Struggling with Faith? Discover the Power of Wrestling with God
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Have you ever felt like your prayers are echoing into silence? Like your faith used to feel vibrant but now feels cracked and uncertain? If you’ve been struggling with faith, you’re not alone. Faith doesn’t always look like certainty—it often looks like wrestling.
If we are being completely honest, we will admit that, in our faith journey, there are paths marked not only by peace and assurance but also by intense questioning and struggle. Often, we find ourselves wrestling with God, confronting our doubts and frustrations. These moments of protest and lament are not signs of weak faith but rather profound expressions of our deepest desire to understand and connect with God our Father.
The Bible gives us many examples of faith in protest—each a testimony to how engaging with God through our most challenging times can lead to deeper faith, greater understanding, and unforeseen blessings.
Join me as we explore some of these narratives to uncover the power of wrestling with God and how it can transform your faith.
Biblical Examples of Faith in Protest
Moses’ Protest: “Why, Lord?”
The story of Moses in Exodus 5 is a really vivid example, and one of my favorite examples, of human protest against God’s plan. When Moses first confronted Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves, the situation deteriorated very quickly. Instead of liberation, Pharaoh intensified the Israelites’ suffering by forcing them to gather their own straw for brick-making without reducing their quota. The Israelites, who had hoped for relief, found themselves with quite the opposite.
Feeling abandoned and confused, Moses turned to God in frustration:
“So Moses returned to Adonai and said, ‘Adonai, why have You brought evil on these people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has brought evil on these people. You have not delivered Your people at all.'”
Exodus 5:22-23, TLV
Wow! Now, many in the church would call us blasphemous if we were to speak to God in such a way. But that is completely false on so many levels!
Moses’ lament is a raw expression of his doubts and disillusionment. Despite his obedience to God’s call, the immediate result was increased suffering for his people. Moses’ honest confrontation with God highlights a crucial aspect of our relationship with Him: the freedom to express our doubts and frustrations.
It is NO secret to God that we have them and expressing them is nothing but raw honesty and a belief that God CAN in fact change the circumstances. That is not doubt, that is faith.
It is important to note here that rather than rebuking Moses, God reassured him, unveiling a broader plan for the Israelites’ deliverance. This demonstrates to us that honest questioning and wrestling can lead to deeper understanding and stronger faith.
Devotional Reflection: Maybe you’re in a “Moses” season—obeying God’s call but feeling like everything got harder, not easier. Like Moses, your cries are not accusations—they’re declarations of faith in God’s ability to act. God is not intimidated by your honesty; He honors it.
Jacob’s Wrestling: A Transformative Encounter for Those Struggling with Faith
If you’re struggling with faith, Jacob’s story may resonate deeply. His night of wrestling wasn’t about denial—it was about refusal to give up. The struggle was sacred. On the night before a potentially deadly reunion with his brother Esau, Jacob found himself in some sort of wresting match with a divine being. The encounter was extremely intense, lasting until dawn: “
“Then Jacob said, ‘I won’t let You go unless You bless me.'”
Genesis 32:27, TLV
Jacob’s wrestling was much more than just a physical confrontation; it was an intense spiritual encounter. Even though he had been injured, Jacob didn’t let up, determined to receive a blessing. This relentless struggle is indicative of the human condition of seeking God’s favor and understanding through perseverance and resilience, something scripture actually encourages!
Jacob’s persistence even led to a new identity and a new name, Israel. This transformation drives home that our struggles with God can lead to profound personal growth and a deeper intimacy with Him.
The narrative of Jacob’s struggle with God displays our desire for a stronger bond with Him, rather than suggesting any spiritual vulnerability. These intense confrontations often result in finding guidance and experiencing divine blessings.
Devotional Reflection: Perhaps you’re in your own dark night, wrestling in the silence. Remember Jacob—he limped away, wounded but blessed. Your scars may not disqualify you; they may be signs of holy encounters. God meets us in the grappling.
Ruth’s Journey: From Lament to Redemption
The book of Ruth provides a powerful narrative of lament, loyalty, and redemption. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, experiences the most profound loss and bitterness after the deaths of her husband and sons. Her grief is so deep that she tells people to call her “Mara,” meaning “bitter,” instead of Naomi:
“She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for Shaddai has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, but Adonai has brought me back empty.'”
Ruth 1:20-21 TLV
Naomi’s lament is a raw, heartfelt expression of her pain and disillusionment with God’s plan. Her words reflect a deep sense of loss and confusion, questioning why God allowed such tragedy in her life. Despite this bitterness, Naomi’s story doesn’t end this way.
