How do you resolve unbelief?

[Elle12]

All things are possible for the one who believes, but what happens when you can't find faith?

The Bible says that salvation through faith is a gift from God, and this speaks to me. I don't feel that faith and belief is a conscious choice that I can make; my belief comes from what I know to be true, based on what I have seen, heard, and felt. Without the work of God, we could not believe in the gospel to be saved. I feel no more able to choose to believe in God than I could choose to believe that I will not see the sun set today. Yet, the gospels condemn those without belief. I pray that God might open my mind to the truth of the matter, while sustaining my patience and persistence.

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

 

[~Zao~]

All things are possible for the one who believes, but what happens when you can't find faith?

The Bible says that salvation through faith is a gift from God, and this speaks to me. I don't feel that faith and belief is a conscious choice that I can make; my belief comes from what I know to be true, based on what I have seen, heard, and felt. Without the work of God, we could not believe in the gospel to be saved. I feel no more able to choose to believe in God than I could choose to believe that I will not see the sun set today. Yet, the gospels condemn those without belief. I pray that God might open my mind to the truth of the matter, while sustaining my patience and persistence.

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

People believe about 1% of what they hear, 10% of what they read, and 90% of what they see. Faith comes from hearing, which means when a person hears and receives in their heart the message of good hope, that person has the down-payment of the Holy Spirit - the incorruptible seed, planted within. Foundational to that is the initial heartfelt repentance. That person has tasted of the heavenly gift. So they begin studying His word (reading or actively pursueing) to be faithful to His word. Another 10% or up to 30% or maybe even 60% of faith is added as the truth convicts the heart to pick up the cross and lay aside the idols that were once strongholds. Seeing spiritually gives the most returns of faith.

 

[eleos1954]

All things are possible for the one who believes, but what happens when you can't find faith?

The Bible says that salvation through faith is a gift from God, and this speaks to me. I don't feel that faith and belief is a conscious choice that I can make; my belief comes from what I know to be true, based on what I have seen, heard, and felt. Without the work of God, we could not believe in the gospel to be saved. I feel no more able to choose to believe in God than I could choose to believe that I will not see the sun set today. Yet, the gospels condemn those without belief. I pray that God might open my mind to the truth of the matter, while sustaining my patience and persistence.

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

Spend a lot ... A LOT of time studying His Word and in prayer ... that is how He opens your mind and heart.

 

[Sabertooth]

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

Pray Mark 9:23-24.

 

[spiritualchristian7]

If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.
Keep pushing yourself to 'believe' til you come to a point where doubt no longer hinders your faith...Pray to God, He's always there to listen to you. Always.

 

[Elle12]

Another 10% or up to 30% or maybe even 60% of faith is added as the truth convicts the heart to pick up the cross and lay aside the idols that were once strongholds. Seeing spiritually gives the most returns of faith.

What does "seeing spiritually" mean? Do you mean in study? What of the one who hears, but is not convinced?

Spend a lot ... A LOT of time studying His Word and in prayer ... that is how He opens your mind and heart.

How much is a lot?

If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.
Keep pushing yourself to 'believe' til you come to a point where doubt no longer hinders your faith...Pray to God, He's always there to listen to you. Always.

Perhaps what I meant to ask is, what is the force that pushes you to 'believe' and abide when year after year you see no fruit? It's tempting to call the tree diseased and be done with it.

 

[eleos1954]

What does "seeing spiritually" mean? Do you mean in study? What of the one who hears, but is not convinced?



How much is a lot?



Perhaps what I meant to ask is, what is the force that pushes you to 'believe' and abide when year after year you see no fruit? It's tempting to call the tree diseased and be done with it.

Spend a lot ... A LOT of time studying His Word and in prayer ... that is how He opens your mind and heart.

How much is a lot?

Every day ... even if it's just a few verses ... study them and think about them. Early morning is good,,
then you have all day to think about them. Always ask for guidance and understanding from the Holy Spirit before opening His Word.

