The interviewer on the street asked passersby, “How would you describe faith?” The responses varied little. “It’s what they teach you at church in religion class.” Or, “It’s what’s in the Bible.” And occasionally you’ll hear, “It’s what you believe.” All of these responses are vague and perhaps a little scary. Scary in the sense that they are vague and telling that most people, even if they were raised in a church, cannot describe one of the most important virtues of Christianity or other belief systems.

In the western hemisphere, the word faith is mainly related to religion. When you ask people what they believe faith to be, you most often will hear statements about religion similar to those above. When you look up faith in the dictionary you read 1) complete trust or confidence in someone or something. or 2) strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. The Holy Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

I believe faith to be my trust in a Holy God who loves and cares for me to lead me into eternal life. While I cannot see around the next corner, I trust God who can see around the next ten corners. He knows my entire future and I trust Him to lead me through the blind and tough spots of the world to something better, though I do not know what they may be or what I will go through to get there. Faith truly is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!

Will you let faith…

…be your courage?

…be your strength?

…guide your decisions?

…be your guide?

…build you up?

…be your support?

…bring you peace?

…engulf your thoughts?

…shine to others?

…extend your circle of care?

…lead you out of your comfort?

…lead you out of routine?

Lead you away from your fears?

Once you can let faith conquer these areas of your life, you will not only lead a faith-filled life, you will experience a JOY filled existence as well.

George Yates is the Church Health Strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, assisting churches and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Learn more at ALSBOM.org/revitalization.