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Exploring, nurturing, and strengthening your faith in Christ, even during challenging times
Whether you're new to Jesus or have grown up attending church, faith can pose challenges. The existence of God cannot be proven, and it can be daunting to believe in something intangible. However, fostering a relationship with Jesus necessitates faith and trust. Fortunately, Christianity teaches that faith is a divine gift rather than a self-generated attribute.
Essential Knowledge
- Engage with the Bible to deepen your understanding of Jesus.
- Maintain regular prayer and integrate God's teachings into your daily life.
- Undergo baptism as a commitment to Christ.
- Seek God's guidance in both favorable and challenging circumstances, discerning the lessons He imparts.
Key Steps
Embracing Faith in Jesus
Persevere in your faith journey despite its initial challenges. Doubt is a natural aspect of human existence, so struggling to believe in Jesus doesn't signify wrongdoing. Since God is invisible, trusting in His presence can be daunting. However, by cultivating a desire to honor a higher power, you can gradually perceive God in His splendid creation—all that is visible to you.
Explore the historical context surrounding Jesus' life.
Although direct archaeological evidence of Jesus' existence is lacking, numerous historical scholars acknowledge his historical reality. By contextualizing Jesus as a tangible figure whose teachings and actions influenced his contemporary society, placing faith in him becomes more accessible.
Fun Fact: Ancient historians such as Josephus and Tacitus documented Jesus' life and his followers shortly after his alleged death, providing compelling evidence of his existence.
Affirm Jesus as God's sacrificial son. According to the Bible, Jesus—a mortal—was executed for his revolutionary teachings about God. He was crucified and subsequently rose from the dead three days later, bridging the gap between humanity's sinfulness and God's divine forgiveness.
Recognize your past sins. Acknowledge that everyone has disobeyed God's commands at some point in their lives. Sins range from minor falsehoods to grave offenses like murder. Admitting to your sins is a crucial step in becoming a follower of Jesus.
Realize God's unconditional love. Despite human fallibility, God's love remains unwavering. Even when you deviate from His guidelines, He desires a fulfilling life for you, characterized by honoring Him.
Pray to God for forgiveness and declare your faith. Once you acknowledge Jesus as God's son and your own sinfulness, pray to God for forgiveness. This prayer, known as the Prayer of Salvation, marks the beginning of your Christian journey.
Commit to following God's teachings. Repenting involves actively addressing and overcoming personal sins. It signifies a lifelong dedication to serving God and striving to align with His teachings.
Undergo baptism as a symbolic commitment to your new life in God. Baptism represents the death of your former self and the birth of your spiritual journey with God. While baptism is encouraged, it does not determine one's salvation.
Keeping Your Belief
Allocate a moment daily to converse with Jesus. By dedicating tranquil time each day to converse with Jesus, you'll foster a connection with him, enabling you to perceive his guidance in your life. For instance, you may sense a divine prompting in decision-making or experience a serene reassurance while contemplating a biblical passage. The closer your bond with God, the more steadfast your faith will be during adversities.
- During your quiet time, engage in activities like reading devotionals, studying scripture, praying, journaling, or any practice that fosters intimacy with Jesus. Some individuals find worship in activities like gardening, driving, cooking, or singing, so embrace what resonates most authentically with you.
- During prayer, extol Jesus for his benevolence and beseech him to fortify your faith. Then, remain attentive to his revelations in your daily life.
Reflect on biblical narratives portraying resilience amid adversity. The Bible abounds with accounts of devout adherents enduring profound hardships. These narratives can instill a sense of kinship with a lineage of believers who persevered through anguish, affliction, and bereavement while retaining faith in God's goodness.
- Early Christians frequently faced persecution and martyrdom following Jesus' crucifixion. Epistles such as Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews, composed during this era, exemplify believers grappling with fear yet congregating to nurture their faith.
- The apostle Paul confronted an unspecified affliction, termed a 'thorn in the flesh' in 2 Corinthians. Despite his ordeal, his humility and faith serve as enduring models of strength.
- Jesus himself endured betrayal by a close confidant and spent the night prior to his crucifixion in fervent prayer. His unwavering resolve, chronicled in the Gospels, offers potent inspiration for those confronting daunting challenges.
Seek Jesus for fortitude in adversity (and prosperity). While engaging in prayer and scripture, implore Jesus for strength to navigate afflictions such as depression, illness, strained familial ties, or profound loss. Regardless of the trial, soliciting Jesus for solace and relief from anxiety ensures his comforting presence. However, don't limit communion with God to times of crisis; maintain regular connection, expressing gratitude for his blessings.
- Although Jesus may not instantly resolve all dilemmas or eliminate worry, his strength facilitates coping with adversity.
- 1 Peter 5:7 advises: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Solicit Jesus's guidance amidst tribulations. Regardless of the challenge, petition Jesus to illuminate the lessons inherent in adversity. Through introspection, scripture study, and prayer, glean wisdom from every trial encountered.
- For instance, grappling with grief over loss may underscore the importance of cherishing loved ones while they're present, fostering deeper connections. Although it won't alleviate pain, it can enrich relationships.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 advises: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.'
Connect with fellow believers to strengthen your faith. Building relationships with other believers can fortify your faith and provide a supportive community during difficult times. By sharing experiences and wisdom, you can both give and receive encouragement.
Tip: Local churches offer opportunities to meet fellow believers. Consider exploring contemporary services if traditional settings feel unfamiliar. If attending church isn't feasible, seek out Christian gatherings online, such as weekly Bible studies or monthly dinners.
