Help My Unbelief

If you’re from the South like me, you’ve likely heard the word “faith” in Sunday school, when you’re in a bind or even as a loved one’s name. But let’s bypass the familiar and ask, what is faith truly? Jesus says in John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life.” Faith is our oxygen—everything else is dependent on it. Faith is our footing—we don’t get far or stand strong without it. It’s our fundamental essence and our first defense, guarding our lives and our hearts.

This is a great stopping point to ask yourself, “In what have I placed my faith?” Maybe you believe in God or go to church, but when you probe inside, your faith isn’t at the place you’d like it to be. Or you long to trust God, but there’s so much messiness in between where you are and where He seems to be.

Because faith is essential, I want you to be equipped—not caught in a trap that slowly robs your “faith bank” without you noticing. If Jesus chided the disciples for being those “of little faith” (Matt. 8:26) even as they walked with Him, then it’s not such a bad idea for you and me to make sure our faith levels are high.

“What if I trust in God’s plan and it doesn’t work out?” If you look at Scripture, you’ll see God rarely assured anyone that everything would go easy-peasy lemon squeezy. But He did give us some promises that steady us in the waiting and put our doubts to rest:

He will be with you always (Matt. 28:20).

His love for you will never run out (1 Chron. 16:34).

His plans for you are good (Jer. 29:11).

Mark 9 tells us of a Father in need of a miracle who spoke in faith, even as his felt small. He exclaimed to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When we find our faith wavering, we can rest assured that God was, is, and will continue to be faithful. If you find yourself questioning God’s goodness or if you are on the right path—go to Him. The honesty needed to admit our struggles grows our relationship with the Father. He is more than gracious to listen, give us peace that surpasses all understanding, and strengthen our faith in His unchanging character.

Having faith in the waiting is essentially having faith that God’s plan is worth the wait. The next time you feel impatient or fretful while waiting, bring Lamentations 3:25 to mind. Wearing the Word like a banner keeps our thoughts and emotions in line with His instruction.