What Is Faith?

Written by: Kijana Crues Rochester, New York

In this world where so many people are hurting. i keep hearing people tell me that things feel so bad that they aren’t sure God exists anymore. Many of you feel this way now. But my question to you is, did you ever really believe in Him? What was your reason when you did? Was it something He did for you? Because He has done a LOT for us even when we don’t recognize it. He woke you up today didnt He? You still have His breath of life in your lungs. Think about it for a moment honestly.

Here is a question I pose for you. What is Faith?

No, stop... Not what is Faith to YOU... what exactly is the definition of Faith. Let’s break it down. (Because society is quick to change a definition to what we feel at that moment)

Webster’s dictionary says:

“2. A (1): Believe and trust in and loyalty to God.

(2): Believe in the traditional doctrines of a religion.

B (1): Firm belief in something for which there is no proof.

(2) Complete Trust”

The Bible says that: Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But what does that really mean?

When we have faith, we are choosing to believe in what we are NOT SEEING YET in the physical realm. It means knowing and believing that things will work out in our good in the end even if it doesn’t look or feel like it at that moment in time.

Matthew 17:17- 21 (KJV) says:

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]

We can’t expect things to work out if we don’t believe they will work out. How can you expect a result from something that you dont believe in? Think about the logic of that. Makes no sense right?

Most of the WORLD can accept and believe in having faith in SELF, positive thinking, willing positivity and using meditation to help manifest what we desire in life. Most of the WORLD feel deep inside that if we believe hard enough, and put the work in, we can achieve and manifest what we need and want. All important things as well... But many of the world call it reaching out to the Universe. So many people are willing to believe in the Universe to serve them and believe it is alive, but the same people can’t accept that God is alive, that He created the universe. That the heart beat and intelligence they are sensing in the universe IS that of God. They recognize his power, but refuse to give Him credit for it. it is God’s power that runs the universe and makes the gears turn. That it is Him that powers our very bodies. Flows through our very cells making them work. It’s the same with faith. Rather than recognize that God fixed a situation for their good in the end, the world tries to make excuses, or takes credit for themselves and give the rest to “luck”. Anything to not acknowledge Gods hand in the situation.

Believing in God mean TRUSTING Him. It means trusting that He is going to take care of you even when things are hard. And for things to be “hard”, it would mean that things feel like they are going extremely badly for you... right? So how can we say we ever believed in Him if we give up on Him the second things go south?! That means that you don’t believe He will see you through the uncomfortable of situations.

We seem to have things backwards. We tell God to prove He exists contantly... but as He continuously does prove it, then what? We dont even acknowledge it. We keep walking and act like it never even happened... better yet, we have the nerve to take credit for it. Then cry the next time and say, “you’re never here! Where are you? You must not exist.” Yes we have it wrong. Some people dont want him to exist.

Because then they feel justified in their self pity and anger. It should be us proving our loyalty to Him in the end... not ther way around. We already got proof. Stop and beathe for a sec... that’s your proof.

Many of you feel as if God isn’t hearing your prayers because He hasn’t answered them YET. And I Emphasize the word “yet”. Many of us have felt forgotten, so we questioned even His existence. When we do that we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. God didn’t give up on you... you gave up on Him. Yet Hes still riding for you and helping you even through that. No, I’m not excluded in questioning God’s reasons for why certain things hadn’t happened when I wanted or expected them to. I’m very quick to ask him personally “why”. But then it becomes time to be in “Listening Mode”. Thats the time for me to shut up, stop talking back to

God (bc that’s what ultimately fighting His will is), and SUBMIT TO BEING OBEDIENT TO HIM.

There’s that word that stings so many people... makes so many suck on their teeth. Submit. The question of why should I submit to anyone? I’ve heard many ppl say this. Many of us can even fathom submitting in a relationship more than with God. But we aren’t just submitting to anyone, its to God Himself. If He literally blew breath into your lungs giving you life, how could you not?! How could WE not. That’s my logical response. If you actually realize that He is real, and that He has a hand in things going good in your life... if you actually know He created you, how can you not give Him praise? Even in the rough of it (and I’m speaking from experience)... there’s a comfort in knowing that God is with me no matter what. When God is in your life, and you are submitted to His will, you are playing on a different game field as the rest of the world. A different game board. We dress up in the full armor of God and tackle the problem in the spiritual realm. Getting to the real true root of the problem.

Truly knowing God is filling your spirit with The Word of God. Knowing Him is knowing His love so deeply that you can walk into a rough situation and know that even though things are hard, it’s going to work out... Why? because again... you are on a different playing field. Also, because God promises in the Bible that He will not give us more than we can handle. The part of the challenge that’s too much to bare, He is willing to take that from us... if we are willing to let go of it. If only we truly wanted to let the reins go. He would gladly pick them up.

Many of us have the nerve to try to put a timer on God. Many of us believe that if He loves us, He’d help us in our timing, or would do things in the way we want them to be done.

No that’s our own human narcissistic need to be in control of everything. Our way of putting everything into a box that we want control of. When we aren’t the ones in control. God is. You problems may be a result of wrestling God for control. God always answers our prayer... in His time, and with HIS answer. Many of us have received His answer. The answer was NO. Are we going to turntail and have a tantrum or are we going to go to Him, submit genuinely and ask “why”? Some of you won’t accept His answer of no, and would rather decide he turned his back... when all they need to do is go to Him and ask Him: “Why?” If you are genuinely truly open to listening to Him, you may be very surprised. It was for you good in the end. And if you had just followed His plan from the beginning, it may never have gotten as bad as it did.

That time that we spend occupying the ideas that He might not be there, is the time that defines faith when we exercise it. What is having faith if nothing stressful is happening in your life. What is Faith, unless the future has questions?

That’s the time to show it. Or it means literally nothing. If you can’t exercise it in the heat of it, then we’re is your faith?

Before you give up on God, remember that He has never, and will never give up on you. You are never alone. So believe and have faith in that.