Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
What do I do when my faith is shaken by suffering?
Answer:
As a pastor and a man of faith, I've seen many people struggle with their faith when faced with suffering. It's natural to wonder if God is still present and loving when we're going through tough times. But the truth is, God is holy love, and He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. When we lack the mental composure that comes from establishing ourselves on this eternal truth, we're more likely to experience disaster in our lives. When my faith is shaken by suffering, I remind myself that God is gracious and loving enough to make it count. He will use our suffering for our good, even if we don't understand it at the time. As St. Basil said, faith is ambidextrous - we welcome pleasure and affliction on both hands. It's not about waiting for faith to be inserted into our hearts, but about doing battle with depression's tendencies toward passivity. We must take action and seek God's presence in the midst of our struggles. Ultimately, faith is not just about receiving what we want from God, but about accepting what He gives and glorifying Him in all circumstances. Even in the midst of suffering, faith can triumph and bring us closer to God. As I've learned from my own experiences and from ministering to others, growing our faith is like developing strong muscles - we must continually use it or we'll lose our strength. By putting our faith to work and seeking God's presence, we can navigate even the darkest times and come out stronger on the other side.
Sources:
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
depression
edward welch
confronting christianity
rebecca mclaughlin
building dynamic faith
jerry falwell
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