So now I ask myself...
What exactly is faith?
It is a bit funny that most of my prayers, especially as a child, usually consisted of asking about growing my faith. But perhaps, I never quite understood why I asked for this, when indeed I could not have even given one a clear description of what faith means. For me, it is such an intangible word and it may mean something different for everyone.
Through the foreigner’s lens, perhaps faith has the capacity to be demonstrated by a person who holds that faith. Perhaps faith may be demonstrated by the outward appearance or silent disposition of a person. But I challenge this thought. Can one really tell the existence or lack of one’s faith just by viewing how their life is shaping out to be? I have seen and I have really seen this with my eyes that one may seem to have numerous strokes of luck in his life. In fact, it may seem like quite the highly favoured life. But I want to provoke this thought. Suppose I say, life is a probability. It is about taking chances. And some persons learn the art of learning life’s ways to the point where most of their steps seem to be really lucky moves. Would this portray a strong sense of practised faith? Where is this faith coming from?
Now I inject another thought. Suppose however, one lives his whole life with no evidence of bearing any physical fruit. No matter how much he does and no matter how much effort he exerts, for him his life seems somewhat barren and in want. My question is, what is holding up this person? Or should I say who? This line of thought intrigues me. For there is no physical or material evidence that indicates to this man whether he is doing a good job or a very poor one. He simply has no indicator or feedback. Yet there is something inside of him; an invisible force, pushing him to do the things that he does. Why? Why does he continue despite not having seen any sign of a fruit or a material reward for his attempts? From my perspective, this is where the definition of faith truly begins.
If you look for faith, you simply would not find it. You cannot touch it. And for the most part, you simply would not see it. Though invisible, yet still a force exists; that invisible force that pushes one to do what he does. No one can see this force. It is invisible. Yet, it is certainly a mighty force that gets him to do his job. He needs no validation from his external world to get him to do what he does. He is intrinsically motivated. He is inspired.
Now I contemplate on the Hebrews chapter eleven verses of what faith means.
1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
3 “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household...
13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth
From these verses, one may ascertain that there is an element of invisibility that hides in the meaning of faith. In other words, I view faith as being one that is concealed; something that is hidden; something mysterious.
Verses 3 and 7 highlight the influential force of faith. There is something being done ‘by faith’ or 'in faith'. The event is not just happening just because. But it is an event moved by faith. Faith moves. Faith, therefore is quite active and things happen because of its influence.
Faith’s influential nature is so important for me to understand. I need to understand that I am not doing the thing, whatever this thing may be. But, indeed, it is by faith that one is moved to do the things that they do. This is a grand thought for me and a key ingredient in experiencing faith. It is the surrendering bit that may help one to truly mobilize his faith. I do find this incredible! From the outside it may seem as though one has great power to move things and shake things but to that person experiencing it, he may describe to you an entirely different story.
Now I consider the following verse taken from the book of Luke, Chapter 17:
6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
The above verse helps to describe the factor of measurability of faith. Faith can be measured. I suppose then, it may be worth the time to consider that it not only matters that one has faith, but it is the measure of faith that one holds that may make the difference in his life. It therefore means that faith must be practised in order for it to grow. Much like exercising one’s muscle, the muscle of the mind also requires some probing, stretching and healing; all factors that help with growth and development. But of course, one does not go out of his way to try faith. Indeed, no one wants that type of challenge. It is not like going to the gym and trying a hand at lifting a heavy weight. No. Usually, in my experience, faith seems to come alive when we are not looking for it. Challenges may come in moments when one lets down his guard. That is to say, when a challenge comes, no one expects it in the first place. Yet, faith must be exercised in order to overcome. So, life tries that one out, but by faith, he overcomes.
So, what exactly is faith? Well, this is only the beginning of my definition. But if someone were to ask me, what is faith, I summarize this word to mean the following:
Faith comes through a breath of inspiration
Faith is influential
Faith if unseen
Faith is measurable
Faith can be exercised
Faith is almost always tried.
This is what I have for the moment. This is an unfinished definition. But I am utilizing the concept of faith to help me flesh out its meaning and context as time moves on. I am aware that there will still always be so much to learn about faith for faith itself tells me this, that is, to ponder on things not yet seen.
I now consider the potential uses of faith.
Some persons use their faith to fit into the world. Others use their faith because they have no other choice. For that one, he uses his faith to just simply exist when there is no other space or place left to fit in or blend into. That one may render a lack of relatability to his immediate environment and he needs his faith to still remain strong in order to withstand the strong currents of life.
Some interpret worldly wins to reflect the strength of one’s faith. Others receive confirmation when their world falls apart; when there is nothing else left to rely on.
However one chooses to use their faith, one thing stands out for me; faith is elemental and instructs the heart or the core of a person. Faith is also quite essential, just as food and water. When everything is stripped to its core, there one may find faith.
