Sometimes it’s hard to pray. Sometimes it feels like you’re repeating words, not talking to a person. From this we may even wonder if our faith is weak.
When that happens, what are we forgetting? What is missing?
You’re distracted by your own state.
- “Am I doing what I need to do?”
- “Is my heart in this?”
- “Why don’t I feel connected to God?”
All these thoughts have something in common. They are about us. Not God.
The purpose of this post is to remind you that faith has an object. The quality of your feelings at any given moment is not the most important thing. What matters is, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
“What do you believe about Jesus?”
That’s what you’re forgetting when your faith is weak. You’re forgetting that faith isn’t about our feelings. Faith is a conviction that something is true.
Here’s what is true about Jesus Christ:
- He did many signs in front of his disciples (John 20:30).
- John was a witness, and he told us what he saw so we could believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
- John’s purpose was that by believing we could have life in his name (John 20:31).
When your faith is weak, remember what is true about Jesus.
Remember that there are good reasons to believe he is the Christ. Remember what he did:
- Walked on water.
- Calmed a storm.
- Healed the sick.
- Raised the dead.
When your faith is weak, don’t think about how weak you feel. Think about the object of your faith. Rest your faith in the truth of what has happened.
Remember that God showed who Jesus of Nazareth was by “mighty works and wonders and signs” done in the midst of many people (Acts 2:22).
And remember that even the messengers were given power by the Holy Spirit to perform signs and wonders. That’s how the message was confirmed (2 Corinthians 2:4-5, Acts 3:7, 14:10, 19:11-12).
The Christian faith isn’t based on your feelings.
It’s based on the signs and wonders of Jesus—even that he rose from the dead. So when it feels hard to pray, or when you don’t feel a connection with God, or when your faith feels weak, go back to the source.
Go back to Scripture to refresh what you know about who Jesus is. Your inner feelings may rise or fall, but God’s Word stands firm.