Question: I've confessed Jesus as my Savior & Lord, but struggle with a lukewarm faith. I had a prodigal season & haven't healed/reconciled from things which I think began my journey down the wrong path, but I don't feel like I want to spend years healing before I can have a thriving relationship with Jesus, or even necessarily want to answer all of my doubts/questions, so, do you have any advice for someone whose struggling to find their way back to the faith, and wants to revive their heart now, more than ever? Thank you!
Answer: Greetings and thank you for reaching out with your question.
As I read your question, I see two things that stand out to me. First, is someone who is struggling with faith and doubt and wants to feel the joy of their salvation. Second, is someone who wants to shortcut the process God often uses to grow people in their faith. These two seem to be at odds with one another, and that might explain the angst you're feeling.
Let me begin with some of the positive things I see in your question:
- You confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. That's wonderful! It is only by the Spirit of God that one can say "Jesus is Lord" (1 Cor 12:3).
- You recognize that you have a "lukewarm faith" and you want "to find your way back to the faith." Christian maturity is in seeing how far you fall short and desiring more and more to grow in faith and love.
- You don't need to have all of your doubts and questions answered. I can't tell you how many people I've seen who fail to embrace Christianity because they don't have all their questions answered. Even when you patiently speak with them and answer their questions, there always seems to be another question. I love the story of the father in Mark 9 who, when seeing Jesus and asking Him to cast a demon from his child, answers Jesus' question ("Do you believe I am able to do this?") with a great confession of faith: "I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen (Heb 11:1).
However, there is one thing you said that causes alarm: "But I don't feel like I want to spend years of healing before I can have a thriving relationship with Jesus." I find this alarming because it shows a misunderstanding in how the Lord often works. Trials are used by God to draw us closer to Himself. Consider this well-known passage from James:
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. [4] But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)
Trials are tests of faith. The testing of our faith produces patience. Patience results in maturity ("perfect and complete," this is not sinless perfection, but the completion of a task). I often say that trials serve three purposes in God's economy:
- They ween us off the world and its fading desires. Trials are reminders that we live in a fallen world filled with fallen people. The world is constantly luring us away with its "shiny objects," but trials serve to get our focus off of the world.
- Trials, as James says, strengthen our faith and work patience and maturation.
- Trials shift our focus off the world and onto God. Jesus told His disciples in the Upper Room that "in this world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Think of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). When did the Prodigal Son "come to his right mind?" After he left home, squandered his inheritance, and found himself in the pigsty desiring what the pigs ate. In other words, he had to hit his "rock bottom" before he realized that life was better back at his father's home. So, my counsel to you is do not seek to short-cut the process the Lord uses to bring us back to Himself. This time "in the wilderness" in which you feel you have a "lukewarm" faith is precisely the means God is using to grow your faith. This happens as you seek His face in prayer, as you study His Word, and as you spend time with His people in worship and fellowship. If you don't know what to read or pray, I would suggest the Psalms. Read through a Psalm and pray that Psalm's requests back to God. The Book of Psalms is a collection of Holy Spirit inspired songs and prayers to be used in our worship and devotion.
The good news is God is waiting to welcome you back with open arms. Again, consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When the son returns to the father, what does the father do? He runs to his son, embraces him, and welcomes him back to the family. That's our God, and we see this perfectly depicted in Jesus who said:
[28] "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV).
I hope this helps.