Same thing with prayer ... not just asking Him for help, but also thank Him for His help.
Psalm 119:15-16

15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

 

[public hermit]

Faith involves more than mere belief. It also involves trust. If one is having trouble believing the great truths of the gospel, one can still put forth the effort to trust the One to whom those truths refer. Trusting God is what Abraham did. Thus he is a model for faith. Moreover, God is trustworthy, so trusting God is fitting. Begin with trust in God, belief in the wonderful and sometimes incredible claims of the gospel will come.

 

[spiritualchristian7]

maybe being double-minded is what's hindering you from your faith? In the bible it says that you have to deny yourself to follow Jesus.

I don't know if this can help you but from my walk, I think that faith is more of 'trusting' and 'believing' rather than what you 'feel'.

I have doubts in my head from time to time but I shoo it away telling myself that the devil is getting into my head again.

I urge you to say this with faith: "Jesus is Lord, and I rebuke evil inside me, beside me, and around me, in Jesus' name"

 

[Elle12]

Faith involves more than mere belief. It also involves trust. If one is having trouble believing the great truths of the gospel, one can still put forth the effort to trust the One to whom those truths refer. Trusting God is what Abraham did. Thus he is a model for faith. Moreover, God is trustworthy, so trusting God is fitting. Begin with trust in God, belief in the wonderful and sometimes incredible claims of the gospel will come.

Thank you. What is the distinction between faith and trust? How does one trust in God when they doubt His existence?

maybe being double-minded is what's hindering you from your faith? In the bible it says that you have to deny yourself to follow Jesus.

I don't know if this can help you but from my walk, I think that faith is more of 'trusting' and 'believing' rather than what you 'feel'.

I have doubts in my head from time to time but I shoo it away telling myself that the devil is getting into my head again.

I urge you to say this with faith: "Jesus is Lord, and I rebuke evil inside me, beside me, and around me, in Jesus' name"

Thank you. I think I would have an easier time shooing my doubts if I had any faith in the first place. Without that foundation, I'm uncertain how not to be double-minded. I have fasted and continue to pray and study the Word, but I am discouraged by the silence when I do find an ounce of conviction.

 

[public hermit]

Thank you. What is the distinction between faith and trust? How does one trust in God when they doubt His existence?

I'm not so sure there is a whole lot of distinction between faith and trust. I would argue too many Christians reduce faith to mere belief. Some Christian might say, "I believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead." Wonderful! But do you live as if you trust what his resurrection implies and entails? When God raised him from the dead, God put his stamp of approval on everything Jesus said and did (Romans 1:4). So, trust entails obeying him.

We can trust someone even if we aren't sure that they are trustworthy. For example, a stranger says he will help me, and I desperately need help. I don't know this stranger, but I trust him and allow him to help me. Only time will tell if this stranger is trustworthy, but I will never know unless I trust him.

You may have difficulty believing in the existence of God, but you will not know until you live trusting that God does exist. Here's a little secret: even people of great faith have had times when they doubted God's existence (Mother Teresa, for example). Faith is not certain knowledge. If God's existence were certain knowledge (like 2+2=4 is certain knowledge) then no one would doubt God's existence.

Here's another secret: even if you come to the place where you know that God exists and you have no doubts, you are still going to have to get up every day and have faith. You are still going to have to trust that God loves you and that he has your best interests in mind. So, please don't wait until you are certain to have faith.

One of the things that God is communicating to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that God loves us. Death and destruction are not going to have the last word. The death of Jesus Christ is the most horrendous evil in all of human history, because at that moment the creature is attempting to destroy the Creator (John 1:3). If such a thing could be accomplished all of existence would disappear, for all things depend on the Creator. The word for this is deicide-to kill God. And yet, when Jesus rises from the dead, he shows that the destructive power of evil is impotent in the face of the Living God. It is as if God is saying, "I know you have doubts. I know you are having troubles and you don't know how things will work out. But, If I can do this with the most horrendous of evils, trust me with the rest. Trust me, because I love you."

