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A MATTER OF FAITH
Faith
There seems to be a lot of talk about faith. "Keep the FAITH", "Walk by FAITH", and "Renew your FAITH". Even George Michael sang, "You Gotta Have FAITH".
Since my dad and my oldest son died seven months apart in 2021, I've been thinking a lot about my faith and sometimes lack thereof. I'd like to share those thoughts with you now.
What Is Faith?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, FAITH is defined as "complete trust or confidence in someone or something".
Dictionary.com defines FAITH as a "belief that is not based on proof".
My faith stems from my belief in the Bible and so I will take many of my cues from there. Your faith must be anchored by someone or something greater than you.
According to the Bible, "...FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." -Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Faith cannot be seen, touched, or smelled. And when someone asks, "How much faith do you have?", I cannot give an answer. Mine is not measured independently of each test and trial in my life that it becomes weighed against.
I don't even know if my faith is sufficient until I come out the other side of the storm. I do face storms now with a strengthened faith because of those tests before that ended in my still standing and ready to face the next trial.
Faith is not believing God CAN but knowing that God WILL.
"I have come to the conclusion that the most important element in human life is faith."
-Rose Kennedy
Faith is not Trust.
Faith is a noun that means the reliance on something or someone, while trust is a verb that conveys reliance on something or someone and can be rooted in faith. Faith is a belief while Trust is a willful action. You can have faith and still not trust that something will happen. You must be the one that trusts the outcome.
Faith is something you have. Trust is something you do.
Faith is not Belief.
Although closely related, faith is that strong conviction in something or someone you can't see or don't have proof of, while belief is accepting something as true. I can have faith in God but not believe he will deliver me from my current situation.
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Why does Faith Matter?
Faith gives us hope.
Faith gives us the strength to continue when the odds are stacked against us.
Faith centers us when life pulls us out of balance.
Faith shapes our decision making
Faith creates harmony in families and relationships
Faith pleases God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him:" -Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Although it never disappeared, I have often felt that my faith wavered or was not strong enough to get me through a particularly ominous storm. I'll share some obstacles to my faith and some ways I renewed my faith in the hopes you'll know you're not alone and that this sharing might help you in your journey.
Obstacles To Faith
- Reasoning - "I've never witnessed it before so how can I expect it now"
- Relying on Sight - "I can't see an outcome so how can there be one?"
- Feelings - "I just don't feel like God would care about this problem of mine."
- Negative Feedback - "You shouldn't get your hopes up" or "You should prepare yourself for the worst"
- Guilt - "I haven't been good enough to expect a better outcome. I don't deserve it"
"I have not lost faith in God. I have moments of anger and protest. Sometimes I've been closer to Him for that reason."
-Elie Wiesel
Renewing Faith
- Pray. Not to change God's mind but to change yours
- Read. The Bible. Books on Faith. Quotes about Faith
- Keep good company. Be around others with a strong Faith
- Listen. Find music that is uplifting and faith-centered.
"We are never defeated unless we give up on God."
-Ronald Reagan
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