What Faith Means To Me

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” ~ Hebrews 11:1

Hope: the belief that tomorrow will be better than today.

It has been said that faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted. And while some folks may argue that point, I believe it holds a large degree of truth that we will all experience if we are born again and on our way to heaven.

It seems my family has experienced more than its share of trials since my husband quit his “regular-steady-income-job” in December of last year to work full time in our business. Don’t think I’m complaining, though. I’m just saying that I’ve come to realize that God is simply using some tough circumstances to build the muscles of my faith.

My faith has been weak compared to what it should be, and I know it. I can SAY that I have faith, but when it comes down to it, I am more like the puny guy on the beach…no muscle where the mouth is. God has allowed some things to happen in my life so that my faith will be strengthened. And guess what? It’s working!

Just like working out in the gym strengthens my physical body, reading His Word daily and praying to overcome the circumstances He’s allowed to happen strengthens me spiritually. At first, it was painful. But slowly, surely, I’m learning to enjoy the mental and spiritual stretching that I receive when I am faithful to my daily workout with Him.

Probably the most important lesson I’ve learned over the course of the last few months has been that trials really are opportunities sent by God to test us and try us to see if we will be faithful to serve Him through it all. I think about the Israelites and when they sent the 12 spies into Canaan—their report turned from FAITH to SIGHT. Only two kept their faith and came back with a good report.

Lord, please let me always keep my eyes on YOU and your promises, and not go on my feelings alone. Let me always remember that Faith is controlled by you and sight is controlled by satan—let me always take the path that leads to You, Father.

Take no risks and you have no FAITH. I am willing to try what seems like the impossible, just as Daniel did in the lion’s den; just as David did when he was running from Saul; and just as Paul did. I will resist all faithless influence and Lord, I surrender our marriage, our children, our business, and my will into Your mighty and capable hands. You alone are able to change our circumstances and I will trust Your Word when it says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6.

At the beginning, I stated that Hope is the belief that tomorrow will be better than today. I have heard so many people say they feel “hopeless” in their situation.

How can that be if you are born again? It is only when things are “hopeless” that hope begins to be a strength. Faith is what creates that Hope. But Hope, in turn, is needed to keep our Faith strong.

I have heard it said that Hope is Faith holding out its hands in the dark. Isn’t that a beautiful way of looking at it? No matter how weary of my circumstances I become, I know that because I have a small measure of Faith, I have Hope that tomorrow will definitely be better than today.

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