What exactly is faith?
It is a bit funny that most of my prayers, especially as a child, usually consisted of asking about growing my faith. But perhaps, I never quite understood why I asked for this, when indeed I could not have even given one a clear description of what faith means. For me, it is such an intangible word and it may mean something different for everyone.
Through the foreigner’s lens, perhaps faith has the capacity to be demonstrated by a person who holds that faith. Perhaps faith may be demonstrated by the outward appearance or silent disposition of a person. But I challenge this thought. Can one really tell the existence or lack of one’s faith just by viewing how their life is shaping out to be? I have seen and I have really seen this with my eyes that one may seem to have numerous strokes of luck in his life. In fact, it may seem like quite the highly favoured life. But I want to provoke this thought. Suppose I say, life is a probability. It is about taking chances. And some persons learn the art of learning life’s ways to the point where most of their steps seem to be really lucky moves. Would this portray a strong sense of practised faith? Where is this faith coming from?
Now I inject another thought. Suppose however, one lives his whole life with no evidence of bearing any physical fruit. No matter how much he does and no matter how much effort he exerts, for him his life seems somewhat barren and in want. My question is, what is holding up this person? Or should I say who? This line of thought intrigues me. For there is no physical or material evidence that indicates to this man whether he is doing a good job or a very poor one. He simply has no indicator or feedback. Yet there is something inside of him; an invisible force, pushing him to do the things that he does. Why? Why does he continue despite not having seen any sign of a fruit or a material reward for his attempts? From my perspective, this is where the definition of faith truly begins.
If you look for faith, you simply would not find it. You cannot touch it. And for the most part, you simply would not see it. Though invisible, yet still a force exists; that invisible force that pushes one to do what he does. No one can see this force. It is invisible. Yet, it is certainly a mighty force that gets him to do his job. He needs no validation from his external world to get him to do what he does. He is intrinsically motivated. He is inspired.
Now I contemplate on the Hebrews chapter eleven verses of what faith means.
1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
3 “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household...
13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth
From these verses, one may ascertain that there is an element of invisibility that hides in the meaning of faith. In other words, I view faith as being one that is concealed; something that is hidden; something mysterious.
Verses 3 and 7 highlight the influential force of faith. There is something being done ‘by faith’ or 'in faith'. The event is not just happening just because. But it is an event moved by faith. Faith moves. Faith, therefore is quite active and things happen because of its influence.
Faith’s influential nature is so important for me to understand. I need to understand that I am not doing the thing, whatever this thing may be. But, indeed, it is by faith that one is moved to do the things that they do. This is a grand thought for me and a key ingredient in experiencing faith. It is the surrendering bit that may help one to truly mobilize his faith. I do find this incredible! From the outside it may seem as though one has great power to move things and shake things but to that person experiencing it, he may describe to you an entirely different story.
Now I consider the following verse taken from the book of Luke, Chapter 17:
6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
The above verse helps to describe the factor of measurability of faith. Faith can be measured. I suppose then, it may be worth the time to consider that it not only matters that one has faith, but it is the measure of faith that one holds that may make the difference in his life. It therefore means that faith must be practised in order for it to grow. Much like exercising one’s muscle, the muscle of the mind also requires some probing, stretching and healing; all factors that help with growth and development. But of course, one does not go out of his way to try faith. Indeed, no one wants that type of challenge. It is not like going to the gym and trying a hand at lifting a heavy weight. No. Usually, in my experience, faith seems to come alive when we are not looking for it. Challenges may come in moments when one lets down his guard. That is to say, when a challenge comes, no one expects it in the first place. Yet, faith must be exercised in order to overcome. So, life tries that one out, but by faith, he overcomes.
So, what exactly is faith? Well, this is only the beginning of my definition. But if someone were to ask me, what is faith, I summarize this word to mean the following:
Faith comes through a breath of inspiration
Faith is influential
Faith if unseen
Faith is measurable
Faith can be exercised
Faith is almost always tried.
This is what I have for the moment. This is an unfinished definition. But I am utilizing the concept of faith to help me flesh out its meaning and context as time moves on. I am aware that there will still always be so much to learn about faith for faith itself tells me this, that is, to ponder on things not yet seen.
I now consider the potential uses of faith.
Some persons use their faith to fit into the world. Others use their faith because they have no other choice. For that one, he uses his faith to just simply exist when there is no other space or place left to fit in or blend into. That one may render a lack of relatability to his immediate environment and he needs his faith to still remain strong in order to withstand the strong currents of life.
Some interpret worldly wins to reflect the strength of one’s faith. Others receive confirmation when their world falls apart; when there is nothing else left to rely on.
However one chooses to use their faith, one thing stands out for me; faith is elemental and instructs the heart or the core of a person. Faith is also quite essential, just as food and water. When everything is stripped to its core, there one may find faith.
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