A few weeks ago, I posted about prayer and how it’s a spiritual weapon. Another important weapon we need to have in our toolbox is faith. Faith includes hoping and trusting God will do what He promises in the midst of the waiting.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). In this scripture the writer illustrates that faith is hoping and believing for what you cannot see and that has yet to be revealed or seen. With this in mind faith is trust in God. Many of us know God has promised things to us. The absence of what He promised makes us waver in trusting that the promise will fulfill itself and come to pass.

Ultimately this process is what matures our faith. There is nothing mystical about faith, but there is the need to read God’s word. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17) That is the foundation of faith. When you read God’s word your faith matures. We see so many people in God’s word who believed and God worked through their faith or belief.

God’s word has been the foundation of faith since the Old Testament. In Hebrews, chapter 11 we are given a look back into how many like Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah kept the faith (Hebrews 11: 4-11). They trusted the promises God made to them.

Some might ask the question does one have more faith than others? Has God given some people more access to trusting God and having faith?

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not think of yourself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).” God has given us everything we need to have faith and trust in God. It is up to us to use the faith God has instilled in us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Faith and trust go hand in hand. It is hard to master faith as troubles come and we question and begin to lose trust in God. Trust is often lost as we face losses and hard times. The derailment of life and often being caught off guard by unfortunate circumstances are hard. It is hard for most of us.

“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well. But Jesus turned around and when He saw her He said “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:20-22).

This woman had endured a sickness for twelve years that no natural medicine could cure. She was tired of going through the sickness. She must have heard about Jesus and what He could do. She pressed her way to Jesus. He says in this scripture that it was her faith that made her well. Yes, there are some things that are not going away in our lives. We see that with Paul who had a thorn to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7). But there are certain things that God does want to heal, but our lack of faith hinders the healing from taking place. Deliverance is often found through believing things can and will change.

She had suffered for twelve years. I have battled mental health issues for eighteen years. Do I believe my mental health issues can one day be gone? Yes. I also understand that even if it remained God will help me to live with the issues I have.

God said to me years ago, “Even if your illness remains it won’t stop the call on your life. I can use you no matter what”. I share this because some people need to know that God can use us no matter what.

I have suffered battling mental health challenges. Even with these challenges, God has used me. I saw him help me believe that I can do things many said I would not do. It is my faith that pushes me to believe that despite my illness God allows me to do the impossible. He has pushed me to a higher depth of faith. I have said things God would do in my life even if people doubted me. Though they doubted, I was sold out that I would reach whatever God put in my path.

Faith is about believing despite what some may say is impossible or don’t understand. As this woman pressed through the crowd for her deliverance some people could have seen it as strange or weird. She pressed because she was sold out that she was going to be healed. This is the power of faith.

Ultimately, faith is powerful.🙏🏾💜💞