A Prayer for Restored Faith
By Kristine Brown
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 ESV
There are many things that can trigger a faith-struggle in our lives. Tragedy, extended seasons of suffering, and hopelessness hit without warning. In those desperate times we may wrestle with where God is, or if He hears us. Thankfully, when the difficulties of life pile on us, we have this truth from our faithful Father.
Hardships may cause our faith to wane, but God is ready to restore that faith when we ask.
Restoration can be defined as the act of returning something to its former condition. The Bible has a lot to say about restoration. God loves to restore us— and His restoration promises apply to our physical bodies, our minds, and even our faith.
King David knew the precious gift of God’s restoration. After his infidelity with Bathsheba, David cried out to God with these words recorded in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
David knew only One could cleanse him from unrighteousness, restore his spirit, and renew his hope. Only God - the Master Restorer.
So whatever hard season you're going through that has caused you to lose faith, take heart. God is faithful, and He will provide the restoration you need. Let’s begin with this prayer for restored faith.
Let's pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Lately, I’ve felt my faith weakening. So much is going on in the world that has caused me to question where you are in all of this. Yet I know in my heart you hear our cries for help. You are always with us, ready to offer restored hope when we ask.
Your Word reminds us you are a God of restoration. You love making things new. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Lord, renew my faith right now, just as you have done before. Help me trust in your steadfast Word instead of what I see happening all around me. Your promises are powerful, even when circumstances seem hopeless. I know you desire to restore my spirit and my faith. You are my Healer, Provider, and Deliverer. I put my trust in you alone.
Thank you, God for forgiving me for letting my faith wane instead of holding onto you. You are forever faithful, and I give you praise today. Even as I call out to you in prayer, I sense my faith being fully restored.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign
Discover more spiritual growth resources from today’s devotion writer, Kristine Brown, including 20 Fulfilling Promises from God for When You Feel Empty. Learn more about women in the Bible and gain encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at Kristine’s website, morethanyourself.com.
Related Resource: What to Do When God Seems Distant
What do we do when God no longer feels as close as He used to feel?
Many sincere believers experience seasons when prayer feels empty, Scripture feels quiet, and God seems strangely absent. For leaders especially, those seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even shameful.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss the new book When God Seems Distant, coauthored with John Coe. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!