What is faith and why is it needed?
The dictionary defines Faith as:
- Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
- Strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
The dictionary aligns with the bible in Hebrews 11 with these definitions. As Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) says “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
As Christians, our Faith is our Assurance (complete trust and confidence) in the things we hope for in God, And the Conviction of our belief in God Now without waiting for physical proof.
Jesus said to Thomas in John 20:29 (AMPC) “Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me.”
The above verse admonishes us to believe and trust in God even when what we see are contrary or we are not seeing what we want to see.
Jesus wants us to rely on him and trust him at ALL times. This can be a daunting task when things and circumstances look bleak despite the fact that we have prayed about them. We live in a world where trust must be earned and seems to be in short supply, but the writer in Proverbs knew that trust is exactly where we must start. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Most of us have experienced disappointments, which have led us to only depend upon ourselves. But living the life God has called us to means unlearning that lesson. Instead, we’re meant to rest in God’s understanding and love.
Hebrews 4: 10-11 (NIV) says “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Today, many of God’s children still cannot believe that the work of Jesus is truly complete and finished. They are trying to complete a completed work, finish a finished work and defeat a defeated devil. Often, many are always working and trying to produce their healing, success and victory. However, God wants us to stop trying and start trusting in His love for us. He wants us to stop working and struggling, and start resting and believing in His grace toward us.
Sometimes Trusting God Completely can be tough, so, each day we must consciously lay aside our own plans and expectations and surrender to His plans by aligning our words and our thoughts with his. When we pray and cry out to Him to show how to depend on him, we admit that His ways are higher than ours, and we show that we’re leaving our troubles and burdens and dreams in His capable hands. (That is trusting him and having Faith in Him)
So, the only “work” left for us to do today is to enter His rest. We are to labor every day to enter His rest. We are to rest inwardly, believe in Christ’s finished work, and trust in God’s undeserved favor toward us.
As we do this, we will truly experience the peace that passes all human understanding that the Lord Jesus himself gives and spoke about in John 14:27 (ESV) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Finally, according to Psalms 145:17-18 (ERV) which says “Everything the LORD does is good. Everything he does shows how loyal he is. The LORD is near to everyone who sincerely calls to him for help”. My prayer is that as you trust and believe in him absolutely, you will see and know that the Lord is good in all situations, and according to Philippians 4:7 (ESV) The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
