I'm struggling with faith. What should I do?

from the old testament

• Elijah’s experiences in 1 Kings 18 and 19 indicate that faith can wane at times even for God’s most devoted servants. While running for his life from Jezebel, Elijah expressed his doubt and discouragement in 1 Kings 19:4: “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’” Elijah had just seen miraculous proof of God's power in front of hundreds of doubters, killed more than 400 false prophets, and outran King Ahab's chariot. But the next day, he collapsed in doubt and depression (1 Kings 18:36–19:5). We are susceptible to the same reversals.

from the new testament

• Even those in Jesus’s inner circle experienced doubts, as the episode with Peter in Matthew 14:28–31 demonstrates: “And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Peter had witnessed Jesus perform numerous miracles, such as healing Peter’s own mother-in-law, raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead, and the feeding of the five thousand. But his faith faltered in the face of the storm, as ours may in times of struggle.
• Jesus challenged the father of a mute son to have faith, and the father’s response in Mark 9:24 shows us what to do when we experience doubt: “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” When we’re weak in our faith, we must ask our Lord to strengthen it.
• Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith” because it lists faithful followers of God throughout Israel’s history. Hebrews 11:6 highlights the importance of faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We become closer to God when we exercise faith.

implications for today

Many of us were raised with the idea that believing means achieving, that faith in ourselves makes all the difference. Christians have a different view because our faith is in Christ, not in ourselves. We know that, like the apostle Paul, our abilities and strength come from the Lord (Philippians 4:13). Also, our faith is buttressed by God’s general revelation of Himself in the physical world (Psalm 19:1–2; Romans 1:20), the words of the time-tested Bible (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and, most of all, the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:12–14).

Even so, many of us struggle with doubt because our senses primarily understand the physical world we live in. We often don’t grasp intangible, invisible truths. Doubt, however, is not necessarily the absence of faith. It’s a questioning of faith that can lead to deeper faith. Doubting is not necessarily a sin, but what we do with it can be. So, what can we do when we go through periods of doubt? These are the times when we should lean into God and come to Him with our doubts. We should seek the truth and let that shape how we feel and what we think. During times of doubt, God provides resources: the body of Christ helps us in pointing us back to Christ, the Bible gives us truth we need and assurance of God’s character, the Holy Spirit also assures us of truth, and prayer strengthens our faith. Abiding in God through His Word, prayer, and fellowship helps us stay rooted in Him, regardless of feelings, enabling us to grow spiritually and find truth and assurance in the midst of doubt.