How To Keep The Faith No Matter What

Undoubtedly, there will be trials in your life, and they don’t have to be big trials to test your faith. Just finding a job, being a parent, building a lasting marriage, or simply waking up in the morning can cause you to question your faith, doubt, and lose hope.

Everyone on their faith journey will need to wrestle with tough questions, and some people need to renew their commitment to God. However, there are some things you can do to keep the faith no matter what is going on in your life, good or bad, big or small.

What Faith is Not

Sometimes, we question God because we don’t understand what faith is or why it matters to our walk with Christ. Understanding the truth about this important topic is essential because faith is the foundation of your relationship with God.

It is important to test what you believe about faith and God. Faith is eternal and a special gift from Him alone. We cannot have faith without Jesus because the gift of faith comes to us through our belief in Him.

Examine your own self, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. –2 Corinthians 13:5

Too often, we think our faith will give us what we want in life. Jesus frequently mentioned that we must believe, have faith, and trust in Him. So, it is normal to have some expectations about what faith is and what it can do for you.

Faith is Not a Wish

When I was younger, I used to wish on the stars all the time. I believed and hoped that if I made a wish, it would come true. Whether or not I had my wishes come true is not up for discussion. However, I have learned in my Christian walk that faith is not a wish.

Our belief in God and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises in the Bible is based on biblical truth. God’s character and intentions have been explained and proven time and time again throughout His Word.

Faith Is Not Positive Thinking

There is nothing wrong with positive thinking. I believe God’s Word contains positive words, thoughts, and ideas we should meditate on. Positive thinking is a great way to reframe your circumstances, retrain your brain, and change your perspective.

Faith does change the way we think and approach different situations, but it is not about only thinking positive thoughts. Faith is about focusing on the truth, God’s Word, and God’s promises.

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. –Hebrews 11:1 (WEB)

Why is it Difficult to Keep the Faith?

There are a lot of circumstances and moments in your life that will test your faith.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. –James 1:2-4 (WEB)

I have lived a life where I lost faith and doubted God. There have been many instances where I just didn’t trust God enough to surrender certain areas of my life to Him. Even in trials and triumphs and simply not understanding what faith was, I have had to learn what it means to walk in faith.

Trials and Triumphs

If you think faith is a wish or positive thinking, then going through trials and triumphs will cause you to turn away from living a life of faith. When you go through a trial, you will question what is happening to you and forget God’s sovereignty. When life is going well, pride may get in the way. This is why it is important to be careful when walking through trials and triumphs.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. –1 John 5:4

Not Understanding That Faith is a Gift

Only a believer in Christ can walk in faith. No one can claim they are a Christian by what they do in this life because it is all grace. Grasping this concept allows believers to walk out their faith in word and deed.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. –Ephesians 2:8-9 (WEB)

What Does it Mean to Keep the Faith?

Keeping faith is about holding on to the truth about God’s promises, His character, and the role He plays in your life. It is about knowing and growing spiritually through the moments when you would rather take back control instead of surrendering to God.

Looking to Jesus, the author, and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. –Hebrews 12:2 (WEB)

5 Ways to Keep the Faith No Matter What

1. Authentic Prayer: Use prayer to build a relationship with God. Tell Him your struggles and your praises, and just be real about what is hindering your faith.
2. Read God’s Word: Romans 10:17 (NKJV) says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You can’t have faith in someone you don’t know. Increase your knowledge of God’s Word.
3. Trust in God’s Promises: When my heart and mind tell me to believe what they want instead of what God has promised, I remind myself of His promises. The only way to know God’s promises is to read His Word.
4. Lean into God’s Faithfulness: I have made many mistakes in my life, and I have had seasons when my faithfulness to God suffered. But in those seasons, I can see where God was faithful even when I was not. That’s who God is; his faithfulness to me doesn’t go away because of my disobedience. I look for His faithfulness in my life, and that’s when I find the strength to be obedient and faithful to Him.
5. Take Steps to Walk Out Your Faith: Faith without works is dead. The Holy Spirit always prompts us to walk and live in faith, and our actions will reflect our relationship with God built on faith.

Your faith is a gift from God, and the actions you take in faith will last for generations to come. When you have faith, you are not wishing for God to do something because He has already done everything for you through His Son, Jesus. Jesus is writing your faith story right now because you can have faith in Him no matter what.