Life is about choices, and there are just two ways to make them. We can trust our own wits, or we can put our faith in guidance from outside ourselves.
Guidance from outside might come from trusted family and friends, counselors, self-help books, and God. But only one source offers infallible wisdom every time: God.
The question becomes, will we live a life of faith with God [1], or will we choose to live without?
As a child I chose the former and never regretted it. Many of you have walked a similar path.
Sometimes, though, we get weary. Doubts creep in. Problems crop up like weeds and answers to life’s dilemmas don’t come as quickly as we’d like.
What then?
There are a number of faith-building actions you’re probably familiar with, including: praise and gratitude to God, scripture study, prayer, as well as spending time with mature and wise Christians.
You know what else is helpful? Studying the facets of faith. As we deepen our understanding of how faith works, we enhance our connection with God, increase our usefulness, and experience more contentment in life.
No doubt there are quite a few facets to our faith, but today we’ll briefly look at just eight.
FAITH IS:
Affirmation of What We Know
God would have us understand he is righteous, good, faithful, and compassionate [2].
He never forsakes those who seek him. He arms us with strength and keeps our way secure. God guides us along the right path, and surrounds us with his unfailing love [3].
In the book of Psalms alone you’ll find hundreds of such encouraging affirmations as these, highlighting who God is and the glorious things he does. It’s a delight-of-discovery to seek them out [4].
Faith grows depending on what it is fed.
–Unknown
And affirmation of God’s character is a beneficial first course.
Attentiveness
Faith is seeing light with your heart
when all your eyes see is darkness.
–Barbara Johnson
And where might we find that light? In the presence of God and in the encouragement and promises of scripture that fill our hearts with the light of hope [5].
Confidence
As we practice affirmation and attentiveness, we build confidence in the truth that God will do what is right when the time is right, though for now we may see no sign of it.
Courage
Confidence in God fuels our courage to trust without proof, to thank God in advance (even before there’s evidence of anything happening), and to step into the unknown.
Faith is taking the first step even when
you don’t see the whole staircase.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.
Empowerment
Be inspired by what Charles Spurgeon wrote decades ago:
Faith links me with divinity.
Faith clothes me with the power of God.
Faith engages on my side
the omnipotence of Jehovah.
Faith insures every attribute of God in my defense.
–Charles Spurgeon
With almighty God on our side, what have we to fear [6]?
Expectancy
And surely, such an attitude will contribute joyful up-timism [7] in our spirits.
Rest
Faith invades the muddle; it does not eliminate it.
Peace develops in the midst of chaos.
Harmony is achieved slowly, quietly, unobtrusively. . .
Such clarities result from courageous commitment to God.
–Eugene Peterson, Run with the Horses, 194-195
When we trust without reservation we find peace and rest.
Waiting
Without the discipline of wait-time, our faith would remain underdeveloped. This facet provides opportunity for strength of spirit to grow [8]. And we can take comfort from the knowledge that:
While we are waiting on God,
we are waiting with God.
–Lou Giglio
As we live life with him we’ll find:
- Affirmation, attentiveness, and waiting will grow our faith.
- Confidence, courage, and empowerment will result from our faith.
- Expectancy and rest will flow from our faith.
I can’t imagine making any other choice than living life with God.
How about you?
[1] Life with God is precipitated by accepting Jesus’ glorious invitation into God’s family (John 1:12).
[2] Psalm 7:17; 13:6; 31:5; 51:1
[3] Psalm 9:10; 18:32; 23:3; 32:10
[4] See the post, https://nancyaruegg.com/2025/01/16/celebrating-god-through-the-psalms/
[5] Psalm 146:5
[6] Psalm 27:1
[7] See the post, https://nancyaruegg.com/2022/10/06/better-than-optimism/
[8] Isaiah 40:31
Image credits: http://www.canva.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.pexels.com; http://www.canva.com (2).
Sign up below for the monthly newsletter that includes additional features not on the blog. And thank you in advance for becoming a subscriber!
From the Inside Out 