For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible. – Hebrews 11:1-3 (NASB)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. – Romans 10:17 (NASB)
It’s hard to believe, but this is week 5 of our new “Reflections” devotional series. As a recap, the first two weeks we looked at Scripture reflecting on Creation and God’s Nature. Creation reveals so much about the character and nature of our omnipotent God and He chose to create YOU! The next week, we looked at God’s Love, everlasting, and steadfast. Last week, the Scriptures revealed that the Church is united in Christ and is God’s chosen community for His mission in the world. Now, for week 5, let’s look at faith.
Merriam-Webster defines faith as “1. allegiance to duty or person, 2. belief and trust in and loyalty to God, and 3. Something that is believed especially with strong conviction.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that faith is a gift of God and by grace it’s faith that saves us. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” At first glance, these verses might seem like faith is a call to believe blindly, but true biblical faith is far deeper than naive optimism or wishful thinking. It’s a grounded, confident trust in the character and promises of God. Faith doesn’t mean we ignore what is happening around us. Faith is about viewing reality through the lens of who God is.
For Christians, faith also isn’t just about believing ideas or doctrines. It’s about knowing and trusting a person – Jesus. It’s about placing our full trust in Him, depending on Him for salvation, for daily strength, and for eternal hope. So, while Merriam-Webster gives us a helpful starting point, Christian faith is deeper than that. It is wholehearted trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ based on who God is, what God has done, and what God has promised. It’s both a gift and a response and it changes not just what we believe, but how we live.
Romans 10 :17 reminds us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Our faith is not autonomous or rooted in emotions. Faith grows through our exposure to God’s Word, by hearing His truth, remembering His faithfulness, and recognizing His voice, even in (and I would say often especially in) the midst of uncertainty, of times of trial in our lives. Faith shapes how we see our circumstances. It gives us the ability to hold onto hope when everything around us feels out of control. It reorients our hearts to live differently, driven by trust, not out of fear.
Personally, my faith has grown most deeply during the lowest points of my life. In a particular season, when I was overwhelmed with grief, feeling lost, broken, and uncertain of what was ahead of me…that is the moment that God’s presence became most real to me. His Word began to anchor me when my emotions were too heavy, and my prayers felt weak. Looking back, I can see how that valley became a sacred place where trust was built, not because I had strength, but because God showed Himself faithful. And He’s done it again and again in so many other valleys in my life.
Faith doesn’t always give us the answers we want, but it gives us the assurance that we are not alone. We trust in God the Father, who holds all things together and sees the full picture of our lives. We walk with Jesus the Son, who has gone before us in suffering and now stands as our faithful Advocate and Shepherd. And we’re strengthened by His Holy Spirit, who lives within us, guiding, comforting, and reminding us of God’s promises.
Faith allows us to live with confidence – even when the future is unclear – because our hope is not in our circumstances, but in our faithful, Triune God who is with us, for us, and working all things together for good. Thanks be to God!