What to Do When You’re Tempted to Reject Your Faith in God
Every once in a while there will be a headline that broadcasts the news of a famous Christian who has walked away from their faith.
And I wonder if that isn’t a major goal of the enemy of our souls. Famous or not the enemy wants people to doubt and reject their faith in God.
So he taunts and tempts us with messages like…
- “There can’t be a God because a loving God wouldn’t let this to happen to me.”
- “There can’t be a God because – I can’t believe in a God who would allow all of this suffering.”
- “There can’t be a God or people who claimed to follow Him wouldn’t be such hypocrites.”
- “There can’t be a God because __________”
The enemy uses culture, social justice, and politics as a more appealing “religion” than the truth about Jesus.
And the persecution of believers is a real and harsh truth in many places around the world.
So the writer of this letter to the Jewish believers, who were dealing with people being tempted to reject their faith, wrote:
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
Hebrews 3:12–13
In the face of questions, doubt, discouragement, persecution, and culture . . . we must lift each other up in prayer and stand together so that we might encourage one another to cling to the One who begins and perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
Why? Because…
If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Hebrews 3:14
That’s the faith and hope found in the blessing of God’s love.
A Prayer for Faith and Hope When
the Enemy Tempts You to Reject Our Faith in God’s Love
Father, the enemy constantly tempts and taunts us to question Your goodness and doubt Your love. It’s really nothing new . . . he’s been doing it since the Garden. Yet, it’s still hard. But You know that. Your Son withstood a full assault of the enemy’s efforts and still remained perfect and without sin all so He could show us Your love by suffering our punishment. By suffering my punishment.
Please forgive me for allowing myself to listen to the temptings of the world around me. Forgive me for allowing busyness and the louder voices to distract me. Forgive me for failing to keep my eyes on Jesus the One who is my source of hope and life.
Please help me, Father. Empower me with Your Spirit that I might cling to You in faith. Help me fight my spiritual battles equipped with Your Truth, covered by Your righteousness, filled with Your peace, and armed with Your Word. Give me a heart for prayer that I might sit with You and know Your heart. And bless me with a community of faith that stands together on the Good News of Your grace, mercy, and love. A fellowship that holds each other accountable to Your will and makes loving You and living for Your glory the goal of their hearts. I thank you and praise You. And come to You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
When I was a little girl, our pastor made it really clear that it was okay to have questions about God as long as we knew where to take them.
I’m so thankful for His encouragement. Because when I have questions and doubts, I want to know the truth. I don’t want someone’s ideas and opinions. I don’t want to hear from those who have rejected their faith. I want the unchanging everlasting gospel truth.
And I’ve found that in Jesus.
When I look at the men who were closest to Him. Men who were riddled with questions and doubts, who fled when he was arrested and hid when He was crucified. Men who following His resurrection and being filled by His Spirit boldly proclaimed:
“Let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
Acts 2:36
So, I take my questions to God’s Word and I take to heart the words of those who walked with Jesus. And I take my doubts to the Lord in prayer and I trust His Spirit to fill me with faith and hope.
He is the One who helps me fight the enemy.
On today’s note write:
I will run to Jesus when the enemy tempts me to reject my faith.
May God be with you today as you go to Him with Your questions and SEEK His lasting TRUTH.
Click here to read the rest of Hebrews 3.
We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…
and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.
Never Miss an Update
Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
Oh, how the world longs to shake and break our faith, Deb. Let us all run to Jesus for the everlasting Truth that will sustain and comfort us, even in the hard and dark times in our lives.
Blessings!
The enemy is always at work, Martha! I’m standing with you in prayer asking that He will place a hedge of protection around all who love Him. God bless you! Have a wonderful day, my friend!
Another beautifully written and touching post. It bodes well for me to tune the noise out…and remain focused and keep my eyes on the Lord. Now that’s not to say I am a “ostrich in the sand”, but choosing my words, my battles, when it comes to man and evil doings…I pray more people continue to wake up and see the enemies lies. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light…sadly, they are preying on the little ones…they know where their audience lies and it’s up to us, the older generation to be an example of faith and his teachings, otherwise what would we be left with? The thing I can’t understand…is how can people NOT see all of this is created by those at the top…yet, they say it’s us at the bottom…it’s an evil poxy of a scheme if you ask me…
Great job Deb.
Thank you, Lily. I completely agree. May we be moved to spend time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. Asking the Lord to intervene and change hearts and lives. We will continue to share our stories and the truth of His love. God bless you!
I love the line you wrote ” we must build each other up in prayer and show encouragement”….that line is filled with so much power and truth. It is easy to be tempted by the enemy of souls. Our world is filled with new religions and ways of thinking, all distorted by the enemy to confuse us, when we are discouraged. The devil tempts us to abandon our faith in times of doubt and trouble. It is then that we need to cling tightly to the word of Jesus, who goes before us always and continually invite Him into every situation. It’s by the power of His spirit that we are transformed. Our circumstances might not change but our hearts and minds are renew when we call on the name of Jesus. We need to encourage one another and profess our faith….be shining examples in the dark places for others. Deb thank you for your encouragement here today. You have blessed my life. May God bless you and keep you.
Angela -Ireland
Thank you, Angela! I am so thankful for God’s willingness to strengthen us and reassure us when we run to Him. His grace is all-sufficient. Blessings, my friend!
THANKS FOR Sharing Deb ????. VERY INSPIRATIONAL ????????????????♥️❗️❗️In Times OF Trouble AND Testing IS WHAT MAKES us Grow And WE DO Need To cling To JESUS ????For Strength And Guidance ♥️ BC Satan is Trying To BEAT us UP ???? and Make us doubt Our Salvation , So We Figure WHY try? thanks Again ❗️G-d♥️Bless
God bless you, Cheri! I agree! I’ve learned to thank and praise God for the hard times in my life simply because of the ways He used them to draw me closer. His grace truly blesses us every single day! Have a wonderful day in the Lord.
Such wisdom! Thank you.