What is faith, really?

Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

But what does this mean? What does this look like in my own life, or in anyone else's?

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James 2:21-22: "Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

Okay, so "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (verse 17). This makes me think that we express our faith through our actions, making it more than just a word we whisper in a quiet prayer to God. Perhaps faith, like love, is not an emotion or a state of mind, but a verb. A once-and-for-all, decisive action. But what kind of action constitutes faith?

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Romans 4:20-21: "Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

Wow. This was Abraham's faith: He asked God repeatedly to bless him with children, even though he and his wife were both ancient and sterile; he asked and trusted God to do the impossible. And when he asked, he had complete belief in God's great power. He didn't entertain doubtful thoughts in the back of his mind, never wondered if God really could. He realized that the same God who created the universe in six days was more than capable of giving him a son.

James 1:6: "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Abraham didn't put God in a box. He didn't try to confine the living God to the parameters of our world, the oppressive limits called Physical Reality and Logic. And that's where we- where I- stumble. God doesn't make sense according to the laws of science because He doesn't have to. He knows who He is, and He will always be eternally powerful; He doesn't have to stoop down to our level and "prove" his existence. Rather, he requires us to come up to His level; He demands that we put aside the blinders of "what makes sense" and put our faith instead in His Truth and His Way, Jesus Christ. That, I think, is how you have faith in God's promises- you realize that the power that was demonstrated on the cross is real, it defies all possibility, and it applies to you. "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ." (2 Cor. 1:20) And above all, you trust that God will deliver. God will never mess with our heads or taunt us with false promises.

Matthew 7:9-11: "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

So this is only a partial answer to the question, What is faith? Because honestly, I'm still trying to figure it out myself. I pray that you, like me, will continue to study God's Word in order to learn how to live a life of faith in Him. Until then, know that He has a plan for your life, and He will wait to answer your prayers until His own perfect timing. (And I can say from experience that His timing will be perfect.)

Happy Easter,
Amanda