Ruth’s steadfast loyalty and her journey to Bethlehem mark the beginning of an unexpected redemption. Ruth’s marriage to Boaz and the birth of Obed, the grandfather of King David, become a testament to God’s providence and faithfulness, even in the face of profound suffering and doubt.
Naomi’s bitterness and Ruth’s loyal persistence show how even when we’re struggling with faith, God is silently weaving redemption behind the scenes. It teaches us that our protests and sorrows can be part of a larger narrative of hope and renewal.
Devotional Reflection: Naomi renamed herself “Bitter.” Maybe you’ve renamed your season too. But take heart—God is not done writing your story. Redemption can begin with a loyal companion and a dusty road back home.
Job: Hope for the Righteous Who Are Struggling with Faith
The story of Job is often cited as an example of enduring faith in the face of unimaginable suffering. However, a closer look shows us that Job’s response to his trials included significant elements of protest.
Job teaches us that struggling with faith doesn’t disqualify us from God’s love or His blessing. In fact, it may be the very thing that draws us closer to His truth.
After losing his wealth, health, and his children, Job lamented his situation and questioned God’s justice:
“Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy?”
Job 13:24 TLV
Despite his intense suffering, Job did not passively accept his fate. He challenged God’s silence and sought answers to his questions. Job’s wife, who suggested that he “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9), expressed her own anguish and confusion. However, Job did not listen her advice and he did not curse God. But while he does not curse God, he does instead wrestle with his understanding of God’s justice and his own place in the world.
Interestingly, while Job’s friends insisted that his suffering must be a punishment for sin, God ultimately rebuked THEM, not Job or his wife, even though the two protested. We read:
“You have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has.”
Job 42:7 TLV
God is not angered by Job and his wife questioning His justice in this situation. In fact, God affirms that everything Job said was true. God is not angered by our questioning. What angered God was the unjust blame placed on Job by his friends for his circumstances.
Job’s story illustrates that God values sincere and honest dialogue over hollow platitudes. Job’s protests and questions were part of his journey to a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty and righteousness.
Far from being punished for his outcry, Job was actually restored and blessed, demonstrating once again that wrestling with God can lead to profound spiritual growth and restoration.
Devotional Reflection: If you’re sitting in ashes like Job, questioning everything—you are still in sacred space. Job’s questions weren’t rebellion; they were relationship. The fact that you’re still talking to God—even in protest—is a form of faith.
Lament to Protest: The Heart’s Journey
Many psalms begin from the raw place of struggling with faith—and yet they don’t end in despair. They end in hope, because that struggle is part of seeking God. These laments often transition into protest, as the psalmists move from expressing their deep grief to questioning God’s actions or His inactions.
Let’s look at Psalm 22, which Yeshua quotes from the cross! It opens with the heart-wrenching cry:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.”
Psalm 22:2 TLV
The psalm shifts from lament to protest, indicating a profound battle with feelings of being forsaken. However, similar to other psalms, this outpouring of distress transforms into a renewed belief in God’s loyalty and a request for His intervention.
Psalm 13 is another example, beginning with a cry of despair: “
“How long, Adonai? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?”
Psalm 13:2 TLV
This crying out in lament quickly turns into a plea for deliverance and ends with a confident declaration of trust in God’s love and salvation. The Psalms provide a space for the faithful to voice their deepest sorrows and doubts, to question and even challenge God.
This movement from lament to protest is not seen as irreverent but as an act of faith. It demonstrates a belief in God’s power to respond, to change circumstances, and to bring about justice and redemption. That is the very definition of faith!
Devotional Reflection: When your prayers sound like “How long, Lord?”—you’re in good company. The Psalms teach us that lament is a pathway to trust, not a detour from it.
Wrestling with God in Judaism: An Act of Faith
In Jewish thought, struggling with faith is part of being “Israel”—one who wrestles with God. Far from shameful, it’s deeply honored and even expected.The Jewish tradition values the struggle to understand and engage with God. This wrestling is a part of the dynamic relationship between our Creator and His people.
As mentioned previously, the very name “Israel” itself, given to Jacob after his struggle, means “one who wrestles with God.” This name encapsulates the Jewish experience of faith as one involving questioning, debating, and seeking deeper understanding.
The Talmud, a central text in Judaism (particularly Rabbinic Judaism), is filled with debates and discussions that reflect this tradition of engaging with God and His commandments through rigorous dialogue and sometimes even protest.
