We often grapple with the existence of God as the creator of life and all things. Today, the world is besieged by increasing levels of unbelief as we move away from the knowledge and worship of our true God. The emergence of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Quantum Theory, and the Big Bang Theory also has significant challenges and opposition to the reality of God and the authenticity of His Word.
According to sociologists Ariela Keysar and Juhem Navarro-Rivera’s review of numerous global studies on atheism[1], there are 450 to 500 million positive atheists and agnostics worldwide (7% of the world’s population), with China alone accounting for 200 million of that demographic number.
But how to believe in God means completely trusting that God exists and that Christ is our Lord and Savior. It ushers in a holy relationship with God and clarifies our rightful identity in Christ.
Contents
What Hinders You To Believe In God
Unbelief
The greatest enemy of faith is unbelief. Atheism, or the absence of belief in the existence of God as our Creator, is most detestable to Him. “There is no God,” a fool and unbeliever would say (Psalm 14:1). If there is a God, why do we experience pain, famines, wars, pandemics, and deadly diseases that wipe out a multitude of people on earth?
As a result, not a few people question the validity of faith and the existence of a personal God. These inquiries lead many people to become unbelievers and skeptics.
Anti-Creation Beliefs
Adherents to these wrong beliefs flock to the camps of Darwinism and the school of thought that life originated from chemical reactions in warm ponds billions of years ago. They hold on to evolution regarding the origins of life.
These notions easily cancel the existence of God and His love for us. Atheism, Darwinism, existentialism, pragmatism, and twisted, unbiblical theology abound in many parts of the world. But they are also debunked in the halls of modern science. As a replacement for faith, these beliefs reveal man’s need to bring security in the course of his life.
Doubt
In Genesis 3, Satan introduced doubt in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve to partake of the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. God warned her that she would die if she touched the forbidden fruit. With her free will, Eve doubted the validity of God’s command. In the New Testament, Thomas was an apostle who doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ until he actually saw and touched Jesus in the flesh.
Faith means utmost confidence in God’s existence. John 20:29 reads: Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We sometimes doubt His promise of eternal life. Like Augustine, we contemplate, “If there is no God, why is there so much good? If there is a God, why is there so much evil?”
Today, the world is full of doubting Thomases and believers who are unsure that God exists. Skepticism is a tool of Satan to make us lose our trust and reliance on God’s Word.
Sin
Sin blocks our holy relationship and fellowship with God. As the fallen creation of God, we all sin and “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Idolatry, deceit, manipulation, love of money and possessions, and various sins engulf us every day. Romans 5: 12 states: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
Humanity is held in bondage by the flesh, and the pursuit of a spirit-filled life is a constant challenge. As sin has mutated into a heap of ugly forms, Satan continues to push his chief aim of luring people into his kingdom of darkness.
With hearts hardened by doubt and unbelief, we continue to wrestle with sin, which deters us from pursuing true faith in God.
How Do I Start Believing In God
Faith: Willingness To Believe
Faith is sheer belief. It starts with acknowledging that there exists an Almighty God who created all life and things out of nothing. Hebrews 11:1-2 reads: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
For many individuals, faith rests only in the realm of the five senses. People talk: To see is to believe. But true faith means complete trust that He exists and obedience to God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reads: For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Abraham, the father of many nations, showed paramount faith in following God. The Lord had a mission for him—to establish the Jewish nation from where our Messiah, Jesus, would arrive. Billions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims would later honor Him.
Abraham departed his homeland and left with his family and possessions into unknown territory. Without any doubt or questioning, he trusted God. As a further demonstration of faith, Abraham almost killed his beloved son Isaac when God tested his loyalty.
Like a spiritual bank account, God has given us an initial deposit of faith as a gift. The Apostle Paul proclaimed that God had allotted faith to each one of us (Romans 12:3).
By harnessing and sharing our faith with other people, we increase our trust in God and enjoy a spirit-filled life. To truly believe in God as He has revealed Himself, we must believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Having A Robust Prayer Life
Faith in God also starts with having a prayerful life. Prayer is talking to God about our adoration, requests, petitions, and confession. A prayer-filled life gives grace and banishes fear.
A 2014 study by the Pew Research Center reveals that more than half (55%) of Americans say they pray daily, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly, and 23% say they seldom or never pray. This is good and some bad news! Prayer, as summarized in the Lord’s Prayer, is the answer to unlocking our mundane plight on earth.
It breeds humility that clarifies we are the lesser being and magnifies God as the source of our strength and blessings. Intermittent prayers are baby steps toward repentance and the cultivation of faith. A healthy prayer life demonstrates a person’s dedication to God that unveils the promise of salvation.
Obedience To God’s Word
The Bible is the source of truth. Hebrews 4:12 reads: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God tells us that to believe in God means living according to His Word.
Today, over 100 million Bibles are sold or given annually across the globe. However, the book remains a mystery to most people. Yet, its authenticity has been verified and corroborated by many archeological findings and biblical prophecies.
God’s word provides holistic principles and answers on how to lead happy, triumphant lives by loving God and our neighbors. The words of truth in the Bible answer the uncertainty and perils of the world. Its prophecies reveal the future. Most importantly, we find God and His promise of eternal life.
Faith must be experienced through the actual practice of God’s teachings and commands. Luke 21:33 declares: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Faith is proactive. Abiding means following the instructions of God, which often run contrary to the world’s principles.
What Happens When You Believe In God
A Changed Life
When we have decided to establish a healthy relationship with Jesus by believing in His Name, our life changes—we become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reads: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! God wanted us to find faith in Him and serve as an example to others.
A Right Identity In Christ
Our Christian identity will slowly approach and mirror the perfect image of God through the higher power of the Holy Spirit. A relationship with Christ promises a solid identity to anyone believing in His name and life in the right direction.
Our correct identity in Christ is profoundly rooted in Christ Himself—believing in His incarnation. The demise, burial, and resurrection of our Lord are the critical elements of our salvation.
You Are Born Again
Jesus taught that a child of God experiences a new birth. John 3:3 reads: Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus illustrates the clear idea that a man must undergo a life-transforming change to be a child of God.
You Become A Child Of God
As faithful children of God, we need to accept the essential truths of the Gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day. God sent Him to earth to revert us to a holy fellowship with God and achieve eternal life.
The more we believe in Jesus through His word and the higher powers of the Spirit, the more we will gain the right to become children of God. John 1:12 reads: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Conclusion
Our pursuit of faith is a lifelong process. As exemplified in the Parable of the Mustard Seed, our faith starts small and grows in measure. But, we continue to live in the flesh. We are still in our earthly bodies, and our faith is still subject to the assaults of the enemy.
Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary for our sins. But, because of our unswerving faith in the redeeming blood of Christ, we no longer dwell in sin but loathe getting hindered in it. Our lives are now directed not by our sinful and selfish selves but by our overriding faith in God. As we grow in faith, we become nearer to the likeness of God.
Grateful 💯 🙏 🥲