Faith is a word that carries a lot of weight, and yet it’s often misunderstood. For some, it feels like blind trust in something unseen, and for others, it’s a deeply personal experience tied to their beliefs. In this series, we’ve been unpacking what faith truly means and exploring its different aspects. But to have an honest conversation about faith, we need to go beyond assumptions and dig into its roots—both in practice and in scripture.
First, let’s clarify something important: the Bible was not originally written in English. What we read today is a translation of ancient manuscripts written in Hebrew and Greek. Understanding the original context can make a huge difference in how we interpret words like “faith.”
In the Old Testament, which was written in Hebrew, there isn’t a direct equivalent to our English word “faith.” Instead, the concept is often captured by the word emunah. The first glimpse of this idea appears in Genesis 15:6, where it says: “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” The word “believed” here comes from the Hebrew word aman, which is the root of emunah. Aman conveys the idea of trusting, confirming, or being steadfast. It’s an action—not just a thought or a feeling.
Interestingly, aman is also the root of the word “amen,” which many people recognize as the closing word of a prayer. When we say “amen,” we’re not just ending a conversation; we’re affirming, “Yes, I agree. I trust this.” It’s a statement of confidence.
So, what does this mean for someone like Abram? His belief—his aman—was credited to him as righteousness. He trusted God’s promises completely, even when they seemed impossible. This isn’t about blind faith; it’s about placing trust in someone who has proven to be trustworthy.
Now, let’s bring this into the real world. Trusting anyone, let alone God, can be incredibly challenging. Vulnerability is uncomfortable. Let me share a personal story: I once dealt with kidney stones, and if you’ve never experienced them, consider yourself lucky. The pain was unbearable, and for weeks, I couldn’t function. My wife, Lana, had to take care of everything for me. I was completely dependent on her. Eventually, an MRI revealed the culprit—a 10mm kidney stone. After two surgeries, I finally found relief. But during those weeks of pain, I had no choice but to trust Lana to care for me and make decisions on my behalf.
That level of trust felt risky. What if something went wrong? What if she didn’t understand what I needed? But I had to let go of my fear and trust her intentions. In a similar way, faith in God requires us to let go of control and trust that He’s working for our good. Romans 8:28 puts it this way: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
If you’re skeptical, I get it. Trust doesn’t come easily—especially when it comes to something or someone you can’t see. But consider this: faith isn’t about ignoring reality or evidence. It’s about choosing to trust in the reliability of God’s character and promises. Just as I trusted Lana when I couldn’t take care of myself, faith is about recognizing that sometimes we can’t control everything—and that’s okay.
So, let’s strip away the misconceptions. Faith isn’t blind or naive. It’s an active, intentional trust. It’s about stepping into vulnerability with the confidence that there’s someone on the other side who won’t let you fall.
