5 Simple Practices to Help You Strengthen Your Faith in God
Scripture
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
As I looked down at my phone, I was startled to see an alert I had never seen before. Bold words announced a recent change in my gait—one that put me at risk of falling in the next twelve months. Completely insulted to receive a “fall risk” warning when I was only in my early 50s, I laughed with my husband and went on with my day.
Although I wanted to dismiss the warning, I knew I had a problem. A small ache in my hip had increased in recent months and was affecting my steadiness. The fear of falling finally convinced me to see my doctor. After some testing, they found several issues with my hip. And one concern was that I wasn’t exercising my hip enough to keep my gait strong and stable.
Like my hip issue, life can come at us unexpectedly with a diagnosis, job change, death of a loved one, and a million other ways to derail our faith and cause us to lose our balance. Just as the doctor recommended exercises to strengthen my hip, we can build a few habits to keep our faith strong so we don't fall when life's storms hit.
Let's look at 5 simple ways you can strengthen your faith in God:
Read God’s Word.
I will always preach the habit of staying in God’s Word, no matter our circumstances. It is the number one practice that keeps me grounded. Reading the Bible each day is a simple routine, but it’s often the first thing we give up when we feel overwhelmed. Whether we use a reading plan, participate in a Bible study, listen to the audio Bible, or desperately hold onto one verse of hope at a time, His Word will strengthen us in difficult times. Psalm 46:1 (NIV) says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
2. Pray.
Through the years, I have learned that prayer is just a conversation. Our words don’t have to be long or elegant. We aren’t required to spend a set amount of time praying. Prayer can happen on our knees in our bedroom or on our drive to the grocery store. As children of God, we can access the throne of God anytime, anywhere, to receive His help (Hebrews 4:16). I have found that whispering a sincere “Help me, Jesus” is enough to bring peace in a difficult moment.
3. Stay in Community.
As an introvert, this is the hardest for me. I tend to move inward, especially when I feel vulnerable or struggle with the unknown. But staying connected through small groups, having lunch with a Jesus-loving friend, texting with friends/family, and attending church are some of the best actions we can take when life is battering us with hardship. Our souls need to be reminded that God is still on the throne, and we are not alone. Scripture encourages us to keep meeting together (Hebrews 10:25) and reminds us that we are stronger together (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
4. Be Honest about What You are Going Through.
We live in a world where everyone says they're doing “fine.” That one word is often a lie from the enemy. We know everyone is not fine. The world is full of hurting people, including us. While I don’t suggest we share our troubles with everyone who asks, it is vital to have family, friends, counselors, or pastors we can trust with our worries. Journaling is another way to be honest about what we feel. The Psalms provide many examples of how we can cry out to God, question Him, and share the depth of our heartaches. Psalm 139 tells us that God knows everything about us before we were even born. When we get real about what is going on in our head and heart, we invite God to work in our situation.
Give Thanks.
Years ago, I started practicing gratitude after reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. It’s a simple habit: jotting down a few things each day that you are grateful for—the laughter of children, a morning sunrise, clean dishes, or a kind word. We tend to get lost in our own problems. But when we focus on the good things, it helps us remember how much we have to be thankful for each day. Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7 to pray and give thanks, leading to peace in our hearts.
While these ideas may seem simple, I can tell you from personal experience that these practices will keep you close to Christ and strengthen your faith. Jesus promises that when the rain comes, the streams rise, and the winds blow and beat against us, we will not fall because our foundation is built on the solid rock. No matter what you are going through today, hold tight to Jesus—He will never fail you!
Meet Our Guest Writer
Darcy Hicks is a writer and longtime RN passionate about strengthening faith and encouraging others to know and love God more deeply. A contributing author to multiple anthologies, she shares biblical encouragement and practical wisdom to help readers build resilient, enduring faith. Darcy lives in Northwest Florida with her husband and family. Connect with her at darcyhicks.com or on Facebook for more encouragement to grow and stand firm in your faith.
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