Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

Lord help thou, my unbelief.

Sometimes, people aren’t upset with God; they are disappointed with their understanding of God. During one of the most challenging seasons of my life, I confronted my views on God, how He answers prayers, and the reality of my new normal. The doctrine I was taught failed me. But God didn’t. As I began the process of separating my mind and beliefs from the incorrect application of scripture, I discovered an authentic faith that transformed me and addressed the unbelief that had questioned my confidence in the Word of God.

One mistake we make as believers when God allows a trial into our lives is to examine what happened through the lens of grief, betrayal, intellect, and a strong desire to escape. Seeing the circumstances through your internal lens circumvents the spiritual work and purpose God is doing. Loathing in the what-ifs and taking a horizontal view leads to despair. The proper way to face life's storms is with a vertical view—looking up to God for help in prayer and then to His Word for truth. The enemy has always sought to undermine our faith. His goal from the very beginning has been to expose flaws in the truth we believe and confess, causing us to rationalize biblical standards.

Compromise is Satan’s language, so don’t be fooled by his tactics. In the book of Luke, Jesus warned Peter about the test that was coming from the enemy. “'And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Satan was after His faith. Sifting is the shaking of what you believe, based on what you’ve been through. If Jesus really is who He said He is, then why are you all scattered while He heads to the cross? He showed His power to save, heal, and restore, but why can’t He save Himself? Do these taunts sound familiar? Have you ever wondered why God didn’t stop or answer a prayer that could have led to a different ending? Do you sometimes question if God is real when you find yourself in a situation you believe He could change in an instant?

How we interpret our experience is crucial, but the key step in overcoming unbelief is identifying what we do believe. Sometimes, there is a gap between what you know about God and how you live out your faith on a daily basis. We see this in the father’s plea in Mark chapter 9. Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible." The father didn’t give a dishonest response; instead, he said, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." He acknowledged that he believed, but there was still part of him that didn’t. This honest and transparent response led to the healing of his daughter. God wants to do the same in your life.

We are responsible for the theology we adopt. We must search scripture for truth and holy application. When life feels uncertain, God remains sure and faithful. Don’t let what you don’t understand cause you to doubt God’s truth and His character. If you're struggling with unbelief, surrender it to God and ask Him to help you overcome your unbelief.

Be encouraged.