When Faith Feels Like a Tug-of-War: Trusting God Beyond the Struggle
Have you ever felt like your faith journey is an exhausting back-and-forth—believing one moment and doubting the next? You know the evidence is there: God’s existence, the resurrection of Christ, and His promises. Yet, it still doesn’t seem to reach your heart. You’re left wondering, Why can’t I just trust Him fully?
If you’ve been there—or are there now—you’re not alone. A very close friend recently shared this very struggle with me. He’s weary from trying to rationalize his faith, tired of clawing back the trust he’s tried so hard to surrender. His words struck a chord because I’ve been there too. And if you’re in this place, I’d like to share some thoughts that might resonate.
Faith Beyond Evidence
It’s natural to approach faith with our minds, especially when we’re wired to seek understanding. God gave us our intellects, and He invites us to love Him with our minds (Matthew 22:37). But reason, as incredible as it is, has its limits.
We can’t reduce God to a mathematical formula or philosophical equation. He’s not a puzzle to solve or a problem to crack. As Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us, His thoughts and ways are far beyond ours. Reason can guide us toward God, but it cannot fully comprehend Him. That’s where faith steps in—not as blind trust, but as a bridge connecting what we know with the One who knows us.
When Emotions Fall Short
For some, the struggle isn’t about reason but about experience. Maybe you’re waiting for a divine moment that will make God’s presence unmistakable—a feeling so overwhelming that doubt has no chance to survive.
But here’s the thing: feelings are fleeting. God’s presence isn’t dependent on whether we feel Him. Scripture is filled with people who walked through seasons of silence—Job, the psalmists, even Jesus on the cross. Yet they trusted Him still. As Paul reminds us, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith means choosing to trust God’s promises, even when our emotions don’t align. Over time, this trust often leads to a deeper awareness of His presence, not as a fleeting feeling but as a steady assurance.
The Exchanged Life: Trusting Christ Within
Here’s the shift that changed everything for me: understanding that my faith isn’t something I have to muster on my own. It’s not about me striving to believe harder or trying to “get it right.” Faith is about resting in the life of Christ within me—the One who already trusted perfectly and invites me to lean on His sufficiency.
Galatians 2:20 puts it beautifully: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The exchanged life means recognizing that my old self, with all its doubts and struggles, has been crucified with Christ. Now, His life is my life. My role isn’t to strive but to surrender—to let Him live His faithfulness through me.
When You’re Tired of Trying
If you’re feeling tired—tired of the back-and-forth, tired of clawing back trust, tired of trying to figure it all out—take heart. Faith isn’t about trying harder; it’s about resting more deeply in the One who is faithful.
Jesus invites us to come to Him with our weariness and burdens, promising rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28–30). That rest comes when we stop striving and start trusting, not in our ability to believe but in His ability to sustain us.
Practical Steps to Rest in Faith
Here are a few ways to move from striving to resting in your faith journey:
Shift Your Focus: Instead of trying to figure out everything about God, focus on getting to know Him personally. Spend time in Scripture, not to solve theological puzzles but to see His heart revealed.
Journal Your Thoughts: Writing down your frustrations, questions, and prayers can help you process your journey. Be honest with God—He can handle your doubts and struggles.
Rest in His Promises: Reflect on Scriptures that remind you of His faithfulness, like Isaiah 41:10 (“Do not fear, for I am with you”) or Romans 8:38–39 (“Nothing can separate us from the love of God”).
Embrace Silence: Spend time in quiet prayer, simply being with God. Psalm 46:10 invites us to “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Trust His Grace: Remember that even when you misstep or misunderstand, God’s grace fills the gaps. Proverbs 19:21 assures us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
An Invitation to Trust
If you’re in a season of doubt, frustration, or spiritual exhaustion, know this: God isn’t disappointed in you. He sees your struggle, and He’s not asking you to have it all figured out. He’s simply inviting you to trust Him, one step at a time.
Your faith doesn’t have to be perfect because Jesus’ faithfulness is. As you let go of striving and surrender to His sufficiency, you’ll find rest—not in what you can do but in what He has already done.
A Prayer for Rest
Lord, I’m tired of trying to figure everything out. Thank You that I don’t have to. Thank You for Your grace, which fills every gap, and for Your faithfulness, which never wavers. I trust you to teach me to rest in You, to trust Your promises, and to let Christ live His life through me. I surrender my doubts and my striving to You. Lead me deeper into Your rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.