Simple Faith

Every Wednesday night I lead a group of eight grade girls in small group. I started with them in seventh grade when they were all giggles and energy. It has been so sweet to watch them grow but also challenging as they are really starting to dish out some tough questions. One sweet girl asked a question that has just been driving me mad to figure out:

What is the difference between belief and trust?

I honestly had never stopped to think about that, and I left group that night unable to give her an answer. Since then, I have been studying and while I easily found the definitions to both words, I felt like I wasn’t fully getting what these terms meant and how they were different.

As I have wrestled with this, I think I have determined that the question is less about what the difference is but are either of these words evident in my life? To be honest I have been struggling with both for several months now. There are a lot of hard things in life and I am just coming out of a pretty tough season. A season that hasn’t made sense. A season that has left me feeling numb in my faith. It's hard to say I believe and trust God when I am in those kinds of seasons.

I’ve found myself asking, “If I really believed, wouldn’t I still have joy?”

“If I really trusted, would I feel this anger or have these questions?”

In the midst of this wrestle, I have been reminded that both belief and trust are important to God. Belief is an acceptance that God exists and that what he says is true. Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, and strength of God. But there is one term that trumps both of these:

Faith

I googled how many times the Bible mentioned each of these words. Faith was mentioned almost 100 times more than belief and trust. I think that’s because even when my belief and my trust is a little shaky, my faith is always secure. This is not because I chose to believe nor is it based on how well I trust in God. Faith is my gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

But what does this faith look like in a season that causes us to question our beliefs and struggle to trust?

I don’t have all the answers, but this is what I think so far:

Faith looks like showing up to church even with tears in our eyes.

Faith looks like continuing to read the Word of God even when we question it.

Faith looks like talking to God even when we are angry.

Faith looks like leading the people around us even when we are broken.

But I think above remembering what faith looks like, we have to remember what faith gives us.

Faith gives unexplainable hope.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31

Faith gives unending peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -John 14:27

Faith gives unending joy.

“Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” -Isaiah 51:11

The best part about faith is that it is simple. I just sit in it believing and trusting that my God loves me and I love him. When life doesn’t make sense, this always will and that is all we need.