Spiritual Direction: Faith Crisis- What Is It And What To Do About It

Faith Crisis, what is it, and how you can get through it.  Faith crises are much more common than one thinks.  Because faith is an individual thing yet we as human beings are social creatures, for many people faith crisis is something that they do not talk about or share with others.  However, throughout history, we have been bombarded with many different examples of faith crises.

The common problem is that some realize that there is a difference between what a person is saying and what they are doing or what they say they believe in-when this disconnect comes from leaders in the Church, many people develop a faith crisis.  The simple solution is this, people are human beings.  Our relationship is with God not with men.  Martin Luther tried to point this out when he broke away from the Church.  The problem is breaking away from the Church is a problem as well.  We can not nor we should not put our faith on hold or in jeopardy because of other people.  The Church is true because it was established by Jesus Christ.  In the past 2000 years since he returned to his Heavenly Father, have there been problems?  Have people been doing things that they should not have done?  Have people left the Church?  These are all true.  So what.  Think about it, how does this influence your faith?  If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, how can someone else come between you and Him? Here are some great Bible Verses (Courtesy of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in College Station, Texas)  Read them every day and think about these next time you believe you are experiencing a faith crisis.  Why blame others, the Lord knows what is best for you, believe in Him, and will help-now and forever.  Amen

Verses To Read Daily When In Crisis

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you."
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.""
Revelation 21:4 "he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you."
Matthew 6:20-21 "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
John 4:14 "whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing"
Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Isaiah 40:31 "they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 41:10 "fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Hebrews 10:19-23 "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful;"
James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong."
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."
Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."