Let the simple truth that God loves you be your mantra. Repeat it, because it's true. Trust in the God who loves you, the rest will come.

 

[Sanoy]

It is commendable that you divide belief from faith. That is exactly right. We don't believe God exists through faith, instead we have various reasons to believe that God exists, as we do with everything else that exists. We have faith (trust) in Him to fulfill His promises, and act according to His nature (goodness). The Bible says 'faith comes by hearing the word of God' (Romans 10:17). It is by hearing what God has done in the lives of others that we come to trust Him in our own lives.

 

[spiritualchristian7]

It took me about 4 years to finally be a Christian. I was planted the seed of faith by a good friend of mine who shared her faith with me. I didn't know Christ then, but something in me knew that her faith is the truth. Hence, I started praying to a 'God' I wasn't sure existed. But yep, that was definitely the start of my journey.

From then on I sought after God on and off. But you know what? things worked out eventually for me because God guided me to the truth I have now (which I prayed God to reveal to me years before).

Everyone's timeline and walk of faith is different, but it's definitely a process every Christian goes through. I just want you to know that you're not alone in this

You just have to take that one step, step-by-step, one at a time, every single day. I didn't believe in the bible then, but when things happened to me, I believe in it now. "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place" *not a bible verse btw.
I'm sure God hears your prayers. maybe it'll take you weeks, months or years to be 100% Christian (I think you're @30% now hehe)but you'll get there! I'm very optimistic about you because you have the heart to seek God, which I also did before my faith got to where it is now.

(yep, this is what I did before I even knew this passage; I testify to this)
7Ask andit will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened

Continue seeking! and yes, your walk will surely have ups and downs but everything is definitely worth it!

another advice that I think might help you is for you to set your eyes on Christ, get to know the basics, He is, after all, the foundation of your faith. Like what, why, and how.

I do suggest you watch testimonies from youtube. I find that it strengthens my faith when I'm in doubt or just poor in Spirit.

 

[drich0150]

All things are possible for the one who believes, but what happens when you can't find faith?

What happens when you can't pay your rent or can't find your keys or need help with any other part of life?

You ask for help.

The only difference is you ask God.

Here is the only faith you need in this whole process. and that is faith enough to ask Godtohelp you find him.

Jesus himself even talks about this here:
5-6 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’ 7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’ 8 I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. 9 So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 10 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. 11 Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give him a snake? 12 Or, if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Of course not! 13 Even you who are bad know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to the people who ask him.”

So you A/S/K Ask Seek and Knock for the Holy Spirit. and God has promised to give you this gift/help.

Afterwards belief is easy, after all how hard is it to believe when God shows up?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

Simply do what you can do. Turn to the Creator for His Kingdom is now at hand.
Pray always.
Read Scripture seeking the Truth always, as often as possible, asking the Creator to reveal the Truth as He Wants to reveal the Truth to little children. (as His Son Praised Him Out Loud for so Doing)

 

[renniks]

All things are possible for the one who believes, but what happens when you can't find faith?

The Bible says that salvation through faith is a gift from God, and this speaks to me. I don't feel that faith and belief is a conscious choice that I can make; my belief comes from what I know to be true, based on what I have seen, heard, and felt. Without the work of God, we could not believe in the gospel to be saved. I feel no more able to choose to believe in God than I could choose to believe that I will not see the sun set today. Yet, the gospels condemn those without belief. I pray that God might open my mind to the truth of the matter, while sustaining my patience and persistence.

What is the path for those that do not believe, but want to? What is the response to those who have tried for years without success?

Belief is ultimately a choice.
Jesus said seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened...
Belief isn't a feeling.
He also said if you had Faith as a mustard seed you can move mountains... your faith may be tiny, but you choose whether to hold on to it or not.
I don't buy the idea that faith is something he magically imparts on us.
You have to choose it every day.

 

[Elle12]

I'm not so sure there is a whole lot of distinction between faith and trust. I would argue too many Christians reduce faith to mere belief. Some Christian might say, "I believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead." Wonderful! But do you live as if you trust what his resurrection implies and entails? When God raised him from the dead, God put his stamp of approval on everything Jesus said and did (Romans 1:4). So, trust entails obeying him.

