New to faith · question 4 of 6
What if I can’t make myself believe?
What if I can’t make myself believe?
Lutherans say nobody can. Faith is something God gives, and the ordinary way it comes is by hearing about Jesus.
In 1529 Martin Luther wrote a short book of the basics for families, the Small Catechism. Explaining the Creed, he wrote:
I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intelligence or power. But the Holy Spirit called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith.
Luther’s Small Catechism, translated by Robert E. Smith (public domain). The whole part, with plain words.
So you do not have to produce belief by trying harder. You can keep listening: read, pray, and hear it read on a Sunday. Christians believe that is how faith comes.
A father once said to Jesus, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” Jesus did not send him away. He helped him.
Where it is in the Bible
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Mark 9:23–24 A father asks Jesus to help his unbelief, and Jesus does.
Read Mark 9:23–24
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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Romans 10:17 Paul: faith comes from hearing about Christ.
Read Romans 10:17
17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Written by Digital Lutheran Church, a small, free website from the nonprofit Hope for Americans, in the tradition of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. No question is too basic to ask a pastor.