The apostles said to the Lord, “Make our faith greater.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17: 5-6
Faith is not a commodity you can buy at the supermarket. Pity, sometimes when my faith fails me I wish I could top it up with another portion which I could buy from the stores. But what is faith exactly? Is it a feeling? An emotion? Like happiness, joy, anger, jealousy and hatred? If it was a feeling then it would be something that everyone has. For example, everyone has feelings of anger, jealousy and hatred at one time or another but they learn to control these feelings before they do great damage.
So, if faith is not a feeling, something that comes naturally, does this imply that we must do something to have faith? We "decide" to believe in something or someone? Do we need to take some sort of action in order to have faith? Is that it?
Or is faith a gift given by God. We have faith through God's grace. But if it were so, a gift from God, then are all those people who do not have faith to blame for their unbelief and scepticism? They could claim that God did not give them faith.
Often, when people are in great difficulties, they turn to God in prayer. Even people who do not believe in God do so. It is said there are no atheists in foxholes. In the heat of battle even the most unbelieving says a prayer. Here's a thought ... prayer is an act of faith. The very fact you are praying proves that you believe Someone is listening. Otherwise you'd be talking to yourself.
Maybe that's the answer to lack of faith, or to waning faith. To pray for it.
To have faith is to believe when your common sense tells you not to.
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23
NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any topics you would like discussed in this series please write to me by clicking the "Contact us" tab at the top right of this page.
...hope is is needed in hopeless times, faith can be a bit harder to have.
ReplyDeleteYes, faith is often hard to achieve. God bless, Tom.
DeleteI think faith is a decision sometimes - even though you may not 'feel' things - it is still there and you have to trust.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, Sandie. Faith is a decision. Even if it is a small faltering step in blind faith. You start to believe and God helps you to have more faith.
DeleteGod bless, my friend.
Love and kindness always. ❤️
ReplyDeleteGod bless, CM.
DeleteTo me, faith is something I feel ... I accept. However, the closer I come to examining (it), the more elusive it seems. Like trying to approach and touch a rainbow.
ReplyDeleteWhen I feel like that, and I get confused, I ask God to "help me think straight!"
DeleteGod bless, Mevely.
Faith is one of God's gifts of grace to us; it's up to us to accept it and trust Him in prayer. Blessings, Victor!
ReplyDeleteAmen Martha. Faith is a gift which we must accept and respond to.
DeleteGod bless always.
Wow, this really hit home for me and gave me chills. Faith wanes from time to time, and questions about faith pull us one way or another. It a bit a seasaw for me.
ReplyDeleteTrue Sandy, faith does wane; but this is not a bad thing if we pray, think about it, and reinforce our beliefs through studying the Bible or asking other Christians for their views - e.g. priest/pastor or preacher. There is nothing wrong in asking questions as long as they don't lead us into disbelief. Questions are the way we learn.
DeleteGod bless you.
Faith can be challenging at times. I have faith but there are times when I feel what is the point. I can only ask God the question and continue to believe.
ReplyDeleteYes, ask God the questions on your mind and ask Him to strengthen your faith. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
It is a gift from God that we all have. I heard it said that Faith is a muscle and we have to excercise it or it will atrophy if not used.
ReplyDeleteWe exercise our faith by re-affirming to God and to ourselves what we truly believe and that it agrees with Biblical teachings.
DeleteGod bless you always, Debby.
Faith is a gift from God and we all have it. I could have just said ditto to what Debby said. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Debby; as I have mentioned to her.
DeleteGod bless you, K.
I do think that prayer is an act of faith.
ReplyDeleteIn good times and bad I find prayers comforting and helpful.
Prayers have different words and meanings, for example ...for thanks, for guidance, for help.
All the best Jan
You're right, Jan. Prayer is talking to God, our Father, friend and Creator. And also, prayer is to listen to Him ... in silence.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
We are all meaning-makers, not driven by instinct no matter what the scientists want to believe, and we all have faith in something. Scientists have to have faith in their science, after all.
ReplyDeleteIt's better to have faith in the unchanging God of the universe who created the science. After all, the first scientists were Christians who were looking for the laws governing the universe and they expected laws because they believed in the Lawgiver.
Faith is so difficult for so many people.
DeleteGod bless, Mimi.