Sometimes we look up definitions in the Royal Spanish Academy dictionary or other sources, but when it comes to understanding biblical concepts, the best place to look is the Bible. In it, we can find the meaning of everything God wants us to understand. Among those definitions, we find the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God reminds us again and again of how essential faith is. In fact, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). It is not simply about believing that God exists, because we already know that the devil and the demons know He exists. It is about trusting Him with all our hearts, even when we cannot see the entire path ahead.
Having faith means living with an unshakable confidence that whatever God has promised, He will fulfill. Among those promises are the return of Jesus and the eternal life He has promised us. That is the assurance we must hold on to, even when our circumstances change and we face difficulties. It means walking by conviction, not by sight. When someone decides to live by faith, they learn to rest in God’s promises, even when their circumstances bring doubts and fears.
Faith is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and it develops in those who sincerely seek the Lord, surrendering every area of their lives to Him with complete trust.
Three Ways Faith Manifests Itself
The Bible speaks about faith in different contexts. Although all these expressions are connected to our trust in God, we can see how faith is present in different areas of our lives.
- Faith for salvation: This is the first step, when we recognize that we need Jesus and believe in Him as our Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Faith as a spiritual gift: Some people receive a special gift of faith that enables them to believe courageously in extraordinary situations (1 Corinthians 12:9).
- Faith in everyday life: We see it in our daily decisions, in how we face challenges, and in how we choose to forgive, wait, or continue trusting.
Each of these expressions points to a life anchored in God and His Word. Faith is not limited to a specific moment in our Christian lives, because it also accompanies us through the decisions and difficulties we face every day.
How Do We Live by Faith?
Living by faith does not mean ignoring problems or denying difficulties. It also does not mean that you will never suffer, feel angry, or cry. No, it means facing whatever comes with hope, knowing that God goes before you. It is what sustains you when everything seems unstable; what moves you to pray even when you see no answer; what leads you to obey even when you do not understand everything.
Faith is not something that happens just once and that’s it, because it is not a feeling. It is a way of living and thinking. It grows when we spend time with God, when we read His Word, and when we decide to trust Him above our feelings or circumstances. Because faith comes from God, we make the decision to place everything in His hands, and God is the One who strengthens our faith.
Faith and Obedience Go Hand in Hand
Although it is true that we can experience joy and other beautiful feelings as we walk by faith, faith is ultimately a decision, and that decision must be accompanied by action. It is not simply saying, “I believe in God and I have faith.” It also means obeying His Word. Because if you truly believe that God is God, our Lord, the Owner of everything, the One who created us, then you also naturally trust that His Word is perfect and good. That nothing is more right than His Word.
Of course, that also involves a learning process. Many times, we have to fall before we recognize that what God said was right all along. That is why it is better to trust His Word rather than our own understanding. If there is something we think that goes against His Word, instead of waiting to suffer the consequences before recognizing that God is right, we should trust Him and have faith, even when we cannot see or understand why God tells us not to do something. That is also what faith is about. That is why Jesus said:
“Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Heroes of Faith Who Inspire Us
- Abraham believed in the promise of a son, even when everything seemed impossible.
- Noah built an ark to prepare for a flood that had not yet come.
- The woman who touched Jesus’ garment believed that just one touch would heal her… and it did.
We call them heroes, but they were ordinary people just like you and me. They were not perfect people either, but they had something in common: they trusted God beyond what they could see.
A Shield Against the Enemy’s Attacks
Ephesians 6:16 tells us: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Faith not only guides us, but it also protects us. This is something I find super cool, because God gave us a real protective shield that blocks fearful thoughts, the enemy’s lies, and the doubts that try to make us turn back. With faith, we resist and move forward.
As in any battle, even with our shield in hand, we may take a few steps back and suffer some wounds. Those wounds represent the difficulties we face in our everyday lives, the disappointments, the suffering, and all those experiences that can make us doubt and lose our trust in God. Sometimes the shield may feel heavy, and we may grow tired of holding it, but as long as we do not let go of it, God will not allow that shield to break.
Our goal is to carry that shield until we win the battle and never let it go. We must not give up, because our hope rests in God’s promises, especially His promise that Jesus will return for us. That is the unshakable assurance that allows us to keep holding up our shield, even when things do not turn out the way we expected. We may lose some battles throughout our lives, but we must persevere until the end, trusting that God will fulfill His promise.
A Life Anchored in Faith
Faith does not eliminate the storms, but it gives us the strength to face them. It reminds us that God is in control, even when we do not always understand what He is doing. It also fills us with peace in the middle of chaos and sustains us when we feel like we cannot go on.
Dear reader, living by faith means living with purpose, with hope, and with direction. Take up the shield of faith today and find refuge in the promises of the Lord. He never fails.
Image credit: Photo courtesy of Unsplash
Originally published on my former blog, Perennidad (September 29, 2020). Revised and adapted for publication on Perennial Word.
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