How do you know if God is real? Read true stories of wrestling with faith and belief

Ever wondered how to know if God is real? Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time or are a believer struggling with a season of doubt. Our collection of personal testimonies and Christian stories will bring you hope and reassurance. Below you’ll find real-life examples of how people wrestle with their belief in God — and how God answers their questions.

When I first explored my faith as an adult, I came across a verse inviting me to seek God. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) says: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

I took this verse to heart and began to pray, seeking God for myself. I stopped relying on the beliefs of my parents, my priest or pastors, or my teachers. While I read Christian authors, I didn't rely on them. I wanted to know for myself.

I sought God, humbly and earnestly. First, it was coming to the end of myself. I was in a circumstance where I didn’t know what to do or where to turn for help, so I prayed: “God, I can’t do this alone, I need your help.”

The next day, a doctor asked if I was Catholic. His nurse printed off the website of the local Catholic church, and he told me to go. It seemed like God was answering my prayer. I had sought him and he had responded. I had knocked on God’s door and, in the most unexpected way, God opened it and invited me to walk through.

Regardless of which Christian denomination you grew up with or have experienced, I invite you to look past the church's human shortcomings and hurtful actions and instead to seek God directly. To pray your own prayer that tells God you need him, want to know him, and, as the many storytellers share below, be open to hearing from God in unexpected ways.

Sometimes, Faith Storytellers share experiences of God speaking to their heart, whispering to their soul a quiet reassurance. Other times, God’s existence becomes known through God’s people, as is my story. I called my local church, and they introduced me to an elderly couple who met me for Mass, and introduced me to a young adult ministry. I connected with other Christians who were also questioning, seeking, and exploring their faith.

Explore stories of faith and belief in God.

Each story in this category reflects the journey of individuals who have faced trials and found strength through their belief in God. These testimonies answer how to know God is real by sharing authentic experiences of divine guidance, miracles, and unwavering faith.

Hearing how others have come to know God is real and deepened their belief in God can be a source of comfort and inspiration in times of doubt or struggle. These stories highlight:

• God’s faithfulness: Testimonies of answered prayers and unexpected blessings that affirm belief in God.

• Strength in adversity: Belief in God provides hope during life’s most challenging moments.

• Personal connection: Real-life examples of building a relationship with God. By seeking a relationship with God, these stories showcase how each author answered the question — How do I know if God is real? — for themselves.

I hope reading these accounts will encourage you to explore your faith journey and strengthen your belief in God.

Discover a “God is real” Bible verse.

The Bible doesn’t explicitly argue for God’s existence in a single verse but assumes it throughout, with passages reflecting His reality through creation, power, and relationship with humanity. Here are a few passages from Scripture to explore.

Consider praying through a “God is real” Bible verse and bringing your questions, doubts, and concerns to him. Some Christian traditions encourage you to memorize verses or meditate on them, which can help guide your spiritual journey as you explore

• Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

  This verse implies God as the creator who brought everything, including us, into existence. It doesn’t contradict science. Science and faith can go hand in hand. Science explains the how, and faith explains the why.

• Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

  If you’ve ever stood in awe at a sunset, a magnificent view, or a majestic sky, this verse points to God and explains why we feel an overwhelming sense of awe: We’re sensing awe in God.

• Isaiah 40:28: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

  If you’ve struggled to understand God, you’re not alone. This verse explicitly states how God is so large, vast, and divine that we can’t understand all his ways. This verse also assures us that God will never grow tired or weary of pursuing, loving, and caring for us.

• John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

  This verse encapsulates the core of the Gospel, highlighting God’s love and the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity’s salvation — for my salvation and for yours, too. It’s often called the “Gospel in a nutshell” for its concise summary of Christian belief. We are promised everlasting life if we believe Jesus is God’s risen Son.

• 1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

  If you believe in love, if you’ve experienced love, you’ve experienced a facet of God’s character. God is love, and God is also a relationship, which allows love to flow between the three Godheads. Christians believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

  I’m of Irish descent and grew up hearing how St. Patrick shared the Gospel as a missionary to Ireland in 400 AD. A land known for the three-leaf clover, St. Patrick used the shamrock’s three leaves as a symbol of the Godhead. The leaves are united on a single stem, illustrating how God can be three distinct persons yet one in essence.

• Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” If you’re wondering how to know if God is real, this verse invites you to ask God yourself. Ask God if he is real; seek him for yourself and see if he’s there. As the Scripture says, knock on God’s door — he promises to open it for you.

How do you know God is real? Share your story!

Have a story to share about your faith journey? Consider sharing your spiritual journey to know that God is real. Pray through the experiences, people, and moments that prompted you to seek God. Importantly, how did God answer you?

Submit your faith story. While we accept may kinds of faith stories, if you’re reading this article, consider sharing a story that answers the question: How do you know if God is real? Your story could inspire someone else searching and seeking God. Here’s how to submit your story today.

Looking for storytelling guidance? Our book, “Faith Storytellers,” outlines a practical, step-by-step approach to crafting a personal testimony or story about your belief in God. Instead of trying to prove God exists, we encourage you to share a personal story — your experience is difficult to argue with!

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Read stories of wrestling with doubt or faith

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