What Does It Mean to Have Faith?
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Having faith is an essential element in your relationship with Jesus. In your understanding of faith, you have probably heard or read Hebrews 11:1 a few times. However, have you ever contemplated what faith is and it means to “have faith”? Well, my desire today is to provide clarity on the true essence of faith. I want to offer you an understanding of what it genuinely means to have faith.
Every person who came to Jesus asking for healing first acknowledged the situation they were in. They also recognized that Jesus could help them with it. That goes back to faith in God and not faith in faith. Having faith in God should not cause you to deny the reality of your situation. Faith in God means you believe and have hope that God will come through despite the situation you are in. Just like Abraham believed God and did not deny his reality, you can do the same thing.
Where you are is where you are. But you can believe in God to change the situation you are in and do what he desires to do in your life.
The next thing I will mention that determines what it means to have faith is, are you willing to take action? Faith only works when there are actions associated with it. If you are not willing to do something, then you don’t really have faith.
One of the most important actions associated with faith is obedience. The evidence that you are walking in faith is if you will do what God says. If you are not willing to do that, then do you really have faith? Imagine if Abraham had said “God, I know you are telling me to go, but since you have not told me where we are going, I will not go.” That would show Abraham did not really believe God.
Faith will require actions that don’t always add up or even make sense to the outsider. However, if you know God has spoken, then your actions will determine if you have faith. Let me caution you, I am not saying be reckless. Also, in general, the bigger the ask, the more you need to confirm you are hearing from God. However, if you know God is leading you to do something, then your faith requires action, or it is not faith at all.
When we tell the story of Abraham, we commend him for his faith. I am certain, even though the Bible does not say this, there was probably some fear or uncertainty in his heart. This is neither strange nor unusual. Faith is not the absence of fear; it is the courage to obey God and do what he asks even when you are afraid.
However, you can find comfort in knowing God responds to our faith even when we are afraid. You can have fear, but as long as you do what God is telling you to do, you are acting in faith. If you must, then act when you are afraid. Believe when you are afraid. Trust when you are afraid. Remember fear alone is not an indicator you don’t have faith.
How is your faith today? If you find that your faith tank is low, then allow me to make two suggestions. One, start filing your heart and mind with God’s word. Two, start acting on what he said. As you do, you are putting your faith into action, and you will discover that God honors his word. When he does honor his word, guess what that will be produced in your life? More faith.
To sum it up. Faith in God and his word will produce actions in your life that will cause you to have more faith in God and his word. When you understand that, you will know what it means to have real faith.
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