The Best Ways to Strengthen Your Faith and Get Close to God

Whether you’re walking through a tough season of life or simply pondering some deep questions, like how to strengthen your faith, never be afraid to search for God’s truth. The times where I’ve wrestled with God the most, my faith has come away refined and stronger than ever before. 

There have been seasons in which my relationship with God have felt dull and stale. But faith isn’t built on emotion or feelings. (Thankfully!)

If you’re wandering through a spiritual drought, don’t shy away from the Lord and stop communicating with Him.  While you may need to implement tangible and practical steps to strengthen your faith, pursuing a deeper relationship with Him is well worth it!

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Three reasons God feels distant and far away

Have you ever felt distant from a friend or loved one, but you didn’t know why? It can be the same with your relationship with God.

When God feels distant, often it’s not one specific event that occurred or anything major that has happened. Instead over time, one may drift away from God without realizing it.

Common reasons God may feel distant, include:

Unrepented sin: Have you ever tried to hide sin from God or run away because of deep rooted guilt? Shame is a heavy feeling that weighs you down and burdens you to the core.

While it can be tempting to run and hide from God, you can trust Jesus’ blood shed on the cross was enough to wash away even your deepest missteps. There’s no reason to run from God when He will forgive you and welcome you back with open arms.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Hardship or tragedy: When you’re walking through a season of hardship, you may be overwhelmed with sorrow and struggling to make sense of life. In that season of upheaval, God may feel distant or removed from your pain.

Yet even when you don’t see Him and you don’t feel His presence, God is there, journeying with you through your tough times. Draw near to Him and take comfort in the promise of eternity in His perfect presence.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 

Complacency: Has your faith ever felt stale or just too comfortable, like you’re going through the motions? It’s a common problem that many Christians face over time.

If you’re not careful, a slow slide into Christian complacency can steal your joy and rob you of an intimate relationship with God.

That’s why it’s crucial that believers of Christ guard their heart and renew their minds with promises of God. All believers need to be on alert for the schemes of the enemy and be able to discern truth from the lies of the world.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

If you’re battling one of these situations, there is hope and you don’t have to stay stuck! Use these practical ways to strengthen in faith and jump start your spiritual growth today!

The Best Ways to Strengthen Your Faith

Seek the Lord and humble yourself before Him

In a season where God feels distant and far away, it’s tempting to keep running instead of reaching out to Him. Yet God doesn’t expect you to “clean yourself up” or want a polished version of you.

Instead, He invites you to come as you are and let the grace of Jesus wash you clean. This is not something you can do on your own or ever try to achieve without God’s grace.

Simply seek the Lord with a humble heart and trust that He will meet you there. As a child of God, He will welcome you with open arms and will answer you when you call.

So even if its been awhile, even years, open the lines of communication with Him through prayer and seek His face.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Be still before the Lord

Just as with any relationship, your relationship with God requires spending time together to flourish.

When you’re ready to strengthen your faith, carve out time to be still in God’s presence. You may want to start with prayer and have an open and honest chat with your Heavenly Father.

Start small and try meeting with God every day for 5 or 10 minutes. Then, over time, increase the amount of quality time you spend in God’s presence. Trust me, the more you practicing being still before God and truly listening to Him, the more you’ll want to spend time with Him!

Be open and honest with God… always

Over the years, I’ve brought my share of questions and concerns to God.  Instead of avoiding Him or withholding my troubles, I learned it was best to bring my burdens before Him.

He’s not offended by our questions or bothered by our anger.  Instead, He invites us into a personal relationship with Him, where true communication is always accepted.

Explore God’s Word

A powerful way to get to know the heart of God is by exploring  and reading His Word.

If you’ve never read the Bible on your own, you don’t have to be intimidated. You may wish to use a free Bible reading plan to help you know what to read or where to start.

Or, if you struggle to know how to study the Bible and understand God’s Word, consider using a Bible study template to help you process what you read.

A Bible study template will help you read the Bible with confidence and learn how to process Scripture.  It makes Bible study simple and practical, even if you’ve never read the Bible before.

And exploring God’s promises will help you strengthen your faith as you discover His unwavering love for you, His precious child.

Psst… check out how my favorite Bible study templates, The Quiet Time Toolkit, can make your take time in God’s Word meaningful and help you understand the Bible, even as a beginner.

Make prayer a cornerstone of your life

Talking with God is key to a deeper faith and stronger relationship with the Lord. Yet prayer should be more than a simple “help me prayer” when you’re in need or in trouble.

Prayer is a lifeline to God and anchors your soul to God’s promises all day long. Start your day with morning prayer and try to establish one other time to pray. Get in the habit of talking with God throughout the day and intentionally seek Him in all situations.

Learn how to pray a variety of prayer strategies or prayer methods to help you have a deeper prayer life. The more you pray and fellowship with God, the more natural you’ll feel talking with Him all day long.

Start a prayer journal

When I was ready to take steps to strengthen my faith, I started journaling my prayers and thoughts to God. This simple prayer journal helped me pour out my heart to God and became a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

I used Scripture and Christian journal prompts to help me reflect on God’s blessings and record His hand in my life. The result was powerful and that tattered notebook became a way for me to remember God’s provision. That first truth journal helped me grow in faith in a profound way and I know it will do the same for you.

Fellowship with other Christians

Having people around you with the same Christian beliefs can be a great way to help strengthen your faith. A mentor or a Bible study group is a wonderful resource for asking questions and keeping your accountable in your Christian walk.  Also, a Christian community can encourage you in seasons of struggle and remind you of God’s truth in times of hardship.

Spending time at a Christian retreat center  is another way to surrounded yourself with like-minded individuals. It’s important to be around people who both challenge you and reinforce your faith. Meeting new friends with the same beliefs can be a blessing for spiritual growth, too.

Serve like Jesus

Life is a gift from God, and He calls us to live faith in action. When you live your life searching for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, it helps your relationship with the Lord.  Expressing your faith in your actions  will not only impact the lives of others in the name of Jesus, but will strengthen your faith in Him as well. 

Let go of fear

Finally, don’t beat yourself up for wrestling in  your faith or your relationship with God. Questioning and searching for truth are a natural part of a Christian walk, and God invites you to bring your questions before Him. In your seeking and searching, keep the lines of communication open with Him.  Keep praying and seeking Him, all the while trusting that He will be faithful to guide your path and show you the way.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Our favorite resources to strengthen your faith

Now that you’ve explored some practical ways to strengthen your relationship with God, these resources will guide your next steps.

The Quiet Time Toolkit

If you’re ready to take your first steps to a better Bible study or deeper prayer life, this spiritual growth resource will lead your way.

It’s filled with Bible study tools (even for beginners!) and the prayer resources to need to rekindle your faith.

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus

This powerful book by John R. Cross will help you get to know the Bible and help you understand how the Bible fits together as a whole. It’s a great resource for someone who wants to learn more about Christianity or have a deeper understanding of the Bible.

TheThThe Stranger on the Road to Emmaus