Regardless of whether today marks your first day or your four-thousandth as a Christian, or if you’re still contemplating your faith, you’ve likely encountered the concept of “faith” that Christians often discuss. What may be unclear to you is why it holds such significance.
You’ll hear individuals mention it during positive times: “I was confident things would improve if I just had faith!”
You’ll find people suggesting it when they’re at a loss for words: “I’m sorry you’re facing difficulties. Just have faith.”
And when others appear unaffected by life’s challenges, they might attribute it to their “faith.”
But what does that truly signify?
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Faith stems from believing in the Gospel — the wonderful news that Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins and paved the way for us to be reconciled with God and enjoy eternal life in heaven. When we let the truth of the Gospel influence every aspect of our lives, it transforms our thoughts, which in turn alters our actions.
Faith inspires us to take steps based on what we have yet to experience, to trust in promises from the Bible that remain unfulfilled, and to rely on God even when our circumstances have not yet improved.
When I say strength, I don’t mean a physical strength to fight bullies. I mean the inner resolve to withstand turmoil.
The author of Psalm 138 proclaims about God, “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” When we are aligned with God, we never face turmoil alone. The Creator of the Universe stands with us.
Consider David and the tale of his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17). At that moment, David was merely a shepherd boy, not a seasoned warrior. Yet, upon witnessing Goliath ridicule God’s people, David approached the king and requested permission to confront him. Imagine the babysitter next door or the paperboy confidently telling the President, “Let me take care of this one.”
David’s unwavering courage in the face of Goliath’s size and taunts stemmed from his deep faith in God. He assured the king, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). David believed that God would vanquish the giant and save His people, which empowered him to stand up to both the king and the giant.
Courage and strength are not synonymous, even though they frequently appear together. Courage is the capacity to confront our fears, to act according to our convictions in spite of potential dangers, and to exhibit strength in the midst of sorrow or suffering. Like strength, courage is rooted in our faith in God. Our belief in the reality of heaven significantly influences the risks we are prepared to embrace. If death is the most daunting fate that can befall someone, how can you inflict pain on a person who trusts that a better existence awaits them after this life?
Esther serves as a remarkable example of a woman whose faith empowered her with courage. She faced constant peril, not due to her actions, but simply because of her identity as a Jew. During a time of political upheaval, Esther skillfully navigated challenging circumstances and rescued the Israelites from the malicious vendetta of a wicked man. However, it required immense courage for her to remain steadfast. Refer to Esther 7 to witness how she withstood her enemy’s plots and earned the king’s favor to protect her people.
Have you ever encountered someone who appears unshakeable? The coworker who takes a deep breath when the computer crashes instead of banging her head on the desk. The mother who manages to maintain her composure as her children’s last-minute requests accumulate.
We all aspire to get through the day without breaking down or throwing a fit (even though we may feel that way at times). Our faith in God is what enables us to find stability amidst chaos. When life seems uncontrollable, we find solace in the knowledge that God is in command.
In the Bible, the life of Daniel offers numerous instances of steadiness in the midst of turmoil. Daniel and many other Israelites were abducted and compelled to serve the Babylonian king. This brought about new food, new clothing, a new language, new customs, and a completely new way of life. Yet, despite being a captive, Daniel remained faithful to what he understood about God. He refused to consume the foods that God had instructed the Israelites to avoid, and for this, God rewarded him (Daniel 1:1-8).
Eventually, Daniel was elevated to the king’s royal court, where some individuals disapproved of his devotion to God over the king. Government officials attempted to find fault with Daniel, but “they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4). They conspired against him, but Daniel remained steadfast in his faith, “just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).
Faith can accomplish remarkable things in your life if you allow it. It will help you grow and enable you to achieve things you never imagined possible. It will transform you into a dreamer who genuinely believes that with God, all things are achievable (Matthew 19:26). What step can you take in faith today?
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