I like to use the term I learned some time ago in Mussar; “peppery”. In fact, I even host a Peppery Bible Study group on Discord where we can discuss some of the topics we wrestle with.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said, “Faith is not a clinging to a shrine but an endless pilgrimage of the heart.”
This perspective highlights that faith is not static but a journey filled with questions, challenges, and the pursuit of truth.
Wrestling with God, therefore, is an essential part of this journey. It shows a commitment to understanding God’s ways more deeply and aligning oneself with His purposes.
Rabbinic literature often portrays questioning and arguing with God as part of a healthy spiritual life. The story of Abraham debating with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:22-33) is one such example.
Abraham’s willingness to challenge God’s decision reflects his deep concern for justice and his intimate relationship with the Creator.
Devotional Reflection: In Jewish tradition, to argue with God is to stay in the relationship. Israel means “one who wrestles with God.” So if you’re struggling—you’re still engaging. You’re still Israel.
A Path to Growth
Each of these stories—Moses, Jacob, Naomi, and Job—illustrates different facets of this wrestling. Moses’ protest, Jacob’s struggle, Naomi’s lament, and Job’s protest all reflect our own experiences of questioning, challenging, and seeking God in the midst of life’s trials. These narratives teach us that this kind of wrestling is not only permissible but can also lead to greater faith, understanding, and transformation.
In our own lives, we may find ourselves asking, like Moses, “Why, Lord?” or wrestling, like Jacob, for a blessing. We might feel the bitterness of Naomi, struggling to see light in our darkest moments, or the anguish of Job, questioning the justice of our circumstances.
Yet, as these stories show, our wrestling and our protests are part of a deeper relationship with God. They allow us to confront our doubts and fears head on, to seek His presence more deeply, and to ultimately find His grace and redemption. It is honest, because He already knows we wrestle internally. Pretending we don’t is just putting a mask on, believing God can’t handle our doubts or our questioning.
Let’s be encouraged to bring our true selves, not the ones we present in church but the raw ones we present in our prayer closets, before God. In our protests, our wrestling, and our lament, we are engaging in a rich dialogue with our Father. It is through these honest conversations that we often find the strength, clarity, and blessings we seek.
In moments of doubt and struggle, let’s embrace the examples of Moses, Jacob, Naomi, and Job. Let’s give ourselves permission to wrestle with God, not in defiance, but in a deep, seeking faith that looks to Him for answers, blessings, and the assurance of His enduring love.
A Simple Prayer for When You’re Struggling with Faith
“God, I don’t have the words today. I feel distant, confused, even angry. But I’m choosing not to let go. I believe You’re still here—even if I can’t feel You. Help me hold on. Amen.”
Final Encouragement
Friend, struggling with your faith doesn’t make you less faithful. It means you care. And in that caring, in that wrestling—you will find a deeper, truer connection with the God who never lets go.
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FAQs
What does it mean to be struggling with faith?
Struggling with faith means experiencing doubt, confusion, or even frustration in your relationship with God. It can involve questioning God’s timing, goodness, or presence during difficult seasons, yet continuing to seek Him in the midst of it.
Is struggling with faith a sin?
No, struggling with faith is not a sin. In fact, Scripture and Jewish tradition are full of examples of faithful individuals who wrestled with God. Their honesty was often the beginning of deeper trust and transformation.
How can I stay connected to God when I feel spiritually lost?
Even when God feels distant, connection can be sustained through honest prayer, Scripture, lament, and community. God is not waiting for a polished version of you—He is present in your brokenness and welcomes your questions.
What can I learn from the stories of Moses, Jacob, Naomi, and Job?
These biblical figures show us that wrestling with God is part of the faith journey. Their stories remind us that lament, protest, and even anger can become paths to healing, blessing, and deeper trust in God’s faithfulness.
Why do I feel ashamed for having doubts?
Many people feel shame because they think doubt means failure. But doubt can be an invitation to deeper faith. God values sincerity more than surface-level certainty. Wrestling is not rebellion—it’s relationship.
How can I pray when I don’t know what to say?
Simple, honest prayers—like Help me, God or I don’t understand but I’m still here—can be powerful. God hears the cries of the heart even when words fail. There is sacred space in silence too.
Is it okay to question God?
Yes. In both the Jewish and Messianic tradition, questioning God is a sign of intimacy and engagement. The name Israel itself means one who wrestles with God. Wrestling is not turning away from God—it’s turning toward Him with your whole heart.
Tree of Life (TLV) – Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.