Salvation

What is faith?

By Jeremy Osborn

People often treat faith as believing hard enough despite the evidence. Scripture treats it as trust placed in someone worth trusting.

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

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

What Scripture says

Faith is called substance and evidence — words with weight. And it comes by hearing God's word, not by squeezing your eyes shut.

What this means

You grow in faith the same way you grow in trust of a person: by getting to know them. That is why reading the Bible and believing God are connected.

Go deeper

The father in Mark 9 prays one of the most honest prayers in Scripture, and Jesus answers it. Faith with doubt still in it is real faith.

Supporting Scripture

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 (KJV)

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 9:24 (KJV)

Think about it

Where do you find it hardest to trust God? What would it look like to tell Him that honestly?

Put it into practice

Read one chapter of Scripture today and ask God to grow your trust through it.

Pray

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Grow my trust in you. Amen.

Your next step

Start reading the Bible daily.

Keep growing

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