We can trust someone even if we aren't sure that they are trustworthy. For example, a stranger says he will help me, and I desperately need help. I don't know this stranger, but I trust him and allow him to help me. Only time will tell if this stranger is trustworthy, but I will never know unless I trust him.

You may have difficulty believing in the existence of God, but you will not know until you live trusting that God does exist. Here's a little secret: even people of great faith have had times when they doubted God's existence (Mother Teresa, for example). Faith is not certain knowledge. If God's existence were certain knowledge (like 2+2=4 is certain knowledge) then no one would doubt God's existence.

Here's another secret: even if you come to the place where you know that God exists and you have no doubts, you are still going to have to get up every day and have faith. You are still going to have to trust that God loves you and that he has your best interests in mind. So, please don't wait until you are certain to have faith.

One of the things that God is communicating to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is that God loves us. Death and destruction are not going to have the last word. The death of Jesus Christ is the most horrendous evil in all of human history, because at that moment the creature is attempting to destroy the Creator (John 1:3). If such a thing could be accomplished all of existence would disappear, for all things depend on the Creator. The word for this is deicide-to kill God. And yet, when Jesus rises from the dead, he shows that the destructive power of evil is impotent in the face of the Living God. It is as if God is saying, "I know you have doubts. I know you are having troubles and you don't know how things will work out. But, If I can do this with the most horrendous of evils, trust me with the rest. Trust me, because I love you."

Let the simple truth that God loves you be your mantra. Repeat it, because it's true. Trust in the God who loves you, the rest will come.

Thank you. I suppose the analogy for my personal experience is not that a stranger says he will help me, but that people keep telling me that a stranger will help me. My struggle is not with whether or not to trust God, but waiting for Him to show up. Somehow, believing in God is more difficult than believing that He loves me.

What happens when you can't pay your rent or can't find your keys or need help with any other part of life?

You ask for help.

The only difference is you ask God.

Here is the only faith you need in this whole process. and that is faith enough to ask Godtohelp you find him.

Jesus himself even talks about this here:
5-6 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’ 7 Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’ 8 I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. 9 So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 10 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. 11 Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give him a snake? 12 Or, if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Of course not! 13 Even you who are bad know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to the people who ask him.”

So you A/S/K Ask Seek and Knock for the Holy Spirit. and God has promised to give you this gift/help.

Afterwards belief is easy, after all how hard is it to believe when God shows up?

Perhaps, but you wouldn't knock on a door to an empty house before you would knock on your neighbors. When you have asked for God's help to open your eyes and your heart and the answer is silence, it is not so easy to keep knocking at the door to a house that seems empty.

 

[Elle12]

Belief is ultimately a choice.
Jesus said seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened...
Belief isn't a feeling.
He also said if you had Faith as a mustard seed you can move mountains... your faith may be tiny, but you choose whether to hold on to it or not.
I don't buy the idea that faith is something he magically imparts on us.
You have to choose it every day.

Why do you choose to believe?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Perhaps, but you wouldn't knock on a door to an empty house before you would knock on your neighbors. When you have asked for God's help to open your eyes and your heart and the answer is silence, it is not so easy to keep knocking at the door to a house that seems empty.

I might well knock on a door to an empty house before I would knock on the neighbors door.

Concerning "the answer is silence", many here do not ever realize that for most people in the world the answer is silence. Always. Every day. Until they die.

So then, in Scripture and in Prayer, some few find out why the answer is (or was) silence, and continue on. Some many never find out why the answer is silence, until too late.

 

[Elle12]

I might well knock on a door to an empty house before I would knock on the neighbors door.

Concerning "the answer is silence", many here do not ever realize that for most people in the world the answer is silence. Always. Every day. Until they die.

So then, in Scripture and in Prayer, some few find out why the answer is (or was) silence, and continue on. Some many never find out why the answer is silence, until too late.

That's depressing.