What Is Faith?
Let’s see what the bible says about faith:
Hebrews 11:1-3(GNTD): [1] “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” [2] “It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval.”
[3] “It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God’s word so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.”
The bible says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the LORD is working, even though we cannot see it. It is the confidence that no matter the situation, in our lives or someone else’s, that the LORD our God is always working.
Faith is a lifestyle, a choice. To have an intimate relationship with Christ we have to have faith. By faith, we choose to believe in Jesus Christ, that he suffered and endured the excruciating pain of the cross for our sins, and that by believing in him[faith], our sins are forgiven. As it says in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
During the entirety of this whole pandemic, it has become an amazing opportunity to dedicate my time to God. It made me ponder upon the question: how can I have faith in the midst of this pandemic.
For the last few months, it has been an extensive period of constant stress and anxiety, uncertainty and the feeling of being more isolated from the world than ever before. During this season there’s no denying that my faith has been greatly tested at times. I have often struggled to fix my eyes on Jesus. Prayer and reading of scripture have been hard during this time of uncertainty and isolation.
Dwelling upon the question, ‘how can I have faith in the midst of a storm’ I thought of the story of Peter walking on water. As I read Matthew 14:22-33, it gave me a greater perspective upon the idea of faith. When Jesus asked Peter to come out of the boat and walk towards Him on the water. I can imagine what was going on in Peter’s head. Walking upon water would have been considered as an almost impossible task, with the additional fact that it was amid a raging storm. But we see that when Peter fixes his eyes upon Jesus he is able to do the impossible and has the strength to engage in a trying attempt to walk upon the waters. But here’s the key message, when Peter fixes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the storm that’s when he began to sink.
It is by our faith in Christ, by which we can stop sinking. When we focus on God, the dark world that surrounds us will soon fade away. For when our eyes are on Jesus our focus is less on the world. Which is how we see more of God’s perspective and gain a greater understanding of the intended design and plan for the world and for our lives.
It is so crucial that we learn to live a life of faith. By devotion, surrender and trust in the creator, we are able to see through the lens of God more each day. Love the LORD with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. To trust in God, by knowing his character and distinct nature, that He is righteous and trustworthy and that ‘He is always working, even when we can’t see him working and even when we can’t feel him working, he never stops working.’
Faith essentially is the belief that God is ever-present, continually working through us and for us and will always be by our side. Abide in his presence and his word, and each day may you be drawn closer to Him.
For God’s word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, builds character, transforms circumstances.
Rick Warren- The Purpose Driven Life
WRITER: Jake Ming, attends Rowville-Lysterfield Church.