When we try to explain faith, it’s tempting to use familiar phrases like “Faith is trusting God” or quote Hebrews 11:1:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
But if you’re anything like me, hearing that as a young Christian left me more confused than enlightened. What does that really mean?
Let’s break it down by exploring a few dimensions of faith:
- Faith as the Gift of Salvation
- Bondage Breaker: Faith brings freedom from sin and death, allowing us to live in the fullness of God’s grace.
- Faith as a Spiritual Gift
- Walking in Faith: Living daily in trust and obedience to God’s guidance.
- Crazy Audacious Faith: Believing for the impossible, even when it doesn’t make sense to the natural mind.
- The Prayer of Faith
- Prayer That Changes Things: Trusting God to move powerfully through prayer.
- Sharing Faith
- Overcoming Through Testimony: As Revelation 12:11 reminds us, “They triumphed…by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Sharing how God has worked in our lives is a powerful act of faith.
This is just the beginning. Faith is vast and multifaceted, but these are foundational ways we can understand and grow in it.
A Simple Definition of Faith
Faith is the confident belief or trust in something or someone, often without requiring physical proof. Spiritually, it’s the assurance and trust in God—His promises, His character—even when circumstances obscure evidence of His work.
Faith in Action: The Supernatural Over the Natural
Because we’re finite beings, it’s natural for us to rely on what we can see, touch, and measure. Yet, God calls us to operate in the supernatural—the unseen realm where He works. Faith requires trusting His promises, even when logic or evidence seem to contradict them.
Living by faith may make you look irrational to others. You might even be called “crazy” for believing in what you cannot see. But this is the essence of a life lived for God.
Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) reminds us:
“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.”
Faith compels us to shift our focus from the visible to the invisible, trusting God to fulfill His Word and exceed our expectations.
Not “Name It and Claim It”
This isn’t about demanding things from God but about believing His promises as revealed in Scripture. Faith requires alignment with His will and reliance on His timing, not our own desires.
A Call to Deeper Faith
I believe God is calling us to deeper trust, to a faith that stretches us beyond our comfort zones. It’s a journey that requires looking to Him in new ways, believing not just in what He can do but in who He is.
Join me on this journey as we walk together, discovering the fullness of what faith truly means.
