Faith: Part IV

Now that we have covered the difference between hope and faith, conviction and confidence, let's work on belief.

How do we develop true belief in the face of the inevitable feelings of doubt we face as humans? The answer lies in the steps we have already taken; having conviction, having confidence and believing that our "faith muscle" can be strengthened.

To develop an increasing faith, we must turn to God. John 14:12-17 says, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth."

In John chapter 14, Jesus is explaining to the disciples that He will soon be fulfilling His mission. He will carry a cross to the top of the hill at Golgotha, and die for our sins. Peter will deny Him three times, Thomas has doubt for he asks where Jesus is going and Philip wants Jesus to "show" him the Father.

Jesus comforts the disciples with His explanation that He is in the Father, the Father in Him and that the "Spirit of Truth," or the Holy Spirit will be theirs as well. The Holy Trinity is available to them to call upon.

Paul says in Romans 4:3, "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Revisit Romans 4:18-21. Chapter 4 in its entirety is about Abraham's faith in God, which was "strengthened" (v. 20,) and by his faith he "gave glory to God" (v.20.) His belief in the seemingly impossible is what allowed Abraham to become the "father of many nations" (v.18.)

Here's the good news:  God provides us with examples that will allow us to develop a belief system.

Look in Genesis where He promises Noah that He will never again bring a flood that will destroy the earth. A sign of this covenant between God and Noah is the rainbow. Genesis 9:13 says, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

How about the parable of God's care for the "birds of the air" and our own well-being? Matthew 6:26 reads, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Here I am making a case for developing and having a true belief system. It begins with relying on God and not ourselves. An excellent passage to study is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Developing a belief system is not easy. It does take confidence, it does take conviction. If you then believe that you can fully rely on God to meet your needs, you can strengthen and increase your faith; like Abraham, like Paul and others in the Bible who were rewarded for their faith.