The “Faith” Crisis

Several years ago I was at a point in my life where I was questioning many of the choices I had made throughout my life, particularly my choice of faith.

I had seen many of my friends leave the church over several different reasons. It really made me question why I was still going to church. I wasn’t really getting much out of it at the time, and really looking back, could see myself as just ‘going through the motions’. I belonged. Was that enough?

In the middle of this faith crisis, I evaluated all the beautiful things I had learned at church; Was there an actual Father, Son and Holy Ghost? Was there a pre-existance? Was there a plan for me specifically to come to earth to learn and grow, experience, have freedom of choice and then go home to Heaven? Was the Book of Mormon just a made up book? Honestly, these things didn’t bother me. I had a testimony of truthfulness of all of these things and would not deny. I realized if I left, I would leave God.

I haven’t been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ all of my life. In fact, a large part of my teenage years I didn’t go to any organized religion. During this time I did know that I had a God and that he loved me where I was.

So, what was I really questioning? Did I lose faith in Church? Did I lose faith in the People of the Church, or did I lose faith in God?

It was at this point that I realized I wasn’t having a God crisis so if Jesus is the answer and knows the answer to all of our questions, then He would have an answer to this one.

Look. I love the idea of a crisis. Sometimes it puts us in a place where we have this beautiful opportunity to turn to or turn back to the Lord. Ultimately He is the answer and He has an answer for us.

We, as a worldwide church should rejoice if a faith crisis turns us back to Jesus. If we put our trust in Him, He can and will lead us to truth, even though it may not be in church right now.

I do know that we have a loving Father in Heaven who knows us, is patient with us where we are, who loves us where we are and is moving us in places that will bring us back to Him.

Friends. Hold fast to your faith in the Lord. Trust that He is with you, guiding you, and that His love for you is unwavering. In time, you may come to see the beauty in His plan, the ways in which He has answered your prayers in ways you never could have imagined. Until then, let your trust in Him be your anchor, your source of strength, and your hope.