Christians, Is a lack of faith (or not enough faith) a sin....(see details)?

Question

Is it a sin when your faith comes up short?

I think I messed up big and am in alot of trouble. The only thing is I don't know what exactily I did wrong. I do know that I have been completely stressed and overwhelmed and that is not of God. I mean if I had faith, I would have trusted Him and not worried, and then I probably wouldn't be in the mess I'm in. So I repented and asked God to help me to have more faith. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that no one can ever have "enough" faith. It's something God gives us and builds in us over time. But anyway, I feel really bad for not having enough faith to stop worrying. So the question is how do I get out of this? Is it a sin or what is it?

Answer 1

First, change your avatar so that it does not look so sad and pathetic. You are a soldier first and foremost. Stop worrying that your shield of faith is too small. Remember, faith is NOT something you drum up in your flesh. Faith is a gift from God, and that not of yourself.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

As you train for the spiritual warfare, you gain strength to carry the larger sword of the Word and larger shield of faith. But not until you have trained with what God has given you first. So, as a training officer, I exhort you to get up out of the mud and stop feeling sorry for yourself. (I'm saying this with stern love)

Don't let the enemy get a victory over you by telling you that you do not measure up. The enemy does not deserve such satisfaction. NONE of us measure up. THAT is why we need our Lord to be Lord in our lives, and we must die to our flesh.

So stand up and fight. Confess what weaknesses you have and get back in to your personal Bible studies and prayer life. If you sit out the fight, then you are leaving the rest of us without the support we need. If you are being beat up spiritually, recognize it as a spiritual attack and fight it with all your might--tooth and nail.

You want out of it? Then lift up your hands and praise your Lord with all of your might. Not because you feel like it, not because you are worthy of it, but because HE is worthy of it. Keep praising Him and confess your love and devotion to His Lordship. Thank Him for every itemized blessing you can list. Keep it up and don't stop. Every time you feel condemned, praise Him. Every time you feel sorry for yourself, stop and put your flesh on the altar and praise Him once again. THAT is how you exercise your faith--and THAT is when God gives you more as you are able to hold that larger, heavier shield.

Feel free to write me, sis.

Answer 2

First...I want to say...the degree of faith is not the "test" God has for deciding if we have sinned or not sinned.

Faith is about trust. Faith, is the barometer that speaks of how deep our relationship is with the Father.

And you're right...no one will ever have "enough" faith. Look at David, the Bible describes him as "a man after God's own heart", yet, when you read some Psalms, you see, there are times when he struggled with trusting God. And Moses...described as "a man who speaks to God like friend"...he too had moments where he wondered what God was doing.

Faith...is like walking...we all have to learn...one day we start pushing with our knees, then we learn to walk..then run...and hopefully one day...our faith will be like the Marathon running is to walking

Answer 3

Yes, worrying about things instead of trusting God is sin, but how many sins did Jesus pick to be left out of the forgiveness package. Only one, you say. Was that one 'worrying'? Nope.
Jesus forgives all repented sin. From the whole of your question it is clear you repent. You are trying your best to turn away from it. God honors that. He forgives each and every time and you get stronger each and every time.
Jesus said we must come to God as little children.

If a little child falls because he refuses to hold his father's hand while learning to walk, the father does not abandon the child in his efforts. He hovers around the child protecting him while he learns to do what he needs to do. Each time the child falls he is stronger for the next try until eventually he conquers the task.

God is like that. He is around us always making sure we don't get hurt too much, cheering us on when we get each little part right. Lean on Him like the little child leans on his parent.

He loves you.

Answer 4

My Friend, you are worrying about worrying! I always look at my relationship with my children and in that I can see a glimpse of my relationship with God. My children NEVER come to me and say Mom please don't make me go hungry today, please don't take away the house we live in. THEY KNOW ME! I have kept a roof over their head, clothes on their backs, food in their bellies and met every need that was within my power to do so with God's help! I AM NOT a better parent than God. God is so much better and so much more forgiving and willing to carry you through each and every situation---Be like a child with a loving and caring Mommy and Daddy. If that little child was standing on a table and decided to jump to Mom or Dad, would Mom or Dad let that child fall smack down on the ground or would they catch him? Of course they would catch him.

OK so what I'm saying is God is YOUR DADDY! He Loves you, forgives you, wants to help you through every situation. You will never have the absolute, complete kind of faith that God has while you live on this earth but every day, several times a day just look up toward the heavens and take a deep breath and say "God, I trust You!" That little statement will give you strength and the more you do it out of a sincere heart the more you will see your trust in God develop.

