Updated on September 13, 2026

Prayer When Faith Is Weak

Q: Is it a sin to doubt God?

Doubt that keeps asking is not the same as unbelief that walks away. Thomas doubted and Jesus showed him his hands; John the Baptist sent a question from prison and got an answer, not a rebuke. The Bible treats doubt as something to bring to God, not something to hide from him.

Q: Why does God feel so far away?

Sometimes because of exhaustion, grief or a season of silence that the psalmists knew well; sometimes because something in us has drifted. The feeling is real but it is not a measurement of where God is. Psalm 13 begins with 'how long' and ends with trust, without saying the feeling had gone.

Q: How can I make my faith stronger?

Less by trying to feel more and more by looking longer at what faith is about: read the Gospels slowly, pray even briefly every day, and stay close to people who believe. Faith grows the way trust does in any relationship, through time spent, not through effort to feel it.

A prayer for the days when believing is hard and God feels far away

A father brought his sick son to Jesus and said the most honest prayer in the Gospels: I believe, help my unbelief. Jesus did not send him away to come back with more faith; he healed the boy. Weak faith that still turns to God is faith. This prayer is for the days when that is all you have, and it is enough to begin with.

The prayer

Lord, I am not sure you are listening, and I am praying anyway. That is the most honest thing I can bring you today. What used to feel certain feels thin now, and I do not know whether it is you who moved or me.

I believe; help my unbelief. Do not wait until my faith is strong to answer, because if you did, I could not come at all. Meet me where I actually am, with the questions I actually have.

Keep me from pretending, in front of others or in front of you. Show me one small thing today that is true about you, and let that be enough for today. Hold on to me while I struggle to hold on to you.

I do not have much to offer, so I offer what I have: I am here, and I am still talking to you. Amen.

In one breath

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Do not let go of me on the days I cannot feel you. Amen.

Verses to hold on to

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24A father admits his faith is mixed with doubt, and Jesus answers him anyway.

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Psalms 13:1-2David asks God how long he will hide, which shows that feeling abandoned can be said out loud in prayer.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Luke 17:5-6Jesus tells the apostles that faith the size of a seed is enough, so the question is not how much but where it is placed.

Luke 17:5 was the verse of the day on August 20, 2016. See that day

How to pray it

Tell God exactly how far away he feels; the psalms do it constantly and it is not disrespect.
Read one Gospel scene before you pray, so your faith has something concrete to rest on instead of a feeling.
Keep praying on the days it feels pointless; faith is often rebuilt by showing up before it is felt.

Make it your own

Say what you are living, in a few words, and receive this prayer written for your situation.

Your words
Your prayer

Questions

Is it a sin to doubt God?+

Why does God feel so far away?+

How can I make my faith stronger?+

Other prayers

All prayers

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