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
For more spiritual growth resources, check out the 5-day email devotional, How to Be Free from Bitterness, by today’s devotion writer, Kristine Brown. Learn more about women in the Bible and find encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at Kristine’s website, morethanyourself.com.
Related Resource: Starting 2026 with Intention: Confidence, Diligence, and God’s Direction
As we begin a brand-new year, I want to help you slow down and listen for God’s invitation in your life. In this episode, we kick off our One Word 2026 series — a simple, prayerful way to reflect on where you’ve been and discern how God may be inviting you to grow in the year ahead.
I introduce the heart behind choosing a spiritual “one word,” not as a goal to achieve, but as a posture to receive. We explore two of the six words I’ll be offering this month — confidence and diligence — and look at how Scripture invites us to grow, not by relying on our own strength, but by trusting God’s faithfulness over time.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!