Faith: Confidence in the Unseen and Trust in the God Who Hears

Faith: Confidence in the Unseen and Trust in the God Who Hears

What Does It Mean?

The dictionary defines faith as belief in and trust in something or someone without physical evidence. It is a conviction, a reliance, an assurance, and a confidence in something that may not be visible to the naked eye, yet is still substantial and real. This definition aligns closely with the biblical understanding of faith, though Scripture goes much deeper. Faith is not just a human concept; it is a gift from God and a response to His revelation.

In Mark 9:24, a father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal him and cried out, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" This seems paradoxical. How can a person believe and yet ask for help in their unbelief? The father had genuine faith in Jesus' power, but he also had lingering doubts. He did not doubt Jesus' ability, but he struggled with his own lack of complete assurance. So he prayed for Jesus to strengthen his faith. This is an honest and humble prayer—one that acknowledges our weakness and depends on God to increase our trust.

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus teaches about faith and prayer. He says, "Have faith in God... Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Jesus associates believing in God and trusting in His ability with having faith. Faith is not just a passive belief but an active trust that moves mountains and receives answers to prayer.

The father of the demon-possessed boy had faith in Christ, but he lacked complete assurance and trust due to his own human weakness. We are not to be too hard on him because we all struggle with doubt at times. When we pray for something that is God's will, He will surely answer, but James 1:6 warns us to ask in faith without doubting, because a doubter is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

It is hard to pray with 100% certainty because we rely on our five senses. We only believe what we see, and it is difficult to believe in something that has not yet been seen. Nevertheless, God hears and answers our prayers, though the answer might not always be what we hoped for. God rarely gives us what we want as much as He gives us what we need. Praying for God to increase our faith is a prayer we can be confident He will answer, for faith is a gift He delights to give.

Hebrews 11:1 gives the biblical definition: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Faith is a confident assurance in believing God. It is not a "hope-so" but a "know-so." It is rooted in the character and promises of God, not in our circumstances.

The Twist

The twist is that doubt does not disqualify us from faith. The father who cried, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" was not rejected by Jesus. His prayer was answered, and his son was healed. Jesus did not say, "You have too much doubt; go away." He responded to the man's faith, even though it was mixed with weakness. This is encouraging for all of us. We do not need perfect faith; we need a faith that is honest, humble, and dependent on God.

Even more striking is that faith is not a feeling. It is a conviction. We may not feel certain, but we can still choose to trust. Faith is an act of the will, rooted in the truth of God's Word, not in our fluctuating emotions. It is the assurance that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised.

The most profound truth is that faith is both a gift and a response. God gives us faith, and we respond by trusting Him. When we pray, "Help my unbelief," we are acknowledging our dependence on Him to grow our faith. And He is faithful to answer. He does not despise weak faith; He strengthens it.

What Can I Learn?

First, faith is confidence in the unseen. It is not based on physical evidence but on the character and promises of God. We are to trust Him even when we cannot see.

Second, doubt is a common human struggle. We all experience moments of uncertainty, but we can bring our doubts to God and ask Him to help our unbelief. He is patient and merciful.

Third, prayer and faith are connected. We are to pray with confidence, believing that God hears us and will answer according to His will. Faith is the foundation of effective prayer.

Fourth, faith grows through dependence on God. We cannot manufacture faith; we must receive it from God and nurture it through His Word, prayer, and trust.

Fifth, God answers our prayers for more faith. When we ask Him to increase our faith, He hears us and responds. This is a prayer He delights to answer.

How Does It Apply to Me?

Examine your faith. Do you have confidence in God's character and promises? Do you trust Him even when you cannot see? Ask God to deepen your faith.

Examine your doubts. Do you bring them to God honestly, like the father who said, "Help my unbelief"? Do not hide your doubts; bring them to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen your trust.

Examine your prayers. Do you pray with confidence, believing that God hears you? Do you trust Him to answer according to His will? Ask God to increase your faith in prayer.

Examine your dependence. Are you relying on your own strength or on God? Faith is not self-sufficiency but dependence on God. Surrender your efforts and trust in Him.

Examine your need. If you feel your faith is weak, ask God to strengthen it. He is faithful and will answer.

Final Reflections

Who is God in relation to faith? He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the One who gives us faith, hears our prayers, and responds to our trust. He is the One who does not reject us when we doubt but meets us in our weakness and strengthens us. He is the faithful God who keeps His promises.

This is the God we trust. He is not distant or indifferent. He is near, compassionate, and faithful. He invites us to come to Him with our doubts and our needs, promising to help our unbelief and to increase our faith.

Let us be honest with God. Let us bring our doubts to Him. Let us pray with confidence. And let us trust that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of faith. We thank You that You hear our prayers and respond to our trust. We confess that we often struggle with doubt and uncertainty. Forgive us, Lord, and help our unbelief.

We ask You to increase our faith. Strengthen our confidence in Your promises and our trust in Your character. Help us to pray with assurance, believing that You hear us and will answer according to Your will.

We bring our doubts to You. We do not hide our weakness but lay it before You. Meet us in our need and strengthen our trust. Help us to rely not on our feelings but on Your truth.

Thank You that You are faithful even when we are weak. We rest in Your grace and trust in Your love.

In the name of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Amen.