In our culture today, it’s very easy for a faith reset to cause someone to either strengthen their faith or walk away from it.
The fact that people are less likely to identify as a Christian today in America as they did in the past, is a crisis of faith. Pew Research did a study conducted in 2018 and 2019 asked one question — Do you identify as a Christian? And the numbers have been down 12 percent over the last 10 years in America.
In this blog (and the next one) we’ll look at two different strategies to help you minister to people going through a faith crisis. This isn’t just something for people in a ministry position. God will give you opportunities to share with others he brings into your life.
1. Trusting but troubled.
A person you might be ministering to, going through a crisis of faith, might look like the disciples did in John 13. Jesus told them He’d be with them a little while longer, but they could not go with Him to where He was going (John 13:33).
They lived with Jesus for three years, and things were going well. They thought the Christian life would continue as it had been so far, but everything was turned upside down in that verse. Jesus said, “I’m leaving you.” That’s a crisis of faith.
These men were still trusting Jesus, but they were troubled. Jesus gives us an example of how we can minister to people who have faith but they’re troubled. You’ve heard people express it with words like – I don’t understand why …
- My child died.
- The divorce occurred.
- I got Covid and I’m still having trouble.
- I lost that job.
- My health failed.
They need a faith reset.
The disciples said, “Jesus, I don’t understand. What do you mean you’re going to leave us?”
Jesus shows us what we need to do when people trust but are troubled.
Jesus focused on future help, and then he talked about present reality.
“Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4 GW).
That’s what his disciples needed right then.
When you’re reaching out to a son, a daughter or a friend who’s trusting but troubled, give them hope for the future. That’s what they need at that time. More than anything, they need the promises of Scripture. It gives help and meaning for what they’re going through in our life. It can be as simple as – “God loves you.”
When you know you have something greater to live for, it helps you survive the junk you’re going through right now. And Jesus did this very thing with the disciples. He lifted their spirits.
Something powerful occurs when your faith is being challenged. You can start with the future and then move to today.