1Jn:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What I want you to see in this verse is not so much the confession of sin but HE IS FAITHFUL! Faithful to forgive and cleanse...That MEANETH NOW! God holds nothing back. Learn to walk in the liberty, the freedom in Christ. That is where God wants you and the devil don't!

Answer 5

As already stated, Scripture states we are each given a measure of faith. What we do with that is up to us.
Heb 11:1 Faith is substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen. SUBSTANCE is 'stuff'. EVIDENCE is 'stuff' also. This is very real 'stuff' you are working with.

Your faith isn't coming up short, you are called upon now to choose to exercise your ability to WORK your faith now. Asking this Q is one way.

Being stressed and overwhelmed gives you a clear taste of your choices here. You aren't perfected yet, so have a little compassion on yourself about the not worrying part. The Bible is not meant to beat you up if you fall short of the mark (sin), it is meant to restore you to your proper mind set (be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind).

Don't know what you feel you 'messed up big and am in alot of trouble' about. You say you don't know what exactly you did wrong. If someone is blaming you for something, you can be responsible for your part in the problem and be responsible for your part in the solution. But that is it.

Faith doesn't exclude worry, but it does help one to overcome the obsession of worry. Even Jesus on the cross had the very human experience of feeling doubt.

God gives you the measure of faith. You build it up over time by practicing using your faith (even the size of a tiny grain of a mustard seed) during the hard times.
I find the simplest prayer during times like you are experiencing is just repeating over and over nonstop as fast as I can and as long as I can silently in my head THANKYOUGODTHANKYOUGODTHANKYOUGOD...
until all other fear thoughts take a backseat.
You get out of this through constant prayer and fellowship with compassionate Christians, not those who will condemn you nor judge you harshly.
Blessings and peace on your heart :)

Answer 6

It's not a sin to feel stressed and overwhelmed. A number of Psalms are dedicated to feeling overwhelmed and pleading with God for help.

We will never have perfect faith while we are in our flesh. But trials are sometimes given to us to test our faith, and to strengthen it. It's like a muscle, you need to stress it to make it grown stronger.

It is not a lack of faith either, it's a natural reaction to stressful situations. But when it becomes sin is when you start railing at God for what is happening, or you turn from Him. THEN it becomes sin.

Try reading some of the early Psalms, I think you'll find peace and comfort for your situation. And remember, Satan doesn't need a reason to afflict us.

Answer 7

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith:>>>>>>>>>>> for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

Heb 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to Yahweh must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of Yahweh overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
1Jo 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Yahshua is the Son of Yahweh?

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Yahshua the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of Yahweh.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Master, Increase our faith.

I have seen your questions before I think. I would say, if I remember correctly, you are a believer at least to some degree or other. If the case is so I would remind you that you ALREADY HAVE THE VICTORY. Ask, in prayer, for an increase in that faith. BELIEVE these passage I have posted. Understand unfaithfulness is not a place Yahweh wants you and rebuke the spirits causing the doubt, distrust etc. Rebuke the devil and he will flee.

If it involves sin:
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

IF IT IS DOUBT AND FEAR related to something coming, or that you need to do:
Yahshua sweat drops of blood. HE's BEEN THERE DONE THAT. Ask him for assurance, BUT COMMITT TO THE realization, NOT MY WILL, THY WILL BE DONE".

Remember through it all, again IF you are a true believer:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love Yahweh, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

ALL THINGS!!!

Diamonds a formed by high preasure.
Gold is purified in fire.
You are more precious than these.

Answer 8

anything we do that goes agaisnt god is a sin. but the great thing about him is that we always have the chance to be saved. think of it like this. when your born your pure, and its like you are in a chair facing god and when you do something not in gods faith you are turning you chair away from him. but you always have that oppertunity to turn your chair back around. so if you did something that you feel is a sin you just need to pray and believe that god will help you and by doin that your facing god again. and no you can never have enough faith, so no that is not a sin.

Answer 9

I think that is the wrong question. It is written that every person is given a measure of faith. The crucial question is what are you putting your faith in? (The only right answer is YHVH, but we all trust somewhat in other things, all of which are not worthy of our trust) Take some extra "B" vitamins-- Stress tabs, and/or nutritional yeast. Stress depletes "B"s and shortage is not good.

Answer 10

Many people have knowledge but lack faith and wisdom to make use of that knowledge. No Atheist is better than any Christians and no Christian is better than any Atheist. We can all learn something or other from each other.