Why do so many of us try to make this such a complicated concept. I struggle so much with many of the definitions we as humans use to understand this term. In its simplest form, faith requires that you simply trust that something you can’t see is really there. You must believe in this without proof or guarantee. The definition of this concept is really very simple, but it does have two parts.
We are not the first to struggle with faith’s two-part simplicity. I think of many times the bible references a lack of this faith we discuss, but we find a wonderful definition that includes many examples of people who understood just what faith entails in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6But 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.
7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
This, more than any other time in your life, is a time to really grasp the understanding of faith. This event that caused you so much pain is testing your ability to understand that faith is not just an inward belief of continued goodness. If you examine this scripture carefully you find that faith also requires an action. Abraham, Noah, Sara, and Moses all acted on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Abraham ‘obeyed’, Noah ‘moved with fear’, Sara ‘received strength’, and Moses ‘refused to be called the son of a Pharoh’. Faith is a not only a work in progress, it is a very personal journey, for God perfects our personal meaning of faith as we walk in his perfect will. Faith is not complete in itself, it requires the action of completing the task he created you for. This action, or work that you do in your search, gives you power and strength to continue. It is this power and strength that I received from my faith which has given me an ability to continue to search for his will. Jesus spoke of this power in Matthew 21.
Matthew 21:21:
21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
I still struggle with just how much power I will receive, and when I will finally grasp the full simplicity of faith. I am overwhelmed even now, as I accept even a small portion, and allow the pain from Mitchell’s death to provide for me a new joy. I have not lost my faith; I have built a new complexity into it. I believe that God has something for me to accomplish. I will continue to search for his perfect will, and have faith that he is doing something with my life. These bible models must have struggled too with the huge tasks they were assigned. They were able to accomplish these tasks for God because they allowed the Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts and then let it guide them. I pray daily for God to send his Holy Spirit to fill and guide me in the days ahead, to give me the power to complete whatever my task will be. Isaiah spoke of this need, and Luke confirms its importance as he speaks of Jesus’ own walk with God.
Isaiah 63:11:
11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
Luke 4
1And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
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