I Believe, Help My Unbelief

Do you ever wake up in the morning some days and think, “Ugh, I’m not even sure if God is real”?

Life can be a grind, and sometimes we feel that our entire existence is so painful and futile, a good God would never let us suffer this way. Maybe He’s not even there.

It’s not a crime to admit your faith gets weak at times. Living in our modern, secular culture, where most expressions of religious faith are mocked and ridiculed, it’s perfectly normal to wonder whether God is real, or if it’s all just a curious myth passed on from previous generations that knew nothing about science.

But here’s the thing: if you’re ever tempted to abandon faith in God, please understand that not believing in God is a hopeless worldview.

Now, of course, unbelievers will never say that. They proclaim their views are based on science and reason, and it’s very liberating to know the truth about reality and dismiss once and for all those ancient religious fairy tales. And, of course, they never hesitate to remind us that the most brilliant people in society do not believe in God.

However, the fact is, rejecting God is hopeless. When you boil it down, it offers no hope whatsoever. This is because the core principle of this viewpoint is that the natural world is the only thing that exists. There is no spiritual dimension to reality; no gods, no angels, no Heaven, and no human soul.

It may seem there is something behind our eyes, an “I” or “me” or unique person with thoughts and dreams and feelings and relationships and vivid memories. It may seem the core of our individual being is somehow within our bodies but yet much greater than mere flesh. Theologians call this our soul or spirit.

But people who reject God insist it’s all an illusion. Our unique personality and consciousness are nothing more than electro-chemical activity taking place inside that complex lump of gray mush know as our brains. It’s all natural, and there is no spiritual aspect to it.

Additionally, when we die, it all comes to a screeching halt. No life after death, no continuation of our consciousness. Just complete annihilation. Our bodies become worm food in a cemetery and our minds and sense of individual awareness cease to exist. We’re gone. Forever.

That’s why not believing in God offers no hope at all. Our accidental existence here on earth is terribly fleeting, and when it’s over, we are gone for all time.

When you wake up on those painful mornings and wonder if God even exists, be aware that if you go down this secular path, you are siding with meaninglessness and despair, which will only increase your pain. If you at least cling to the idea that God might be real, and admit you don’t know why a good God would let so much suffering occur, you at least have hope. Hope that someday it will make sense to you; hope that all the injustice of this world will be made right in the next world; hope that our fleeting time on earth is not an exercise in futility; and hope that joy and love will again fill your heart.

The desperate man in Mark 9:24 is a wonderful example. This man’s son was very ill, and he came to Jesus begging for help. When Jesus said that faith is important, the man cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

When we’re feeling down and desperate, when our faith is slipping away, we need to pray this amazing prayer. “Dear Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief!”

No matter how bad things seem, no matter how weak your faith is, do not despair. God is real, even if sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, and He loves you more than you can imagine. Don’t lose hope, because our God is a God of hope and joy.