take one step toward You. Meet me in that step.
Struggling with belief doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human. Faith grows not in the absence of questions but in bringing those questions to God. Take one step at a time, and trust that even in your struggle, He is near.
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Shelby Alliance Church
105 East Smiley Ave
Shelby, OH 44875
Phone: 419-856-2049