Unfaithful

What to Do When You Feel Faithless

When you hear the word faithless, what do you think about?

I bet if this was a question on Family Feud, one hundred people surveyed would have a popular answer of adultery, cheating, or an affair. And although the connotation fits, that’s not what I’m talking about.

I ran across a scripture a few years ago that I can’t shake. It comes up (in my spirit) all the time— in thought, in prayer, and in conversation. And it’s this: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

The connotation above fits because when we stray from our faith in any way, it’s similar to a spouse straying from the vows and commitment of their marriage. But when I think about this passage, I think about our humanness and God’s understanding of that fact.

I’m in no way saying it’s okay to be faithless. I’m just saying that’s who we are at our core and even on our very best day, “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin’”? (Proverbs 20:9). None of us. That’s the main point of salvation. We needed a Savior because our good deeds were like filthy rags.

But here’s my other point: God is faithful.

When I think about all the ways I could possibly fail God on a daily basis — and then remember that despite that, He is still faithful — my heart overflows with gratitude again and again. Why is He faithful to us when we can be so faithless to Him? Because He cannot deny who He is.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself” (Amplified).

“If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful because He cannot be untrue to himself” (God’s Word).

“Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us, for he cannot disown us who are part of himself, and he will always carry out his promises to us” (Living Bible).

Are you seeing this like I am?

When we are faithless (disloyal, doubting, hypocritical, two-faced, or untrustworthy), God remains faithful (constant, loyal, reliable, and true). And the reason He is faithful is because, number one, that’s who He is. In Revelation, John said, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called FAITHFUL and True…” (Revelation 19:11). But another reason God is faithful is because when He made us in His image and made our heart His home, we became a part of Him. And in God’s true character, “He cannot disown us who are part of himself.”

I don’t think this means we can live any way we want because “Hey, God is faithful!” No, on the contrary, it should stimulate us to see how really faithful God is to us who fail daily. He works behind the scenes on our behalf, surrounding us with favor, removing obstacles, making a way when there seemed to be no way, all because He loves us. And all while we are oblivious most of the time.

So although I know God still loves those who have rejected Him and turned their back on Him, I’m really wanting to emphasize to those who feel they are completely devoted and sold out to God: “When we are faithless, He remains faithful.” In other words, when you have an off-day, fuss at the kids or the spouse, have a lazy afternoon on Facebook for three hours, or skip your prayer time for some extra sleep, it’s okay. God is still right where He’s always been.

Don’t let guilt and condemnation beat you up. “When we are faithless, He remains faithful.”

This article was written by Daphne Delay who is an author, speaker, and podcaster with a passion to help this generation discover who they are in Christ. She is the author of Facing the Mirror, Facing the Enemy, and Facing God. Daphne also blogs nuggets of spiritual growth and encouragement regularly at daphnedelay.com