Faith is what we believe and is unseen and keeps us going. Many verses and stories in Bible explain about faith and we need to read Bible everyday to rejuvenate our souls and to build our faith stronger. We come across many kind of trials and tribulations every day, and through faith we can move those great mountains because the Bible says if you have faith even as big as a mustard seed you can say to a mulberry tree to uproot itself and plant in the sea, and it will obey you (Luke 16:6). Faith in Bible means "the belief we have on God (Jesus Christ) that He can do anything for us". He is a God who can make impossible things possible. He is the one who turned water into wine, multiplied 5 bread and 2 fishes to feed 5000 men and their families which means He can do anything for us when we have faith.
Have you ever heard anyone say they have no troubles in this world..? No! Not even one. We all have troubles of our own. If we don't have troubles we will never seek God. We have troubles in getting good grades at school, troubles in coping with college assignments, troubles in finishing our jobs on time at our work places, troubles with our marriages, troubles with finance when we are fired or laid off, trouble with disobedient children, troubles with our health and the trouble count goes on and on. But the good news is that we can defeat all our troubles and win a victory over this world by means of our faith that comes when we believe that Jesus is the son of God and He can do everything for us. (1 John 5: 4, 5)
The story of blind Bartimaeus who was given sight (Mark 10: 46-52) reveals the greatest amount of faith he had on Jesus that whatever he believes and asks will be given unto him. Though he was a beggar he did not ask Jesus for money for his living, instead he believed in Jesus and asked for his sight. Luke 8: 43-48 tells the story of a woman who was suffering from severe bleeding for 12 years who believed that if she could only touch the corner of Jesus' cloak, she will be healed. She was able to touch Jesus' cloak in spite the great crowd surrounding Him and was healed by her faith. Have complete faith and take a little effort to meet Jesus everyday and He will give you the strength you want for the day and forever.
Bible also tells about a Roman officer who believed that if Jesus could just say a word of healing his servant will be healed. Jesus himself testified that he has not seen anyone who had such a faith even among the Israelites. Jesus never met the Roman officers' servant but he was healed at the exact time when Jesus pronounced a word of healing upon him (Matthew 8: 5-13). Jesus not only gives you the healing but also can heal anyone (your parents, children, friends, relatives, co-workers, servants) when you pray for them with faith.
There is no disease that God cannot heal. If you or your loved one is seriously ill, don't be disheartened but have faith. Remember Job who lost his children, wealth and health in a day, yet he never despised God and he had deep faith that brought back his health and wealth in double. If you are someone who is childless, wait unto Him with faith. He will remember you at the right time. He remembered Sarah at the age of 90 and He remembered Hannah when she promised that she will dedicate her son to serve God all his life.
If you are someone not good at your studies, don't be discouraged, have faith, work hard and give out your best. Only if you give out what you have with faith God can multiply it. The little boy who had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes gave everything he had and Jesus fed 5000 men and their families out of it and they even collected the remains in 12 baskets.
If you find your work tough, or your boss is expecting more out of you, or if you are scared you'll lose your job, take courage and ask God for His wisdom and mercies upon you with faith and He will definitely help you. He is a God who made a shepherd to become a king (King David) and He gave him wisdom and knowledge to rule a nation. He had to fight hard but God was there with him and he was able to enjoy his victories. If you don't fight a battle how will you enjoy the victory? Even if you have lost your job think that God has better plans for you. Seek another job with faith. God separated Joseph from his father Jacob and his brothers and brought him to an unknown land (Egypt). He had better plans for Joseph, he was made the Governor of Egypt and he helped his own family and nation to overcome the time of famine.
We hear a lot about broken marriages and divorce these days. Being faithful to each other, loving each other, striving to keep up the promise made between each other on the wedding day, praying together and most important of all walking together in faith, will help you build strong relationships. The book of Ruth explains the uncommon faithfulness Ruth showed to her husband's family even after she lost her husband. Her faith on Israel’s God gave her a new blessed life and she became the great grandmother of David who was an ancestor to Jesus Christ.
There is nobody on Earth who has never sinned. As human beings it is impossible for us to lead a sin free life and we sin even if we don't want to. Telling small lies for our convenience that does not affect others (white lies) is also a sin equal to stealing or adultery. Not obeying any of God's Ten Commandments is a sin. But we have a good news that Jesus Christ came to this world to forgive our sins and He even took our sins on Him and He gave His life for us on the cross of Calvary. Don't feel guilty or be scared of what you have done. Instead repent, ask His forgiveness with faith and sin no more. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. He even forgave the woman who was caught committing adultery (John 8:1-11).
Faith is not an easy thing to develop. Even when Jesus was with them, his disciples were afraid of the storm, when they were going in a boat and a heavy wind struck their boat. During the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites lost faith in many occasions and grumbled. Even though they had witnessed many miracles done by the Lord, they fell short of faith whenever there was trouble.
Faith in difficult times is what God expects to reveal his power and majesty. When every Israelite boy was killed in Egypt, by faith Moses’ parents hid him till he was three months old. God was then able to provide great deliverance to Israel through Moses. By faith Abraham got ready to sacrifice his son he bore at an old age at the altar and God created a great nation through his offspring. Man’s wisdom or strength cannot instill such faith in his heart as Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says that his preaching is not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
In Matthew we see how Jesus reassures people not to worry on the worldly things. He calls such men as people of little faith. Even a little lapse in faith can make us fall. Peter through faith walked on water towards Jesus, but when he turned aside and saw the boisterous waves and wind he was afraid and began to sink. Jesus had to come to his rescue and rebuked him for his lack of faith. Faith can make a big difference in what you do. Paul explains in his letter to the Romans on how someone who eats any kind of food remains righteous but one who doubts, sins if he eats the same. By faith we believe we are Abraham’s children and inherit the blessings God showered upon Abraham and his descendants.
The Bible says, faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Reading Bible, meditating on it, listening to the sermons in Church strengthens your faith and sharing what God has done for you with your friends and in small groups like Bible study will help others to grow stronger in faith. Every blessing, miracle and promise is built on faith and so have faith in the living God to live a better and blessed life.
